Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iran
Iran: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 13.38 million people in 2050. ▲ Rising
Latest (2050)
13.38 million people
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
41st
of 238 countries
All-time high
25.85 million people
in 1991
All-time low
3.42 million people
in 1300
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iran, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Iran recorded 13.38 million people for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in 2050.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iran peaked at 25.85 million people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.42 million people, in 1300.
That places Iran 41st out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 4.41 million people | — |
| 1100 | 4.65 million people | +5.4% |
| 1200 | 4.89 million people | +5.2% |
| 1300 | 3.42 million people | -30.1% |
| 1400 | 3.66 million people | +7.0% |
| 1500 | 3.90 million people | +6.6% |
| 1600 | 4.87 million people | +24.9% |
| 1700 | 4.86 million people | -0.1% |
| 1710 | 5.05 million people | +3.9% |
| 1720 | 5.14 million people | +1.8% |
| 1730 | 5.23 million people | +1.8% |
| 1740 | 5.33 million people | +1.7% |
| 1750 | 5.42 million people | +1.7% |
| 1760 | 5.51 million people | +1.7% |
| 1770 | 5.60 million people | +1.6% |
| 1780 | 5.68 million people | +1.6% |
| 1790 | 5.77 million people | +1.5% |
| 1800 | 5.85 million people | +1.5% |
| 1810 | 5.93 million people | +1.4% |
| 1820 | 6.01 million people | +1.3% |
| 1830 | 6.30 million people | +4.7% |
| 1840 | 6.57 million people | +4.3% |
| 1850 | 6.83 million people | +4.0% |
| 1860 | 7.08 million people | +3.6% |
| 1870 | 7.31 million people | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 8.31 million people | +13.7% |
| 1890 | 9.26 million people | +11.5% |
| 1900 | 9.94 million people | +7.3% |
| 1910 | 10.57 million people | +6.3% |
| 1920 | 11.14 million people | +5.4% |
| 1930 | 11.66 million people | +4.6% |
| 1940 | 12.10 million people | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 11.97 million people | -1.1% |
| 1951 | 12.17 million people | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 12.37 million people | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 12.57 million people | +1.6% |
| 1954 | 12.78 million people | +1.6% |
| 1955 | 12.99 million people | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 13.22 million people | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 13.44 million people | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 13.66 million people | +1.7% |
| 1959 | 13.91 million people | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 14.18 million people | +1.9% |
| 1961 | 14.47 million people | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 14.76 million people | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 15.06 million people | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 15.38 million people | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 15.74 million people | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 16.09 million people | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 16.28 million people | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 16.53 million people | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 16.79 million people | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 17.04 million people | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 17.29 million people | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 17.52 million people | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 17.75 million people | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 17.98 million people | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 18.22 million people | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 18.54 million people | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 18.77 million people | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 19.13 million people | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 19.52 million people | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 19.95 million people | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 20.72 million people | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 21.52 million people | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 22.04 million people | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 22.54 million people | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 23.02 million people | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 23.59 million people | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 24.09 million people | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 24.58 million people | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 25.00 million people | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 25.42 million people | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 25.85 million people | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 25.79 million people | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 25.36 million people | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 24.88 million people | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 24.62 million people | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 24.48 million people | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 24.11 million people | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 23.93 million people | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 23.75 million people | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 23.59 million people | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 23.46 million people | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 23.17 million people | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 22.97 million people | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 23.00 million people | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 23.08 million people | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 23.26 million people | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 23.27 million people | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 23.12 million people | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 22.94 million people | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 22.75 million people | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 22.57 million people | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 22.41 million people | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 22.27 million people | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 22.14 million people | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 22.01 million people | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 21.89 million people | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 21.77 million people | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 21.70 million people | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 21.59 million people | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 21.41 million people | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 21.24 million people | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 21.19 million people | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 21.13 million people | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 21.04 million people | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 20.91 million people | -0.6% |
