| Demographics ofIran | |
|---|---|
 Population pyramid ofIran in 2020 | |
| Population | 85,961,000 (2024 est.)[1] |
| Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) (2024 est.) |
| Growth rate | 0.88% (2024 est.) |
| Birth rate | 14.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Death rate | 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 75.6 years (2024 est.) |
| • male | 74.3 years |
| • female | 77.1 years |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 children born/woman (2024 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) |
| Net migration rate | −0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 23.3% (male 10,512,797/female 10,040,282) |
| 15–64 years | 69.8% (male 31,413,125/female 30,267,241) |
| 65 and over | 7% (male 2,869,617/female 3,283,875) (2024 est.) |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.) |
| At birth | 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Under 15 | 1.05 male(s)/female |
| 15–64 years | 1.04 male(s)/female |
| 65 and over | 0.87 male(s)/female |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Major ethnic | Persians |
| Minor ethnic | |
| Language | |
| Official | Persian (56.6%)[2] |
| Spoken | |
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Iran's population increased dramatically during the later half of the20th century, reaching about 80 million by 2016.[3][4] As of November 2024[update], Iran's population is around 91.5 million.[5] In recent years, however, Iran'sbirth rate has dropped significantly. Studies project that Iran's rate of population growth will continue to slow until it stabilises above 100 million by 2050.[6][7] Half of Iran's population was under 35 years old in 2012.[8] As of January 2025, the average age of the Iranian population is 32 years.[9]
In 2009, the number of households stood at 15.3 million (4.8 persons per household).[10] Families earn some 11.8 millionrials (about $960) per month on average (2012).[11]
According to the OECD/World Bank statisticspopulation growth in Iran from 1990 to 2008 was 17.6 million and 32%.[12] Theliteracy rate was 80% in 2002,[13][14] and 85% in 2016.[15] Thefertility rate has fallen to 1.44, below the natural replacement rate of 2.1.[16]
According to the 2016 population census the population ofIran was 79.9 million,[3] a fourfold increase since 1956. Between 1976 and 1986, an average annual population growth of almost 4% was reached, but due to decreasing fertility levels the growth decreased to 1.2% between 2011 and 2016.
| Census date | Population | Average annual growth (%) | Population density/km2 | Proportion urban (%) | Household size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-11-01 | 18,954,704 | — | 12 | 31.4 | |
| 1966-11-01 | 25,785,210 | 3.13 | 16 | 37.5 | |
| 1976-11-01 | 33,708,744 | 2.71 | 20 | 47.0 | 5.02 |
| 1986-11-22 | 49,445,010 | 3.91 | 30 | 54.0 | 5.11 |
| 1996-11-01 | 60,055,488 | 2.0 | 37 | 61.0 | 4.84 |
| 2006-11-01 | 70,495,782 | 1.62 | 43 | 68.5 | 4.03 |
| 2011-11-01 | 75,149,669 | 1.29 | 46 | 71.4 | 3.55 |
| 2016-11-01 | 79,926,270 | 1.24 | 49 | 74.0 | 3.3 |
| Age group | Number (2006) | Percentage (2006) | Number (2011) | Percentage (2011) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 70,495,782 | 100 | 75,149,669 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 5,463,978 | 7.75 | 6,232,552 | 8.29 |
| 5–9 | 5,509,057 | 7.81 | 5,657,791 | 7.53 |
| 10–14 | 6,708,591 | 9.52 | 5,671,435 | 7.55 |
| 15–19 | 8,726,761 | 12.38 | 6,607,043 | 8.79 |
| 20–24 | 9,011,422 | 12.78 | 8,414,497 | 11.20 |
| 25–29 | 7,224,952 | 10.25 | 8,672,654 | 11.54 |
| 30–34 | 5,553,531 | 7.88 | 6,971,924 | 9.28 |
| 35–39 | 4,921,124 | 6.98 | 5,571,018 | 7.41 |
| 40–44 | 4,089,158 | 5.80 | 4,906,749 | 6.53 |
| 45–49 | 3,522,761 | 5.00 | 4,030,481 | 5.36 |
| 50–54 | 2,755,420 | 3.91 | 3,527,408 | 4.69 |
| 55–59 | 1,887,981 | 2.68 | 2,680,119 | 3.57 |
| 60–64 | 1,464,452 | 2.08 | 1,862,907 | 2.48 |
| 65–69 | 1,197,550 | 1.70 | 1,343,731 | 1.79 |
| 70–74 | 1,119,318 | 1.59 | 1,119,968 | 1.49 |
