Population growth in Iran
Iran: Population growth was 0.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Iran, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Iran is 0.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Iran peaked at 5.3% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1994.
Iran ranks 105th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth in Iran, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.0% | — |
| 1962 | 3.0% | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 3.1% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 3.1% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 3.1% | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 3.0% | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 3.0% | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 3.0% | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 2.9% | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 3.0% | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 3.1% | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 3.3% | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 3.6% | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 5.2% | +44.9% |
| 1982 | 5.3% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | -26.5% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 3.7% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 3.7% | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 3.6% | -2.9% |
| 1988 | 3.2% | -9.9% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -9.5% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -6.7% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | -27.2% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -82.0% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -46.6% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +481.4% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 1.2% | +11.0% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | +14.6% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -46.5% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | +34.2% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | +93.0% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 2.2% | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -24.1% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | -25.7% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 1.2% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 1.3% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | -15.4% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | -28.7% |
| 2021 | 0.8% | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | +44.5% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -12.6% |
| 2025 | 0.9% | -12.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 0.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 2.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iran's 0.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.6%, 59% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +481.4% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| 2004 | +93.0% | 1.1% | 2.1% |
| 1993 | -82.0% | 2.0% | 0.4% |
| 1994 | -46.6% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| 2002 | -46.5% | 1.5% | 0.8% |
| 1981 | +44.9% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 3.0% | 3.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 2.9% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.4% | 0.2% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More climate change data for Iran
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.0713 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.08 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.2419 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.8% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.9283 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.7738 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -620.65 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Iran?
- Population growth in Iran was 0.9% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 5.3% in 1982.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1994.
- How does Iran rank for population growth?
- Iran ranks 105th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.