Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iran
Iran: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 25.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iran, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iran recorded 25.1% for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iran peaked at 25.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 1950.
Iran ranks 53rd of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.3% | — |
| 1955 | 8.1% | +12.0% |
| 1960 | 9.3% | +13.6% |
| 1965 | 10.3% | +11.8% |
| 1970 | 15.2% | +46.7% |
| 1975 | 16.5% | +8.9% |
| 1980 | 19.7% | +18.9% |
| 1985 | 21.7% | +10.5% |
| 1990 | 21.3% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 22.4% | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 23.7% | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 25.0% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 25.5% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 24.5% | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 25.1% | +2.4% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 25.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.8%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 25.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.1%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.7% | 7.3% | 8.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 9.8% | 9.3% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.9% | 15.2% | 16.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 20.7% | 19.7% | 21.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 21.8% | 21.3% | 22.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 23.7% | 25.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.0% | 24.5% | 25.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.1% | 25.1% | 25.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More reference data data for Iran
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Enteric Fermentation 35,629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Crop Residues 1,936 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 34.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 281.19 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iran?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iran was 25.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 1950.
- How does Iran rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Iran ranks 53rd out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.