Rural population growth in Iran
Iran: Rural population growth was -0.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Iran, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Iran stood at -0.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 47.0% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Iran peaked at 3.8% in 1982 and was at its lowest, -1.9%, in 1994.
Iran ranks 146th of 207 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 2.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 1.7% | 3.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.5% | -1.9% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.3% | -1.2% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.6% | -0.8% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.5% | -0.8% | -0.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More agriculture & rural data for Iran
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 3.0% (2022)
- Rural population 22.6% (2025)
- Rural population 20.91 million (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 10.6% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 38.42 billion current US$ (2025)
- Land under cereal production 8.66 million hectares (2023)
- Cereal yield 2,420 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal production 20.96 million metric tons (2023)
- Fertilizer consumption 68.29 kilograms per hectare of arable land (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Iran?
- Rural population growth in Iran was -0.6% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 3.8% in 1982.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.9% in 1994.
- How does Iran rank for rural population growth?
- Iran ranks 146th out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. 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.