Urban population, per square kilometre in Iran
Iran: Urban population, per square kilometre was 42.82 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
42.82 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
122nd
of 216 countries
All-time high
42.82 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
4.7 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Urban population, per square kilometre in Iran, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population, per square kilometre in Iran is 42.82 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population, per square kilometre in Iran peaked at 42.82 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.7 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
Iran ranks 122nd of 216 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.
Urban population, per square kilometre in Iran, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.7 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 4.94 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 5.19 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 5.45 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 5.71 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 5.98 units per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 6.35 units per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1968 | 6.69 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 7.05 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 7.43 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 7.82 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 8.23 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 8.65 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 9.1 units per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 9.57 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 10 units per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 10.54 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 11.05 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 11.61 units per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 12.22 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 13.06 units per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 13.97 units per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 14.73 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 15.51 units per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 16.31 units per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 17.1 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 17.95 units per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 18.72 units per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 19.47 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 20.24 units per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 20.96 units per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 21.73 units per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 22.13 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 22.49 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 23.08 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 23.57 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 24.27 units per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 24.92 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 25.6 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 26.29 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 27.01 units per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 27.53 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 28.12 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 29.01 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 29.93 units per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 30.78 units per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 31.52 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 32.17 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 32.85 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 33.56 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 34.27 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 34.97 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 35.7 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 36.44 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 37.21 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 38.02 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 38.99 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 39.7 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 40.35 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 40.87 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 41.43 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 42.12 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 42.82 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 42.82 units per square kilometre is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 47.9 units per square kilometre, 89% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 42.82 units per square kilometre is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 72.54 units per square kilometre, 59% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.79 units per square kilometre | 4.7 units per square kilometre | 7.05 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.4 units per square kilometre | 7.43 units per square kilometre | 11.61 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.9 units per square kilometre | 12.22 units per square kilometre | 19.47 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.9 units per square kilometre | 20.24 units per square kilometre | 25.6 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.52 units per square kilometre | 26.29 units per square kilometre | 32.85 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.92 units per square kilometre | 33.56 units per square kilometre | 40.35 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.81 units per square kilometre | 40.87 units per square kilometre | 42.82 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 119 North Macedonia 45.12 units per square kilometre compare
- 120 Bulgaria 43.78 units per square kilometre compare
- 121 Romania 43.22 units per square kilometre compare
- 123 Uzbekistan 41.26 units per square kilometre compare
- 124 Cambodia 40.1 units per square kilometre compare
- 125 Panama 39.59 units per square kilometre compare
More climate change data for Iran
- 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)
- Urban population 71.51 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.4% (2025)
- Population, total 92.42 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population, per square kilometre in Iran?
- Urban population, per square kilometre in Iran was 42.82 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 42.82 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban population, per square kilometre recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.7 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Iran rank for urban population, per square kilometre?
- Iran ranks 122nd out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is urban population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Urban population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Urban population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Urban population World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Urban population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.