| 75–79 | 694,122 | 0.98 | 913,531 | 1.22 |
| 80+ | 645,601 | 0.92 | 919,539 | 1.22 |
| Unclear | – | – | 46,322 | 0.06 |
| Number of children 0–14 | Number of people 15–49 | Proportion | Number of women 15–49 | Proportion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17,681,629 (2006) | 43,049,709 (2006) | 0.4107 (2006) | ~21,524,855 (2006) | 0.8215 (2006) |
| 17,561,778 (2011) | 45,174,366 (2011) | 0.3888 (2011) | ~22,587,183 (2011) | 0.7775 (2011) |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data refer to the Iranian Year which begins on 21 March and ends on 20 March of the following year.):[18]
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 42,484,186 | 41,553,414 | 84,037,600 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 3,751,160 | 3,584,640 | 7,335,800 | 8.73 |
| 5–9 | 3,644,823 | 3,453,109 | 7,097,932 | 8.45 |
| 10–14 | 3,195,837 | 3,043,160 | 6,238,997 | 7.42 |
| 15–19 | 2,850,201 | 2,723,069 | 5,573,270 | 6.63 |
| 20–24 | 2,817,236 | 2,715,743 | 5,532,979 | 6.58 |
| 25–29 | 3,398,106 | 3,322,934 | 6,721,040 | 8.00 |
| 30–34 | 4,246,233 | 4,166,179 | 8,412,412 | 10.01 |
| 35–39 | 4,226,366 | 4,147,771 | 8,374,137 | 9.96 |
| 40–44 | 3,375,662 | 3,271,031 | 6,646,693 | 7.91 |
| 45–49 | 2,687,892 | 2,591,386 | 5,279,278 | 6.28 |
| 50–54 | 2,321,552 | 2,270,429 | 4,591,981 | 5.46 |
| 55–59 | 1,841,337 | 1,847,872 | 3,689,209 | 4.39 |
| 60–64 | 1,510,299 | 1,557,919 | 3,068,218 | 3.65 |
| 65–69 | 1,058,091 | 1,138,129 | 2,196,220 | 2.61 |
| 70–74 | 640 098 | 748 890 | 1,388,988 | 1.65 |
| 75–79 | 415 623 | 459 393 | 875 016 | 1.04 |
| 80+ | 503 670 | 511 760 | 1,015,430 | 1.21 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 10,591,820 | 10,080,909 | 20,672,729 | 24.60 |
| 15–64 | 29,274,884 | 28,614,333 | 57,889,217 | 68.88 |
| 65+ | 2,617,482 | 2,858,172 | 5,475,654 | 6.52 |
| Year | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 44.5 | 52 | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 45.5 | 51.5 | 3 |
| 1996 | 39.5 | 56.1 | 4.3 |
| 2006 | 25.1 (17,681,629) | 69.7 (49,157,562) | 5.2 (3,656,591) |
| 2011 | 23.4 (17,561,778) | 70.9 (53,297,122) | 5.7 (4,290,769) |
| 2016 | 24.0 (19,192,665) | 69.9 (55,862,087) | 6.1 (4,871,518) |
Table 9 – Population and Average Annual Growth by Provinces: 2006 and 2011
| Province | 2006 | 2011 | Average annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alborz | 2,076,991 | 2,412,513 | 3.04 |
| Ardabil | 1,228,155 | 1,248,488 | 0.33 |
| Bushehr | 886,267 | 1,032,949 | 3.11 |
| Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari | 857,910 | 895,263 | 0.86 |
| East Azerbaijan | 3,603,456 | 3,724,620 | 0.66 |
| Fars | 4,336,878 | 4,596,658 | 1.17 |
| Gilan | 2,404,861 | 2,480,874 | 0.62 |
| Golestan | 1,617,087 | 1,777,014 | 1.90 |
| Hamadan | 1,703,267 | 1,758,268 | 0.64 |
| Hormozgan | 1,403,674 | 1,578,183 | 2.37 |
| Ilam | 545,787 | 557,599 | 0.43 |
| Isfahan | 4,559,256 | 4,879,312 | 1.37 |
| Kerman | 2,652,413 | 2,938,988 | 2.07 |
| Kermanshah | 1,879,385 | 1,945,227 | 0.69 |
| Khuzestan | 4,274,979 | 4,531,720 | 1.17 |
| Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad | 634,299 | 658,629 | 0.76 |
| Kurdistan | 1,440,156 | 1,493,645 | 0.73 |
| Lorestan | 1,716,527 | 1,754,243 | 0.44 |
| Markazi | 1,351,257 | 1,413,959 | 0.91 |
| Mazandaran | 2,922,432 | 3,073,943 | 1.02 |
| North Khorasan | 811,572 | 867,727 | 1.35 |
| Qazvin | 1,143,200 | 1,201,565 | 1.00 |
| Qom | 1,046,737 | 1,151,672 | 1.93 |
| Razavi Khorasan | 5,593,079 | 5,994,402 | 1.40 |
| Semnan | 589,742 | 631,218 | 1.37 |
| Sistan and Baluchestan | 2,405,742 | 2,534,327 | 1.05 |
| South Khorasan | 636,420 | 662,534 | 0.81 |
| Tehran | 11,345,375 | 12,183,391 | 1.44 |
| West Azerbaijan | 2,873,459 | 3,080,576 | 1.40 |
| Yazd | 990,818 | 1,074,428 | 1.63 |
| Zanjan | 964,601 | 1,015,734 | 1.04 |
| Total | 70,495,782 | 75,149,669 | 1.29 |
1 The population of the provinces of Alborz and Tehran for 2006 and their average annual growth have been calculated based on the data of 2011.
