Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · Upper middle income
Iran: the economy in numbers
Per person: $3,924, or $19,699 at purchasing power parity. Population: 92.4 million (2025).
$363B−2.8%real GDP growth, 2025
GDP in 2025, current US dollars: #44 of 204 economies. IMF forecast for 2026: −7.6%.
GDP per capita
$3,924
2025 · #147 of 204
GDP per capita, PPP
$19,699
2025 · #106 of 197
Inflation
42.2%
2025 · IMF forecast 2026: 78.6%
Government debt
31.2%
2024 · % of GDP, general government
Population
92.4M
2025 · #17 of 217
Unemployment
8.3%
2025 · ILO estimate
Stock market capitalization
51.2%
2025 · % of GDP · $186B
Life expectancy
77.9 years
2024
GDP
Adjusted for US inflation, in 2025 dollars: $45.7 billion in 1960, $363 billion in 2025.
GDP per capita
In 2025 dollars: $2,131 per person in 1960, $3,924 in 2025.
GDP per capitaGDP per capita, PPP (international $)
Real GDP growth
Average over 2016–2025: 2.4% a year. Years of falling GDP since 1961: 18 of 65.
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026)
Inflation
Consumer prices rose 157 times from 2000 to 2025. Highest annual inflation: 49.7% in 1995.
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026)
Government debt, % of GDP
Highest since 1996: 47.1% of GDP in 2020. IMF forecast for 2031: 43.4%.
Stock market capitalization, % of GDP
In 2025 listed domestic companies were worth $186 billion, or 51.2% of GDP.
Population
1960: 21.5 million · 2025: 92.4 million.
Unemployment rate
1991: 11.1% · 2025: 8.3%.
Life expectancy at birth
1960: 43.3 years · 2024: 77.9 years.
Exports of goods and services
1960: 13.8% · 2025: 25.8%.
Data by year
Show the year-by-year table
| Year | GDP | GDP per capita | Per capita, PPP | Real growth | Inflation | Gov. debt, % GDP | Population | Unemployment | Stock market, % GDP | Life expectancy | Exports, % GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2031 | 2.0%f | 25.0%f | 43.4%f | ||||||||
| 2030 | 2.0%f | 25.0%f | 42.7%f | ||||||||
| 2029 | 1.8%f | 30.2%f | 41.7%f | ||||||||
| 2028 | 1.5%f | 38.0%f | 40.8%f | ||||||||
| 2027 | 3.6%f | 42.0%f | 40.2%f | ||||||||
| 2026 | −7.6%f | 78.6%f | 39.1%f | ||||||||
| 2025 | $363B | $3,924 | $19,699 | −2.8% | 42.2% | 35.6%e | 92.4M | 8.3% | 51.2% | 25.8% | |
| 2024 | $475B | $5,190 | $19,903 | 3.7% | 32.5% | 31.2% | 91.6M | 8.1% | 36.1% | 77.9 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | $458B | $5,049 | $18,933 | 5.3% | 44.6% | 29.6% | 90.6M | 8.1% | 450.2% | 77.7 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | $423B | $4,721 | $17,543 | 4.4% | 43.5% | 34.5% | 89.5M | 9.1% | 381.6% | 76.8 | 25.6% |
| 2021 | $407B | $4,605 | $15,884 | 4.1% | 43.4% | 39.9% | 88.5M | 9.3% | 370.3% | 73.8 | 22.0% |
| 2020 | $281B | $3,203 | $15,119 | 4.4% | 30.6% | 47.1% | 87.7M | 9.7% | 548.0% | 74.1 | 18.4% |
| 2019 | $348B | $3,997 | $13,928 | −2.4% | 39.9% | 44.6% | 87.1M | 10.7% | 111.7% | 76.9 | 22.3% |
| 2018 | $412B | $4,783 | $15,324 | −3.7% | 18.0% | 41.6% | 86.1M | 12.2% | 41.4% | 76.6 | 29.6% |
| 2017 | $510B | $6,001 | $15,719 | 3.0% | 8.0% | 43.2% | 85M | 12.2% | 20.8% | 76.4 | 21.8% |
| 2016 | $479B | $5,711 | $15,195 | 8.8% | 7.2% | 45.9% | 83.8M | 12.6% | 21.1% | 76.2 | 20.3% |
| 2015 | $409B | $4,953 | $14,274 | −1.4% | 12.5% | 32.1% | 82.6M | 11.2% | 21.9% | 75.9 | 18.7% |
| 2014 | $462B | $5,672 | $16,065 | 5.0% | 16.6% | 10.9% | 81.5M | 10.7% | 25.2% | 75.6 | 22.8% |
