Quick facts
Iran population overview
Iran is the 9th most populous of 52 countries and territories in Asia. The United Nations put the population at 92,815,476 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.8% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 1,931 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 1,095,223 births (11.8 per 1,000 people) and 454,796 deaths (4.9 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 64,971 people. The infant mortality rate is 8.5 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 21,470,434 in 1960 to 92,417,681 in 2025 — a change of +330.4%, or +2.3% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 34.5 years; life expectancy at birth is 78.2 years; women have on average 1.7 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 22% of residents are under 15 and 8.6% are 65 or older (2025); 77.4% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Tehran. Iran covers 1,745,150 km², giving a population density of about 53.5 people per km². GDP was $362.68B in 2025 — about $3,924 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
Iran population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) | 93,378,012 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 92,815,476 |
| World rank | #17 of 238 |
| Rank in Asia | #9 of 52 |
| Share of world population | 1.1% |
| Annual growth rate | +0.8% |
| Births per year est. | 1,095,223 |
| Deaths per year est. | 454,796 |
| Net migration per year est. | +64,971 |
| Birth rate | 11.8 per 1,000 |
| Death rate | 4.9 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality | 8.5 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio | 103.2 males per 100 females |
| Median age | 34.5 years |
| Life expectancy | 78.2 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 | 1.7 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 | 77.4% |
| Surface area 2023 | 1,745,150 km² |
| Population density | 53.5 per km² |
| Capital | Tehran |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 | $362.68B |
| GDP per capita 2025 | $3,924 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
Iran population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 93,378,012 | – | – |
| 2025 | 92,417,681 | +849,943 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 91,567,738 | +959,031 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 90,608,707 | +1,084,461 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 89,524,246 | +1,068,758 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 88,455,488 | +732,045 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 87,723,443 | +5,104,081 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 82,619,362 | +5,198,520 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 77,420,842 | +5,592,387 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 71,828,455 | +5,409,796 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 66,418,659 | +4,213,092 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 62,205,567 | +3,825,475 | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 58,380,092 | +8,797,803 | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 49,582,289 | +9,739,965 | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 39,842,324 | +6,039,351 | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 33,802,973 | +4,657,873 | +3% |
| 1970 | 29,145,100 | +4,108,122 | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 25,036,978 | +3,566,544 | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 21,470,434 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
About Iran
Population over time
- From 21,470,434 in 1960 to 93,378,012 today — up 334.9%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.1% per year.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024), up 34.6 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.7 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 12.6 births vs 4.8 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 7.8 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
Age structure
- 22% of the population is under 15 and 8.6% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 4.1% in 1960 — the population is aging.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 829 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions are at or near their historical peak.
- Per person: 9.05 t in 2024, vs 2.76 t in 1970.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 3,399.1 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 186.2% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 0.9% of final energy in 2021 (-0.3 points since 1990).
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 6.6% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 5.6% to 6.6% since 1990 — roughly 18,793 km² of forest gained.
Urban population (% of total)
- 77.4% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 34% in 1960 (+43.4 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1981.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: high — freshwater withdrawals are 72.3% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 1,435 m³ in 2022, down 75.3% since 1961.
Economy
- GDP: $362.68B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is down 11.4% since 2015.
- That works out to $3,924 per person.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 8.3% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 42.2% in 2025 — persistently high inflation erodes real incomes.
Internet & mobile
- 85.3% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 174.1 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
Iran in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Iran in 2026?
As of October 2026, Iran has an estimated population of 93,378,012. The United Nations estimated 92,815,476 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.8% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Iran growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.8% per year — roughly 1,931 more people every day. Each year there are about 1,095,223 births and 454,796 deaths, with net migration of +64,971.
What is the population density of Iran?
About 53.5 people per square kilometre: 93,378,012 people living on 1,745,150 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Iran?
The median age is 34.5 years, and life expectancy at birth is 78.2 years. 22% of the population is under 15 and 8.6% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Iran rank by population?
Iran is the 17th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 9th in Asia, with 1.1% of the global population.
How has the population of Iran changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 21,470,434; by 2025 it had grown to 92,417,681 (+330.4%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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ThailandSources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.8%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.