| 2026 | 20.75 million people | -0.8% |
| 2027 | 20.56 million people | -0.9% |
| 2028 | 20.35 million people | -1.0% |
| 2029 | 20.13 million people | -1.1% |
| 2030 | 19.89 million people | -1.2% |
| 2031 | 19.63 million people | -1.3% |
| 2032 | 19.38 million people | -1.3% |
| 2033 | 19.11 million people | -1.4% |
| 2034 | 18.83 million people | -1.4% |
| 2035 | 18.55 million people | -1.5% |
| 2036 | 18.26 million people | -1.6% |
| 2037 | 17.96 million people | -1.6% |
| 2038 | 17.65 million people | -1.7% |
| 2039 | 17.34 million people | -1.8% |
| 2040 | 17.02 million people | -1.8% |
| 2041 | 16.69 million people | -1.9% |
| 2042 | 16.36 million people | -2.0% |
| 2043 | 16.02 million people | -2.1% |
| 2044 | 15.66 million people | -2.2% |
| 2045 | 15.31 million people | -2.3% |
| 2046 | 14.94 million people | -2.4% |
| 2047 | 14.56 million people | -2.5% |
| 2048 | 14.18 million people | -2.6% |
| 2049 | 13.78 million people | -2.8% |
| 2050 | 13.38 million people | -2.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 13.38 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.23 million people, 10.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 13.38 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.86 million people, 7.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | -30.1% | 4.89 million people | 3.42 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 4.41 million people | 4.41 million people | 4.41 million people | 1 |
| 1100s | 4.65 million people | 4.65 million people | 4.65 million people | 1 |
| 1200s | 4.89 million people | 4.89 million people | 4.89 million people | 1 |
| 1300s | 3.42 million people | 3.42 million people | 3.42 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 3.66 million people | 3.66 million people | 3.66 million people | 1 |
| 1500s | 3.90 million people | 3.90 million people | 3.90 million people | 1 |
| 1600s | 4.87 million people | 4.87 million people | 4.87 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 4.86 million people | 4.86 million people | 4.86 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 5.05 million people | 5.05 million people | 5.05 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 5.14 million people | 5.14 million people | 5.14 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 5.23 million people | 5.23 million people | 5.23 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 5.33 million people | 5.33 million people | 5.33 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.42 million people | 5.42 million people | 5.42 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 5.51 million people | 5.51 million people | 5.51 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.60 million people | 5.60 million people | 5.60 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.68 million people | 5.68 million people | 5.68 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 5.77 million people | 5.77 million people | 5.77 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 5.85 million people | 5.85 million people | 5.85 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 5.93 million people | 5.93 million people | 5.93 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 6.01 million people | 6.01 million people | 6.01 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 6.30 million people | 6.30 million people | 6.30 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 6.57 million people | 6.57 million people | 6.57 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 6.83 million people | 6.83 million people | 6.83 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 7.08 million people | 7.08 million people | 7.08 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 7.31 million people | 7.31 million people | 7.31 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 8.31 million people | 8.31 million people | 8.31 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 9.26 million people | 9.26 million people | 9.26 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 9.94 million people | 9.94 million people | 9.94 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 10.57 million people | 10.57 million people | 10.57 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 11.14 million people | 11.14 million people | 11.14 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 11.66 million people | 11.66 million people | 11.66 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 12.10 million people | 12.10 million people | 12.10 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 12.91 million people | 11.97 million people | 13.91 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 15.53 million people | 14.18 million people | 16.79 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.18 million people | 17.04 million people | 19.52 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.70 million people | 19.95 million people | 25.00 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.82 million people | 23.75 million people | 25.85 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.19 million people | 22.94 million people | 23.59 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.11 million people | 21.59 million people | 22.75 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.87 million people | 20.13 million people | 21.41 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 18.66 million people | 17.34 million people | 19.89 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 15.45 million people | 13.78 million people | 17.02 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 13.38 million people | 13.38 million people | 13.38 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More population data for Iran
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5902 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6632 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.09 million people (2100)
- Population density 49.33 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5653 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4819 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iran?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iran was 13.38 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 25.85 million people in 1991.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.42 million people in 1300.
- How does Iran rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Iran ranks 41st out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.