| 2013 | $500B | $6,223 | $16,215 | −1.5% | 36.6% | 10.2% | 80.4M | 10.6% | 69.1% | 75.3 | 25.2% |
| 2012 | $644B | $8,114 | $17,021 | −3.7% | 27.3% | 11.7% | 79.4M | 12.3% | 14.1% | 75.0 | 22.5% |
| 2011 | $629B | $8,026 | $19,275 | 2.6% | 26.3% | 10.6% | 78.4M | 12.5% | 17.0% | 74.7 | 24.9% |
| 2010 | $487B | $6,291 | $18,628 | 5.8% | 10.1% | 12.8% | 77.4M | 13.7% | 17.8% | 74.4 | 24.4% |
| 2009 | $414B | $5,416 | $17,615 | 1.0% | 13.6% | 11.5% | 76.5M | 12.1% | 14.3% | 74.0 | 22.7% |
| 2008 | $406B | $5,377 | $17,549 | 0.3% | 25.4% | 10.6% | 75.5M | 10.6% | 12.0% | 73.7 | 26.6% |
| 2007 | $350B | $4,688 | $17,384 | 8.2% | 17.3% | 13.5% | 74.6M | 10.8% | 12.5% | 73.3 | 28.8% |
| 2006 | $266B | $3,619 | $15,907 | 5.0% | 10.0% | 15.2% | 73.4M | 11.5% | 13.7% | 72.9 | 29.9% |
| 2005 | $225B | $3,132 | $15,016 | 3.2% | 13.4% | 18.3% | 71.8M | 11.8% | 16.2% | 72.4 | 30.3% |
| 2004 | $188B | $2,672 | $14,425 | 4.3% | 14.8% | 21.1% | 70.3M | 10.3% | 22.7% | 72.0 | 25.3% |
| 2003 | $152B | $2,209 | $13,755 | 8.6% | 16.5% | 21.9% | 68.8M | 11.5% | 18.1% | 70.5 | 24.6% |
| 2002 | $129B | $1,891 | $12,554 | 8.1% | 14.3% | 23.4% | 68M | 12.8% | 9.1% | 71.1 | 24.4% |
| 2001 | $127B | $1,881 | $11,533 | 2.4% | 11.3% | 21.0% | 67.5M | 12.4% | 5.8% | 70.6 | 19.3% |
| 2000 | $110B | $1,650 | $11,187 | 5.8% | 14.5% | 18.2% | 66.4M | 11.7% | 24.4% | 70.2 | 21.5% |
| 1999 | $114B | $1,740 | $10,489 | 2.0% | 20.1% | 22.2% | 65.4M | 11.2% | 19.2% | 69.7 | 19.3% |
| 1998 | $110B | $1,709 | $10,285 | 2.1% | 17.9% | 29.6% | 64.5M | 10.4% | 13.5% | 69.2 | 12.7% |
| 1997 | $114B | $1,790 | $10,101 | 1.4% | 17.3% | 30.9% | 63.6M | 9.7% | 13.3% | 68.6 | 17.3% |
| 1996 | $120B | $1,915 | $9,916 | 6.4% | 28.9% | 29.3% | 62.9M | 9.1% | 14.1% | 68.3 | 20.2% |
| 1995 | $96.4B | $1,550 | $9,255 | 2.4% | 49.7% | 62.2M | 9.9% | 9.5% | 67.9 | 21.7% | |
| 1994 | $71.8B | $1,168 | $8,951 | −1.7% | 31.4% | 61.5M | 10.5% | 3.9% | 67.5 | 28.3% | |
| 1993 | $63.7B | $1,038 | $8,933 | −1.5% | 21.2% | 61.4M | 10.6% | 2.0% | 67.0 | 25.4% | |
| 1992 | $120B | $1,957 | $8,888 | 3.3% | 25.8% | 61.2M | 10.7% | 66.7 | 13.2% | ||
| 1991 | $132B | $2,194 | $8,580 | 12.7% | 17.1% | 60M | 11.1% | 66.2 | 13.8% | ||
| 1990 | $125B | $2,138 | $7,566 | 13.6% | 7.6% | 58.4M | 64.1 | 13.3% | |||
| 1989 | $120B | $2,125 | 6.1% | 22.3% | 56.7M | 65.3 | 9.8% | ||||
| 1988 | $123B | $2,234 | −6.1% | 28.7% | 55.1M | 63.3 | 7.3% | ||||
| 1987 | $134B | $2,513 | −0.2% | 28.6% | 53.3M | 62.7 | 9.2% | ||||
| 1986 | $209B | $4,064 | −9.8% | 18.4% | 51.4M | 62.1 | 3.7% | ||||
| 1985 | $180B | $3,634 | 1.9% | 4.4% | 49.6M | 61.5 | 8.9% | ||||
| 1984 | $162B | $3,395 | −7.1% | 12.5% | 47.8M | 60.9 | 11.3% | ||||
| 1983 | $156B | $3,397 | 11.1% | 19.7% | 46M | 58.5 | 14.5% | ||||
| 1982 | $126B | $2,845 | 23.2% | 18.7% | 44.3M | 57.6 | 17.1% | ||||
| 1981 | $100B | $2,393 | −5.7% | 24.2% | 42M | 56.6 | 12.4% | ||||
| 1980 | $94.4B | $2,368 | −21.6% | 20.6% | 39.8M | 58.4 | 13.7% | ||||
| 1979 | $90.4B | $2,352 | −12.0% | 10.5% | 38.4M | 58.5 | 26.7% | ||||
| 1978 | $78B | $2,101 | −12.8% | 11.7% | 37.1M | 6.4% | 56.0 | 23.5% | |||
| 1977 | $80.6B | $2,243 | −2.8% | 27.3% | 35.9M | 4.7% | 56.7 | 30.8% | |||
| 1976 | $68.1B | $1,954 | 18.3% | 11.3% | 34.8M | 4.6% | 55.8 | 37.2% | |||
| 1975 | $51.8B | $1,532 | −0.3% | 12.9% | 33.8M | 3.7% | 54.8 | 40.7% | |||
| 1974 | $46.2B | $1,409 | 5.8% | 14.2% | 32.8M | 53.9 | 47.4% | ||||
| 1973 | $27.1B | $851 | 7.4% | 9.8% | 31.8M | 52.9 | 33.4% | ||||