Unofficial Translation 17
Table 10 – Population Percentages by Province: 2006 and 2011 (Percentage)
| Province | 2006 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Alborz | 2.95 | 3.21 |
| Ardabil | 1.74 | 1.66 |
| Bushehr | 1.26 | 1.37 |
| Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari | 1.22 | 1.19 |
| East Azerbaijan | 5.11 | 4.96 |
| Fars | 6.15 | 6.12 |
| Gilan | 3.41 | 3.30 |
| Golestan | 2.29 | 2.36 |
| Hamadan | 2.42 | 2.34 |
| Hormozgan | 1.99 | 2.10 |
| Ilam | 0.77 | 0.74 |
| Isfahan | 6.47 | 6.49 |
| Kerman | 3.76 | 3.91 |
| Kermanshah | 2.67 | 2.59 |
| Khuzestan | 6.06 | 6.03 |
| Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad | 0.90 | 0.88 |
| Kurdistan | 2.04 | 1.99 |
| Lorestan | 2.43 | 2.33 |
| Markazi | 1.92 | 1.88 |
| Mazandaran | 4.15 | 4.09 |
| North Khorasan | 1.15 | 1.15 |
| Qazvin | 1.62 | 1.60 |
| Qom | 1.48 | 1.53 |
| Razavi Khorasan | 7.93 | 7.98 |
| Semnan | 0.84 | 0.84 |
| Sistan and Baluchestan | 3.41 | 3.37 |
| South Khorasan | 0.90 | 0.88 |
| Tehran | 16.09 | 16.21 |
| West Azerbaijan | 4.08 | 4.10 |
| Yazd | 1.41 | 1.43 |
| Zanjan | 1.37 | 1.35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
1 The population of the provinces of Alborz and Tehran for 2006 and their average annual growth have been calculated based on the data of 2011.
In addition to its international migration pattern, Iran also exhibits one of the steepest urban growth rates in the world according to the UN humanitarian information unit. According to 2015 population estimates, approximately 73.4 per cent of Iran's population lives in urban areas, up from 27 per cent in 1950.[19]
The following is a list of the eight most populous cities in the country:
| Rank | City | Province | population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City[20] | Metro[21] | |||
| 1 | Tehran | Tehran | 8,693,706 | 14,700,000 |
| 2 | Mashhad | Razavi Khorasan | 3,001,184 | 3,100,000 |
| 3 | Isfahan | Isfahan | 1,961,260 | 3,100,000 |
| 4 | Karaj | Alborz | 1,592,492 | 2,500,000 |
| 5 | Shiraz | Fars | 1,565,572 | 1,700,000 |
| 6 | Tabriz | East Azarbaijan | 1,588,693 | 1,760,000 |
| 7 | Qom | Qom | 1,201,158 | 1,240,000 |
| 8 | Ahvaz | Khuzestan | 1,184,788 | 1,320,000 |
(2022 estimates).[22]
| Population (on 1 July) | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | Crude birth rate1 | Crude death rate1 | Natural change1 | Crude migration rate1 | Total fertility rate2 | Infant mortality rate3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 16,833,000 | 844,000 | 469 000 | 375,000 | 50.1 | 27.9 | 22.3 | 6.95 | 209.0 | |
| 1951 | 17,220,000 | 863,000 | 481 000 | 382,000 | 50.1 | 27.9 | 22.2 | 0.3 | 6.95 | 207.3 |
| 1952 | 17,614,000 | 883,000 | 485 000 | 398,000 | 50.1 | 27.5 | 22.6 | -0.2 | 6.96 | 203.7 |
| 1953 | 18,018,000 | 904,000 | 490 000 | 414,000 | 50.1 | 27.2 | 23.0 | -0.6 | 6.98 | 200.5 |
| 1954 | 18,435,000 | 925,000 | 490 000 | 434,000 | 50.1 | 26.6 | 23.6 | -1.0 | 7.01 | 197.2 |
| 1955 | 18,874,000 | 946,000 | 491 000 | 455,000 | 50.1 | 26.0 | 24.1 | -0.8 | 7.04 | 192.9 |
| 1956 | 19,332,000 | 968,000 | 494 000 | 474,000 | 50.0 | 25.5 | 24.5 | -0.8 | 7.08 | 189.5 |
| 1957 | 19,806,000 | 996,000 | 497 000 | 499,000 | 50.2 | 25.1 | 25.2 | -1.3 | 7.18 | 185.8 |
