Air passengers in Iran
Iran: Air passengers was 18.07 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
18.07 million
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
38th
of 183 countries
All-time high
26.86 million
in 2017
All-time low
715,600
in 1970
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Air passengers in Iran, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iran recorded 18.07 million for air passengers in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Iran peaked at 26.86 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 715,600, in 1970.
That places Iran 38th out of 183 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 715,600 | — |
| 1971 | 761,400 | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 894,800 | +17.5% |
| 1973 | 1.14 million | +27.6% |
| 1974 | 1.36 million | +19.3% |
| 1975 | 1.95 million | +43.1% |
| 1976 | 2.50 million | +28.2% |
| 1977 | 3.01 million | +20.3% |
| 1978 | 3.33 million | +10.9% |
| 1979 | 2.17 million | -34.9% |
| 1980 | 2.00 million | -7.9% |
| 1981 | 1.54 million | -22.9% |
| 1982 | 2.13 million | +38.2% |
| 1983 | 3.19 million | +50.0% |
| 1984 | 4.09 million | +28.1% |
| 1985 | 3.42 million | -16.3% |
| 1986 | 4.67 million | +36.5% |
| 1987 | 4.85 million | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 4.49 million | -7.4% |
| 1989 | 4.88 million | +8.8% |
| 1990 | 5.63 million | +15.4% |
| 1991 | 5.54 million | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 4.90 million | -11.6% |
| 1993 | 5.35 million | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 5.80 million | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 6.29 million | +8.4% |
| 1996 | 7.61 million | +21.0% |
| 1997 | 9.80 million | +28.8% |
| 1998 | 9.20 million | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 8.28 million | -10.0% |
| 2000 | 8.72 million | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 16.49 million | +89.0% |
| 2002 | 9.89 million | -40.0% |
| 2003 | 16.30 million | +64.8% |
| 2004 | 11.88 million | -27.1% |
| 2005 | 12.71 million | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 13.62 million | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 13.92 million | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 12.03 million | -13.6% |
| 2009 | 13.05 million | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 18.76 million | +43.7% |
| 2011 | 19.11 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 17.69 million | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 16.58 million | -6.3% |
| 2014 | 16.83 million | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 13.87 million | -17.5% |
| 2016 | 17.08 million | +23.1% |
| 2017 | 26.86 million | +57.2% |
| 2018 | 23.03 million | -14.3% |
| 2019 | 21.64 million | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 12.74 million | -41.1% |
| 2021 | 13.70 million | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 18.71 million | +36.6% |
| 2023 | 18.07 million | -3.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 18.07 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 13.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iran's 18.07 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.44 million, 2.8× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.78 million | 715,600 | 3.33 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.53 million | 1.54 million | 4.88 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.84 million | 4.90 million | 9.80 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.86 million | 8.72 million | 16.49 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.15 million | 13.87 million | 26.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.81 million | 12.74 million | 18.71 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 46.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 109.46 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Iran?
- Air passengers in Iran was 18.07 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 26.86 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 715,600 in 1970.
- How does Iran rank for air passengers?
- Iran ranks 38th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.