| 1972 | $17.2B | $555 | 14.5% | 6.4% | 30.9M | 51.7 | 22.9% | ||||
| 1971 | $13.7B | $457 | 13.7% | 4.2% | 30M | 51.1 | 23.1% | ||||
| 1970 | $11B | $377 | 10.9% | 1.7% | 29.1M | 50.2 | 18.5% | ||||
| 1969 | $9.74B | $345 | 15.5% | 3.6% | 28.3M | 49.4 | 18.0% | ||||
| 1968 | $8.62B | $314 | 14.4% | 0.7% | 27.4M | 47.9 | 17.5% | ||||
| 1967 | $7.56B | $284 | 11.3% | 1.6% | 26.6M | 47.8 | 17.3% | ||||
| 1966 | $6.79B | $263 | 11.5% | −0.4% | 25.8M | 47.1 | 16.3% | ||||
| 1965 | $6.2B | $248 | 17.0% | 2.2% | 25M | 46.4 | 16.2% | ||||
| 1964 | $5.38B | $222 | 8.5% | 3.8% | 24.3M | 45.7 | 16.4% | ||||
| 1963 | $4.93B | $210 | 7.0% | 0.4% | 23.5M | 45.1 | 15.3% | ||||
| 1962 | $4.69B | $206 | 7.9% | 0.7% | 22.8M | 43.8 | 14.5% | ||||
| 1961 | $4.43B | $200 | 10.4% | 3.2% | 22.1M | 43.9 | 13.7% | ||||
| 1960 | $4.2B | $196 | 9.8% | 21.5M | 43.3 | 13.8% |
e: IMF estimate; f: IMF forecast.
Nearby economies in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Nearest by distance between capitals, with GDP per capita.
Afghanistan · Algeria · Bahrain · Djibouti · Egypt · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Libya · Malta · Morocco · Oman · Pakistan · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Syria · Tunisia · United Arab Emirates · West Bank and Gaza · Yemen
Rankings
GDP by country · GDP per capita · Real GDP growth · Inflation by country · Government debt to GDP · Stock market to GDP · Population by country · Unemployment by country
Data and methods
- GDP: gross domestic product in current US dollars, converted from the local currency at market exchange rates (World Bank); not adjusted for inflation.
- Purchasing power parity (PPP): GDP per person in international dollars, which buy the same basket of goods and services in every country. It compares living standards across countries in the same year; it is not adjusted for inflation over time.
- In 2025 dollars: the charts can remove US inflation (US consumer price index, annual average) so that dollar amounts from different years compare in today's money. Exchange rate swings still show.
- Growth and inflation: World Bank data (calendar years). Years the World Bank does not cover yet, and the estimates and forecasts, come from the IMF World Economic Outlook (October 2026): its forecasts start in 2026, and the years after a country's last actual year are IMF estimates.
- Government debt: gross debt of the general government (central, state and local government and social security funds) as a percentage of GDP, IMF. The World Bank's central government debt is narrower and covers fewer countries.
- Stock market capitalization: the end-of-year value of domestic companies listed on the country's exchanges (World Federation of Exchanges via the World Bank; before 2016, Standard & Poor's), as a percentage of GDP: the “Buffett indicator”. Investment funds are excluded, and so are companies listed only abroad; companies from elsewhere that list on an exchange count for its country (Hong Kong lists many mainland Chinese companies).
- Unemployment: ILO modeled estimates (share of the labor force); comparable across countries, but they may differ from national figures.
- Fiscal year: the IMF reports this economy by fiscal year (latest actual: FY2025/26), so IMF numbers can differ from calendar-year World Bank figures.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook (October 2026)