| 1958 | 20,295,000 | 1,022,000 | 494 000 | 528,000 | 50.3 | 24.3 | 26.0 | -1.9 | 7.28 | 181.6 |
| 1959 | 20,822,000 | 1,046,000 | 494 000 | 551,000 | 50.2 | 23.7 | 26.5 | -1.2 | 7.38 | 177.8 |
| 1960 | 21,389,000 | 1,049,000 | 493 000 | 556,000 | 49.0 | 23.1 | 26.0 | 0.5 | 7.30 | 174.0 |
| 1961 | 21,984,000 | 1,053,000 | 489 000 | 564,000 | 48.0 | 22.3 | 25.7 | 1.4 | 7.23 | 170.2 |
| 1962 | 22,605,000 | 1,069,000 | 500 000 | 569,000 | 47.4 | 22.2 | 25.2 | 2.3 | 7.22 | 167.3 |
| 1963 | 23,259,000 | 1,082,000 | 485 000 | 597,000 | 46.6 | 20.9 | 25.7 | 2.4 | 7.18 | 162.8 |
| 1964 | 23,949,000 | 1,098,000 | 483 000 | 615,000 | 45.9 | 20.2 | 25.7 | 3.1 | 7.13 | 159.1 |
| 1965 | 24,667,000 | 1,120,000 | 482 000 | 637,000 | 45.5 | 19.6 | 25.9 | 3.2 | 7.11 | 155.4 |
| 1966 | 25,399,000 | 1,145,000 | 480 000 | 664,000 | 45.1 | 18.9 | 26.2 | 2.6 | 7.08 | 151.6 |
| 1967 | 26,133,000 | 1,174,000 | 480 000 | 694,000 | 44.9 | 18.4 | 26.6 | 1.5 | 7.05 | 147.6 |
| 1968 | 26,875,000 | 1,195,000 | 487 000 | 708,000 | 44.5 | 18.1 | 26.4 | 1.2 | 6.97 | 144.0 |
| 1969 | 27,644,000 | 1,220,000 | 474 000 | 746,000 | 44.2 | 17.2 | 27.0 | 0.8 | 6.90 | 138.9 |
| 1970 | 28,450,000 | 1,229,000 | 468 000 | 761,000 | 43.2 | 16.5 | 26.8 | 1.5 | 6.71 | 134.1 |
| 1971 | 29,274,000 | 1,239,000 | 459 000 | 780,000 | 42.4 | 15.7 | 26.7 | 1.4 | 6.51 | 128.9 |
| 1972 | 30,112,000 | 1,237,000 | 456 000 | 782,000 | 41.1 | 15.1 | 26.0 | 1.8 | 6.25 | 123.8 |
| 1973 | 30,982,000 | 1,258,000 | 440 000 | 818,000 | 40.6 | 14.2 | 26.4 | 1.7 | 6.11 | 118.2 |
| 1974 | 31,896,000 | 1,295,000 | 433 000 | 862,000 | 40.6 | 13.6 | 27.0 | 1.7 | 6.04 | 113.0 |
| 1975 | 32,857,000 | 1,339,000 | 428 000 | 911,000 | 40.8 | 13.0 | 27.8 | 1.4 | 6.01 | 107.7 |
| 1976 | 33,841,000 | 1,416,000 | 425 000 | 991,000 | 41.8 | 12.5 | 29.3 | -0.2 | 6.14 | 102.3 |
| 1977 | 34,876,000 | 1,474,000 | 421 000 | 1,053,000 | 42.3 | 12.1 | 30.2 | -0.5 | 6.20 | 96.6 |
| 1978 | 35,994,000 | 1,550,000 | 446 000 | 1,104,000 | 43.1 | 12.4 | 30.7 | 0.4 | 6.33 | 92.4 |
| 1979 | 37,205,000 | 1,645,000 | 411 000 | 1,234,000 | 44.2 | 11.0 | 33.2 | -0.7 | 6.53 | 85.1 |
| 1980 | 38,521,000 | 1,708,000 | 422 000 | 1,286,000 | 44.4 | 11.0 | 33.4 | 0.8 | 6.58 | 79.5 |
| 1981 | 40,476,000 | 1,756,000 | 463 000 | 1,293,000 | 44.1 | 11.6 | 32.4 | 15.9 | 6.56 | 74.3 |
| 1982 | 42,500,000 | 1,886,000 | 467 000 | 1,419,000 | 44.4 | 11.0 | 33.4 | 14.2 | 6.55 | 69.3 |
| 1983 | 44,028,000 | 1,930,000 | 458 000 | 1,472,000 | 43.9 | 10.4 | 33.5 | 1.2 | 6.51 | 65.1 |
| 1984 | 45,628,000 | 1,966,000 | 420 000 | 1,546,000 | 43.1 | 9.2 | 33.9 | 1.2 | 6.44 | 61.5 |
| 1985 | 47,266,000 | 1,974,000 | 415 000 | 1,559,000 | 41.8 | 8.8 | 33.0 | 1.7 | 6.26 | 58.2 |
| 1986 | 48,913,000 | 1,957,000 | 409 000 | 1,547,000 | 40.0 | 8.4 | 31.7 | 2.0 | 6.01 | 55.3 |
| 1987 | 50,541,000 | 1,915,000 | 407 000 | 1,507,000 | 37.9 | 8.1 | 29.9 | 2.3 | 5.69 | 52.6 |
| 1988 | 52,112,000 | 1,872,000 | 399 000 | 1,473,000 | 36.0 | 7.7 | 28.3 | 1.8 | 5.39 | 49.8 |
| 1989 | 53,645,000 | 1,828,000 | 358 000 | 1,470,000 | 34.1 | 6.7 | 27.4 | 1.2 | 5.11 | 47.4 |
| 1990 | 55,794,000 | 1,788,000 | 395 000 | 1,393,000 | 32.5 | 7.2 | 25.3 | 13.2 | 4.86 | 46.5 |
| 1991 | 57,991,000 | 1,790,000 | 359 000 | 1,431,000 | 30.9 | 6.2 | 24.7 | 13.2 | 4.51 | 43.1 |
| 1992 | 59,372,000 | 1,697,000 | 358 000 | 1,340,000 | 28.5 | 6.0 | 22.5 | 0.8 | 4.08 | 41.3 |
