Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iran
Iran: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 77.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
77.4%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
83rd
of 238 countries
All-time high
77.4%
in 2025
All-time low
2.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iran, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iran recorded 77.4% for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iran peaked at 77.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1000.
Iran ranks 83rd of 238 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.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.0% | — |
| 1100 | 2.1% | +5.0% |
| 1200 | 2.2% | +4.8% |
| 1300 | 2.3% | +4.6% |
| 1400 | 2.4% | +4.4% |
| 1500 | 2.5% | +4.2% |
| 1600 | 2.6% | +4.0% |
| 1700 | 2.7% | +3.9% |
| 1710 | 3.1% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 3.4% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 3.7% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 4.0% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 4.4% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 4.8% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 5.3% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 5.8% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 6.3% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 7.0% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 7.6% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 8.3% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 9.1% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 10.0% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 11.0% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 12.0% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 13.1% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 14.4% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 15.8% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 17.3% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 18.9% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 20.7% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 22.7% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 24.9% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 27.5% | +10.7% |
| 1951 | 28.1% | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 28.7% | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 29.3% | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 29.9% | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 30.5% | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 31.2% | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 31.9% | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 32.6% | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 33.3% | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 34.0% | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 34.6% | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 35.3% | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 35.9% | +1.9% |
| 1964 | 36.6% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 37.1% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 37.7% | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 38.9% | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 39.7% | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 40.6% | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 41.5% | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 42.4% | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 43.3% | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 44.3% | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 45.2% | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 46.1% | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 46.8% | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 47.8% | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 48.5% | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 49.2% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 49.9% | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 50.7% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 51.4% | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 52.1% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 52.8% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 53.6% | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 54.2% | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 54.8% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 55.4% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 55.9% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 56.5% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 56.9% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 57.9% | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 58.7% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 59.6% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 60.4% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 61.1% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 62.1% | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 62.9% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 63.7% | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 64.5% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 65.2% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 65.9% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 66.6% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 67.3% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 67.9% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 68.3% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 68.8% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 69.4% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 70.0% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 70.6% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 71.2% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 71.8% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 72.3% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 72.8% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 73.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 73.9% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 74.4% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 74.8% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 75.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 75.6% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 76.0% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 76.3% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 76.7% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 77.0% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 77.4% | +0.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 77.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 77.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.5%, 97% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1 |
| 1300s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1400s | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1 |
| 1500s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1600s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1710s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1720s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 1 |
| 1740s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 1 |
| 1760s | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 1 |
| 1770s | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 1 |
| 1780s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 1790s | 6.3% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 1 |
| 1800s | 7.0% | 7.0% | 7.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 1 |
| 1820s | 8.3% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 1 |
| 1830s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 1 |
| 1840s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 13.1% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 1 |
| 1880s | 14.4% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 1 |
| 1890s | 15.8% | 15.8% | 15.8% | 1 |
| 1900s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
| 1910s | 18.9% | 18.9% | 18.9% | 1 |
| 1920s | 20.7% | 20.7% | 20.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 22.7% | 22.7% | 22.7% | 1 |
| 1940s | 24.9% | 24.9% | 24.9% | 1 |
| 1950s | 30.3% | 27.5% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 1960s | 37.1% | 34.0% | 40.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 45.5% | 41.5% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 53.1% | 49.9% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.0% | 56.5% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.4% | 64.5% | 70.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.0% | 70.6% | 75.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.5% | 75.6% | 77.4% | 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)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iran?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iran was 77.4% in 2025, 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 share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 77.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1000.
- How does Iran rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Iran ranks 83rd out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.