Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iran
Iran: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 71.51 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iran, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iran is 71.51 million people, 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, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iran peaked at 71.51 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.54 million people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.64 million people | 4.54 million people | 6.94 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.21 million people | 7.29 million people | 11.49 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.31 million people | 12.10 million people | 18.91 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.90 million people | 19.90 million people | 31.70 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.30 million people | 32.96 million people | 41.70 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.08 million people | 42.83 million people | 53.51 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.06 million people | 54.67 million people | 65.47 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.90 million people | 66.32 million people | 71.51 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 10 Pakistan 100.88 million people compare
- 11 Turkey 78.47 million people compare
- 13 Germany 69.06 million people compare
- 14 Philippines 65.14 million people compare
- 15 Bangladesh 58.40 million people compare
More population data for Iran
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 49.33 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.09 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.68 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.68 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 3.49 million people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.68 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.7 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.66 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iran?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iran was 71.51 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 71.51 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.54 million people in 1950.
- How does Iran rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Iran ranks 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.