| 1993 | 59,755,000 | 1,579,000 | 352 000 | 1,227,000 | 26.1 | 5.8 | 20.3 | -13.9 | 3.68 | 39.8 |
| 1994 | 59,986,000 | 1,367,000 | 340 000 | 1,027,000 | 22.8 | 5.7 | 17.1 | -13.2 | 3.27 | 38.2 |
| 1995 | 60,795,000 | 1,244,000 | 335 000 | 908,000 | 20.4 | 5.5 | 14.9 | -1.6 | 2.89 | 36.8 |
| 1996 | 61,598,000 | 1,145,000 | 333 000 | 811,000 | 18.6 | 5.4 | 13.2 | -0.2 | 2.57 | 35.4 |
| 1997 | 62,481,000 | 1,081,000 | 334 000 | 747,000 | 17.3 | 5.4 | 12.0 | 2.1 | 2.33 | 34.0 |
| 1998 | 63,461,000 | 1,064,000 | 336 000 | 727,000 | 16.8 | 5.3 | 11.5 | 3.9 | 2.20 | 32.5 |
| 1999 | 64,475,000 | 1,065,000 | 333 000 | 732,000 | 16.6 | 5.2 | 11.4 | 4.3 | 2.10 | 31.0 |
| 2000 | 65,544,000 | 1,071,000 | 337 000 | 735,000 | 16.4 | 5.2 | 11.2 | 5.1 | 2.02 | 29.5 |
| 2001 | 66,675,000 | 1,082,000 | 344 000 | 738,000 | 16.3 | 5.2 | 11.1 | 5.9 | 1.94 | 28.1 |
| 2002 | 67,327,000 | 1,086,000 | 345 000 | 742,000 | 16.1 | 5.1 | 11.0 | -1.3 | 1.87 | 26.4 |
| 2003 | 67,955,000 | 1,081,000 | 370 000 | 712,000 | 16.0 | 5.5 | 10.5 | -1.3 | 1.82 | 25.6 |
| 2004 | 69,062,000 | 1,107,000 | 345 000 | 762,000 | 16.1 | 5.0 | 11.1 | 4.9 | 1.80 | 23.4 |
| 2005 | 70,183,000 | 1,134,000 | 348 000 | 786,000 | 16.2 | 5.0 | 11.2 | 4.8 | 1.78 | 21.9 |
| 2006 | 71,276,000 | 1,173,000 | 349 000 | 824,000 | 16.5 | 4.9 | 11.6 | 3.7 | 1.77 | 20.6 |
| 2007 | 72,319,000 | 1,221,000 | 350 000 | 872,000 | 16.9 | 4.8 | 12.1 | 2.3 | 1.77 | 19.4 |
| 2008 | 73,318,000 | 1,265,000 | 369 000 | 896,000 | 17.3 | 5.0 | 12.2 | 1.4 | 1.77 | 18.2 |
| 2009 | 74,323,000 | 1,304,000 | 381 000 | 923,000 | 17.5 | 5.1 | 12.4 | 1.1 | 1.77 | 17.2 |
| 2010 | 75,374,000 | 1,337,000 | 385 000 | 953,000 | 17.8 | 5.1 | 12.6 | 1.3 | 1.77 | 16.3 |
| 2011 | 76,343,000 | 1,388,000 | 381 000 | 1,008,000 | 18.2 | 5.0 | 13.2 | -0.5 | 1.80 | 15.5 |
| 2012 | 77,324,000 | 1,464,000 | 378 000 | 1,085,000 | 18.9 | 4.9 | 14.0 | -1.3 | 1.89 | 14.8 |
| 2013 | 78,459,000 | 1,526,000 | 385 000 | 1,141,000 | 19.4 | 4.9 | 14.5 | 0 | 1.96 | 14.2 |
| 2014 | 79,962,000 | 1,579,000 | 391 000 | 1,188,000 | 19.8 | 4.9 | 14.9 | 3.9 | 2.04 | 13.6 |
| 2015 | 81,791,000 | 1,583,000 | 395 000 | 1,188,000 | 19.4 | 4.8 | 14.6 | 7.8 | 2.05 | 13.1 |
| 2016 | 83,306,000 | 1,584,000 | 394 000 | 1,190,000 | 19.0 | 4.7 | 14.3 | 3.9 | 2.07 | 12.6 |
| 2017 | 84,505,000 | 1,572,000 | 396 000 | 1,176,000 | 18.6 | 4.7 | 13.9 | 0.3 | 2.07 | 12.2 |
| 2018 | 85,618,000 | 1,475,000 | 404 000 | 1,071,000 | 17.2 | 4.7 | 12.5 | 0.5 | 1.97 | 11.8 |
| 2019 | 86,564,000 | 1,308,000 | 421 000 | 886,000 | 15.1 | 4.9 | 10.2 | -0.4 | 1.77 | 11.4 |
| 2020 | 87,290,000 | 1,243,000 | 486 000 | 757,000 | 14.2 | 5.6 | 8.7 | -0.1 | 1.71 | 11.0 |
| 2021 | 87,923,000 | 1,204,000 | 566 000 | 638,000 | 13.7 | 6.4 | 7.3 | -0.1 | 1.69 | 10.7 |
| 2022 | 88,550,000 | 1,151,000 | 531,000 | 620,000 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 10 |
1 per 1000
2 TFR = number of children per woman
3 per 1000 births
[23][24][25]Note that registrations may be by year of registration and not by year of occurrence. This was especially the case in the beginning of the 1980s when there were many late registrations. This explains the high number of births during 1980-1986. Before 1980, the registrations were incomplete.
| Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Total Fertility Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 864,846 | 176,268 | 688,578 | |||||
| 1960 | 876,206 | 171,040 | 705,166 | |||||
| 1961 | 902,260 | 159,371 | 742,889 | |||||
| 1962 | 957,500 | 165,488 | 792,012 | |||||
| 1963 | 920,967 | 135,912 | 785,055 | |||||
| 1964 | 1,118,911 | 145,174 | 973,737 | |||||
| 1965 | 1,139,663 | 171,940 | 967,723 | |||||
| 1966 | 1,101,606 | 178,991 | 922,615 | |||||
| 1967 | 1,019,373 | 179,159 | 840,214 | |||||
| 1968 | 1,037,022 | 174,201 | 862,821 | |||||
| 1969 | 1,091,513 | 167,660 | 923,853 | |||||
| 1970 | 1,189,203 | 163,430 | 1,025,773 | |||||
| 1971 | 1,231,227 | 149,325 | 1,081,902 | |||||
| 1972 | 1,138,843 | 153,568 | 985,275 | |||||
| 1973 | 1,199,777 | 155,081 | 1,044,696 | |||||
| 1974 | 1,248,256 | 149,785 | 1,098,471 | |||||
| 1975 | 1,339,267 | 148,543 | 1,190,724 | |||||
| 1976 | 1,401,426 | 155,981 | 1,245,445 | |||||
| 1977 | 1,399,977 | 146,369 | 1,253,608 | |||||
| 1978 | 1,369,597 | 127,587 | 1,242,010 | |||||
| 1979 | 1,689,908 | 142,402 | 1,547,506 | |||||
| 1980 | 2,450,308 | 162,176 | 2,288,132 | |||||
| 1981 | 2,421,611 | 178,099 | 2,243,512 | |||||
| 1982 | 2,101,894 | 200,614 | 1,901,280 | |||||
| 1983 | 2,203,448 | 207,228 | 1,996,220 | |||||
| 1984 | 2,067,803 | 186,440 | 1,881,363 | |||||
| 1985 | 2,033,285 | 190,061 | 1,843,224 | |||||
| 1986 | 2,259,055 | 199,511 | 2,059,544 | |||||
| 1987 | 1,832,089 | 204,230 | 1,627,859 | |||||
| 1988 | 1,944,149 | 238,390 | 1,705,759 | |||||
| 1989 | 1,784,811 | 199,645 | 1,585,166 | |||||
| 1990 | 1,722,977 | 217,597 | 1,505,380 | |||||
| 1991 | 1,582,931 | 217,637 | 1,365,294 | |||||
| 1992 | 1,433,243 | 188,647 | 1,244,596 | |||||
| 1993 | 1,388,017 | 208,161 | 1,179,856 | |||||
| 1994 | 1,426,784 | 3.50 | ||||||
| 1995 | 1,205,372 | 3.22 | ||||||
| 1996 | 1,187,903 | 2.95 | ||||||
| 1997 | 1,179,260 | 2.73 | ||||||
| 1998 | 1,185,639 | 551,345 | 634,294 | 2.53 | ||||
| 1999 | 62,738,000 | 1,177,557 | 374,838 | 802,719 | 18.8 | 6.0 | 12.8 | 2.36 |
| 2000 | 63,658,000 | 1,095,165 | 382,674 | 712,491 | 17.2 | 6.0 | 11.2 | 2.19 |
| 2001 | 64,592,000 | 1,110,836 | 421,525 | 689,311 | 17.2 | 6.5 | 10.7 | 2.09 |
| 2002 | 65,540,000 | 1,122,104 | 337,237 | 784,867 | 17.1 | 5.1 | 12.0 | 2.01 |
| 2003 | 66,480,000 | 1,171,573 | 368,518 | 803,055 | 17.6 | 5.5 | 12.1 | 1.92 |
| 2004 | 67,477,000 | 1,154,368 | 355,213 | 799,155 | 17.1 | 5.3 | 11.8 | 1.87 |
| 2005 | 69,672,000 | 1,239,408 | 363,723 | 875,685 | 18.1 | 5.3 | 12.8 | 1.82 |
| 2006 | 70,554,000 | 1,253,912 | 408,566 | 845,346 | 17.8 | 5.8 | 12.0 | 1.79 |
| 2007 | 71,336,000 | 1,286,716 | 412,736 | 873,980 | 18.0 | 5.8 | 12.2 | 1.81 |
| 2008 | 72,120,000 | 1,300,166 | 417,798 | 882,368 | 17.9 | 5.8 | 12.2 | 1.80 |
| 2009 | 72,924,000 | 1,348,546 | 393,514 | 955,032 | 18.3 | 5.3 | 13.0 | 1.78 |
| 2010 | 73,762,000 | 1,363,542 | 441,042 | 922,500 | 18.3 | 5.9 | 12.4 | 1.77 |
| 2011 | 74,634,000 | 1,382,229 | 422,133 | 960,096 | 18.3 | 5.6 | 12.7 | 1.74 |
| 2012 | 75,539,000 | 1,421,689 | 367,512 | 1,054,177 | 18.7 | 4.8 | 13.9 | 1.73 |
| 2013 | 76,481,000 | 1,471,834 | 372,279 | 1,099,555 | 19.1 | 4.8 | 14.3 | 1.70 |
| 2014 | 77,465,000 | 1,534,362 | 446,333 | 1,088,029 | 19.8 | 5.8 | 14.0 | 1.68 |
