Rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of
Iran, Islamic Republic of: Rural population was 22.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2024, rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of stood at 22.3%. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 58.8% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 22.3%, in 2024.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 145th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 58.8% | — |
| 1971 | 57.9% | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 57.0% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 56.1% | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 55.2% | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 54.3% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 53.3% | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 52.5% | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 51.8% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 51.0% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 50.3% | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 49.6% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 48.8% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 48.1% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 47.3% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 46.6% | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 45.9% | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 45.3% | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 44.7% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 44.2% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 43.7% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 43.1% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 42.3% | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 41.5% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 40.6% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 39.8% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 38.9% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 38.1% | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 37.4% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 36.7% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 36.0% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 35.2% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 34.5% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 33.8% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 33.1% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 32.4% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 31.8% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 31.1% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 30.5% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 30.0% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 29.4% | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 28.2% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 27.2% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 26.1% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 25.1% | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 24.6% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 24.1% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 23.7% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 23.2% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 22.7% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 22.3% | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 54.8% | 51.0% | 58.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 47.1% | 44.2% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.2% | 36.7% | 43.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.9% | 30.0% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.9% | 24.6% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.2% | 22.3% | 24.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of
More population data for Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 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)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.673 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 0.4819 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -0.649 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Rural population in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 22.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The highest recorded value was 58.8% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.3% in 2024.
- How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for rural population?
- Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 145th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release