Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iran
Iran: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Iran, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Iran recorded 1.1% for population growth in 2024.
That represents a change of down 12.6% on the previous year and down 21.6% 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 103rd of 215 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 (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iran, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.0% | — |
| 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% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 2.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 61% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More population data for Iran
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.91 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5902 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 99,007 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4819 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5653 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.673 (2100)
- Population density 49.33 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.09 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Iran?
- Population growth in Iran was 1.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- 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 103rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release