| 2015 | 78,492,000 | 1,570,219 | 374,827 | 1,195,392 | 20.0 | 4.8 | 15.2 | 2.16 |
| 2016 | 79,926,000 | 1,528,053 | 388,792 | 1,139,261 | 19.2 | 4.9 | 14.3 | 2.11 |
| 2017 | 80,960,000 | 1,487,923 | 369,751 | 1,118,172 | 19.0 | 4.6 | 14.4 | 2.09 |
| 2018 | 81,865,000 | 1,366,519 | 376,731 | 989,788 | 16.9 | 4.6 | 12.3 | 1.95 |
| 2019 | 82,585,000 | 1,196,132 | 395,319 | 800,813 | 14.4 | 4.8 | 9.6 | 1.77 |
| 2020 | 83,220,000 | 1,114,128 | 511,881 | 602,247 | 13.4 | 6.2 | 7.5 | 1.65 |
| 2021 | 83,935,000 | 1,116,212 | 544,517 | 571,695 | 13.2 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 1.61 |
| 2022 | 1,075,381 | 395,727 | 679,654 | 12.7 | 4.7 | 8.0 | 1.55(e) | |
| 2023 | 1,057,948 | 403,202 | 654,746 | 12.4 | 4.7 | 7.7 | 1.52(e) | |
| 2024 | 85,961,000 | 979,923[26] | 458,848 | 521,075 | 11.4 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 1.44[27] |
| Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2023—March 2024 | 1,057,948 | ||
| March 2024—March 2025 | 979,923 | ||
| Difference |  -78,025 (-7.38%) | ||
| Source:[28][29] | |||
In 1960, Iran'sfertility rate was 7.3 children per woman. In 2021, the rate had fallen to 1.7 children per woman.[30] According to a study through theAustralian National University, there are both micro and macro factors affecting the fertility rate in Iran, including education, economics, and culture.[31] Micro-factors can include family income levels and individual choices, while macro-factors can include the country's economy, education, and shifting cultural values. Thecross-sectional cohort study examined four provinces inIran (Gilan,Sistan & Baluchistan,West Azerbaijan, andYazd) and found that trends show that women in all four provinces are choosing to have fewer children compared to the women born in the earlier cohorts. The majority of women agreed with statements such as "having many children is an obstacle for the parents' interests" and "having many children creates financial pressure for the family" (among others).[31] Other sources also suggest that delayed marriage and a tendency to limit fertility are factors affecting the decline of TFR.[32] A decline in TFR can lead to population decrease, and an ageing population, which can negatively impact the country's economy.[33] In response, Iranian policymakers have attempted to limit these factors by restricting access to contraceptives and surgeries that reduce fertility.[34]
Sex ratio
Life expectancy at birth
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: the table which can be expanded with the source provided. You can help byadding to it.(December 2024) |
Iran is amosaic of diverse ethnic groups, contrary to popular belief that all Iranians are "just Persian".[35][36]According to a 1939 survey andAnthropological study of the people of Iran,[37]: 209 these were the ethnic groups that resided in the following areas of Iran:
| District | Locality | Sedentary [clarification needed] population (approx.) | Chief town | Ethnic Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abadeh-i-Iqlid | NorthernFars | 25,000 | Abadeh | Chiefly Lashani and Cheharrahi |
| Abadeh-i-Tashk | Near Daryacheh-i-Tashk | 6,500 | Abadeh-i-Tashk | Chiefly Lashani and Cheharrahi |
| Abraj | West of Mahin | 1,000 | N/A | Turkics and Persians |
| Aftar | Southwest of Jahrom | 3,000 | Abi-i-Garm | Turkics and Persians |
