Share of population living in urban areas in Iran
Iran: Share of population living in urban areas was 84.7% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Iran, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in urban areas in Iran stood at 84.7%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Iran peaked at 84.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 58.9%, in 1950.
Iran ranks 55th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 58.9% | — |
| 1955 | 61.5% | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 64.4% | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 67.5% | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 70.6% | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 73.3% | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 74.9% | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 76.8% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 78.2% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 79.8% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 81.0% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 82.1% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 83.3% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 84.1% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 84.7% | +0.7% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 84.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.7%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 84.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 88.0%, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 60.2% | 58.9% | 61.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 66.0% | 64.4% | 67.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 71.9% | 70.6% | 73.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 75.9% | 74.9% | 76.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 79.0% | 78.2% | 79.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 81.6% | 81.0% | 82.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 83.7% | 83.3% | 84.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 84.7% | 84.7% | 84.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 52 Dominican Republic 85.5% compare
- 53 Uzbekistan 85.4% compare
- 54 Philippines 84.8% compare
- 56 Sri Lanka 84.7% compare
- 57 Burundi 84.6% compare
- 58 Guam 84.5% compare
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 urban areas in Iran?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Iran was 84.7% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.9% in 1950.
- How does Iran rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Iran ranks 55th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 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 major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.