Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Iran
Iran: Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) was 22.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Iran, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
Iran recorded 22.6% for rural population in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Iran peaked at 66.0% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2025.
That places Iran 150th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (Rural World Urbanization) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 66.0% | — |
| 1961 | 65.4% | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 64.7% | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 64.1% | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 63.4% | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 62.9% | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 62.3% | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 61.1% | -1.9% |
| 1968 | 60.3% | -1.4% |
| 1969 | 59.4% | -1.5% |
| 1970 | 58.5% | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 57.6% | -1.5% |
| 1972 | 56.7% | -1.6% |
| 1973 | 55.7% | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 54.8% | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 53.9% | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 53.2% | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 52.2% | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 51.5% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 50.8% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 50.1% | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 49.3% | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 48.6% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 47.9% | -1.5% |
| 1984 | 47.2% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 46.4% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 45.8% | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 45.2% | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 44.6% | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 44.1% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 43.5% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 43.1% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 42.1% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 41.3% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 40.4% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 39.6% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 38.9% | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 37.9% | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 37.1% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 36.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 35.5% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 34.8% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 34.1% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 33.4% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 32.7% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 32.1% | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 31.7% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 31.2% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 30.6% | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 30.0% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 29.4% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 28.2% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 27.7% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 27.2% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 26.6% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 26.1% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 25.2% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 24.8% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 24.4% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 24.0% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 23.3% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 23.0% | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 22.6% | -1.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 22.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 34.6%, 65% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iran's 22.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 20.5%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 62.9% | 59.4% | 66.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 54.5% | 50.8% | 58.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.9% | 44.1% | 50.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.0% | 36.3% | 43.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.6% | 30.0% | 35.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 24.8% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.5% | 22.6% | 24.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More agriculture & rural data for Iran
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.216 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1918 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.081 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.5108 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -25.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1059 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 415.77 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6359 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Iran?
- Rural population in Iran was 22.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 66.0% in 1960.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2025.
- How does Iran rank for rural population?
- Iran ranks 150th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.