Urban and rural population in Iran
Iran: Urban and rural population was 71.51 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
71.51 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
12th
of 236 countries
All-time high
71.51 million
in 2025
All-time low
4.54 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Iran, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Iran is 71.51 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Iran peaked at 71.51 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.54 million, in 1950.
Iran ranks 12th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.54 million | — |
| 1951 | 4.75 million | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 4.97 million | +4.6% |
| 1953 | 5.20 million | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 5.45 million | +4.7% |
| 1955 | 5.71 million | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 5.99 million | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 6.29 million | +5.1% |
| 1958 | 6.61 million | +5.0% |
| 1959 | 6.94 million | +5.1% |
| 1960 | 7.29 million | +5.1% |
| 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 4.47 million, 16.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 71.51 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million, 7.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.64 million | 4.54 million | 6.94 million | 10 |
| 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 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 urban and rural population in Iran?
- Urban and rural population in Iran was 71.51 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 71.51 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.54 million in 1950.
- How does Iran rank for urban and rural population?
- Iran ranks 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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