Urban population in Iran
Iran: Urban population was 71.51 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Iran, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Iran stood at 71.51 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Iran peaked at 71.51 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.29 million, in 1960.
That places Iran 12th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.29 million | — |
| 1961 | 7.66 million | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 8.05 million | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 8.45 million | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 8.88 million | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 9.30 million | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 9.74 million | +4.7% |
| 1967 | 10.35 million | +6.2% |
| 1968 | 10.90 million | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 11.49 million | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 12.10 million | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 12.74 million | +5.3% |
| 1972 | 13.40 million | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 14.09 million | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 14.81 million | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 15.58 million | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 16.29 million | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 17.16 million | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 18.00 million | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 18.91 million | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 19.90 million | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 21.27 million | +6.9% |
| 1982 | 22.75 million | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 23.99 million | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 25.25 million | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 26.56 million | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 27.86 million | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 29.24 million | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 30.49 million | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 31.70 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 32.96 million | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 34.13 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 35.40 million | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 36.04 million | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 36.64 million | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 37.59 million | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 38.40 million | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 39.53 million | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 40.59 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 41.70 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 42.83 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 43.99 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 44.84 million | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 45.80 million | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 47.25 million | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 48.75 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 50.13 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 51.33 million | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 52.39 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 53.51 million | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 54.67 million | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 55.81 million | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 56.96 million | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 58.14 million | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 59.36 million | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 60.61 million | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 61.92 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 63.26 million | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 64.42 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 65.47 million | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 66.32 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 67.22 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 68.34 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 69.48 million | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 70.53 million | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 71.51 million | +1.4% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 71.51 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.10 million, 17.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iran's 71.51 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 7.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.21 million | 7.29 million | 11.49 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.31 million | 12.10 million | 18.91 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.90 million | 19.90 million | 31.70 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.30 million | 32.96 million | 41.70 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.08 million | 42.83 million | 53.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.06 million | 54.67 million | 65.47 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.90 million | 66.32 million | 71.51 million | 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 urban population in Iran?
- Urban population in Iran was 71.51 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 71.51 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.29 million in 1960.
- How does Iran rank for urban population?
- Iran ranks 12th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.