Iran Population Pyramid (2026)
Iran has a population of 93,168,497 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 17th-largest population in the world and 1.12% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 21.6% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.9%, with 103.2 males for every 100 females.
Iran Demographics
Iran has 93.2 million people in 2026, up 219.7% from 29.1 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 640,822 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 34.5 — the 75th-highest of 194 countries.
65+ share 8.9% — the 88th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Millennials — 28.2% (26,318,064)
All generations in Iran →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Iran's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Iran has 103.2 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 1,454,635 (1.6% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:47,311,566
- Percentage:50.8%
Female Statistics
- Population:45,856,931
- Percentage:49.2%
- Ratio Format:1:0.969
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Iran indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 1,101,751 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,210,703 | 13.7 | 1.71 | estimate |
| 2022 | 1,191,945 | 13.3 | 1.70 | estimate |
| 2023 | 1,173,463 | 13.0 | 1.70 | estimate |
| 2024 | 1,151,057 | 12.6 | 1.68 | projection |
| 2025 | 1,125,230 | 12.2 | 1.67 | projection |
| 2026 | 1,101,751 | 11.8 | 1.66 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (1,101,751 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Iran's median age is 34.5 years
Half the population is younger than 34.5 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 5,790,051 | 6.2% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 6,849,577 | 7.4% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 7,455,696 | 8.0% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 6,623,251 | 7.1% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 5,946,536 | 6.4% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 5,948,167 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 7,107,524 | 7.6% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 8,833,049 | 9.5% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 8,926,077 | 9.6% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 7,120,047 | 7.6% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 5,617,665 | 6.0% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 4,787,957 | 5.1% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 3,829,769 | 4.1% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 3,145,725 | 3.4% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 2,393,155 | 2.6% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 1,585,539 | 1.7% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 782,331 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 328,802 | 0.4% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 85,806 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 11,160 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 618 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.66 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (11.8 vs 4.9 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Iran Total Fertility Rate: 1.66 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.71 | 13.7 | |
| 2022 | 1.70 | 13.3 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.70 | 13.0 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 1.68 | 12.6 | ↓0.02 |
| 2025 | 1.67 | 12.2 | ↓0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.66 | 11.8 | ↓0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.63
Iran's total fertility rate is 1.66 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Iran ranks 123 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −76.2% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Iran's population has increased by 464.3%.
The median age has increased from 20.6 in 1950 to 34.5 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Iran's Demographics
Iran has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 21.6% of the population and people aged 65 and over 8.9%.
The largest five-year age band is 40–44, at 9.6% of the population, compared with 6.2% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Iran's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Iran's working-age share peaked in 2010 at 71.4% and is 69.5% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Iran is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.66 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Iran's median age changed by +5.3 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 93,168,497 |
| Male Population | 47,311,566(50.8%) |
| Female Population | 45,856,931(49.2%) |
| Median Age | 34.5 years |
| Sex Ratio | 103.2 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 20,095,324(21.6%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 64,740,037(69.5%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 8,333,136(8.9%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 43.9 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 31.0 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 12.9 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Iran
How long the average person in Iran is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Iran is projected to grow to 101.9 million people by 2050 (+9.3% from 2026).
The median age rises from 34.5 in 2026 to 43.5 by 2050.
Iran's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 36.7%, growing from 29.1 million in 1970 to 39.8 million by 1980
The median age increased by 0.7 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 1.3 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 29.1M to 39.8M
- • Growth rate of 36.7% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 16.5 to 17.2 years (+0.7y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.3 points; under-15 share by −1.3 points
How Does Iran Compare to Its Neighbors?
Iran has an older population than Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Iran has a smaller population than Pakistan.
Iran
Turkey
Iraq
Afghanistan
Pakistan
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran (Current) | 93,168,497 | 34.5 | 21.6% | 8.9% | stationary |
| Turkey | 87,926,082 | 33.9 | 20.6% | 10.9% | stationary |
| Iraq | 48,007,437 | 21.1 | 35.4% | 3.5% | expansive |
| Afghanistan | 45,047,069 | 17.4 | 42.2% | 2.5% | expansive |
| Pakistan | 259,299,792 | 20.8 | 35.8% | 4.4% | expansive |
Frequently Asked Questions About Iran
How does Iran rank globally by population?
Iran ranks 17th in the world by population with 93.2 million people as of 2026, representing 1.12% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Iran's age structure reveal about its development?
Iran's age structure — 21.6% under 15, 69.5% working-age (15–64) and 8.9% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 34.5 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Iran?
Iran has 43.9 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Iran experiencing a demographic dividend?
Iran has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Iran's working-age share peaked in 2010 at 71.4% and is 69.5% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Iran's population?
Iran has more males than females, with 103.2 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Iran Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/iran
View UN World Population Prospects Data →