| 'Alamarvdakht | SouthernFars | 4,000 | 'Alamarvdakht | Chiefly BehbehaniLurs with some Arab blood |
| Angali | Northeast ofBushire | 2,000 | Mahmud Shahi | Chiefly BehbehaniLurs with some Arab blood |
| Arbaeh, Mahals-i | South of Firuzabad | 1,000 | Hangam | Turkics from Simakan |
| Ardakan | Northwest of Shiraz | 6,000 | Ardakan | Turkics from Simakan |
| Arisinjan | Northeast of Shiraz | 5,000 | Arisinjan | Turkics from Simakan |
| Asir | Near the 'Alamarvdakht | 5,500 | Asir | Turkics from Simakan |
| Baiza, Dasht-i | Northwest of Shiraz | 1,200 | Bandar Dilam | Turkics from Simakan |
| Bandar Dilam | Northwest coast ofFars | 10,000 | Bandar Dilam | Turkics from Simakan |
| Bawanat | NortheasternFars | 12,000 | Bawanat | Turkics from Simakan |
| Bidshahr (or Juwun-i-Bidshahr) | South ofJahrum | Bidshahr | Dashtis | |
| Borazjan | Northeast ofBushire | 6,500 | Borazjan | Dashtis |
| Chah Kutah | East ofBushire | 1,500 | Chah Kutah | Dashtis |
| Chehar Dungeh, Sarhad-i- | NorthernFars | 3,000 | Asupas | Dashtis |
| Dalaki | Northeast ofBushire | N/A | Dalaki | Dashtis |
| Darab | SoutheasternFars | 10,000 | Darab | Dashtis |
| Dashti | Southeast ofBushire | 20,000 | Khurmuj | Dashtis |
| Dashtistan | East ofBushire | 15,000 | Borazjan | Immigrants from Dashti orShiraz |
| Dizkurd | NorthwesternFars | 500 | N/A | Circassians |
| Istehbanat | South of Niriz | 4,000 | Istehbanat | MainlyTurkic andLurs |
| Jahrum | South centralFars | 7,500 | Jahrum | MainlyTurkic andLurs |
| Jireh | East ofBushire | 2,500 | Jireh | MainlyTurkic andLurs |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Shibkuh ports | West of Ras Bustaneh | - | - | Sunni and ShiaArabs[37]: 228 |
| Minab | - | - | - | An ethnic group of mixed Persian, Baluchi, Arab, and Sub-Saharan African descent.[37]: 228–229 |
| Laristan | Laristan region | 90,000[37]: 228 | Those living on thecoast line are to a great extentArabs (Huwala), while thefarmers are principallyPersians [Iranis].[37]: 228 |
Y-Chromosome DNAY-DNA represents the male lineage, the IranianY-chromosome pool is as follows where haplogroups,R1 (25%),J2 (23%)G (14%),J1 (8%)E1b1b (5%),L (4%),Q (4%), comprise more than 85% of the total chromosomes.[38][39]
| Haplogroup[40] | n | B | C | E1b1a | E1b1b1a2 | E1b1b1a3 | E1b1b1c | F | G | H | I | J1 | J2 | K | L | N | O | P,R | Q | R1a | R1b | R1b1a | R1b1b | R2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marker | M2 | V13 | V22 | M34 | M343 | V88 | M269 | M70 | |||||||||||||||||
| Iran | 566 | 0.53 | 0.18 | 1.41 | 1.77 | 1.8 | 0.88 | 0.35 | 14.00 | 2.65 | 0.8 | 8.13 | 23.86 | 0.71 | 4.00 | 2.12 | 1.41 | 0.71 | 4.01 | 17.49 | 1.24 | 0.35 | 6.18 | 1.41 | 2.12 |
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) represents the female lineage. West Eurasian mtDNA makes up over 90% of the Iranian population on average. (2013).[41]
Among them, U3b3 lineages appear to be restricted to populations of Iran and theCaucasus, while the sub-cluster U3b1a is common in the wholeNear East region.[41]
In Iran outliers in the Y-chromosomes and Mitochondrial DNA gene pool are consisted of the north Iranian ethnicities, such as theGilaks andMazandarani's, whose genetic build up including chromosomal DNA are nearly identical to the majorSouth Caucasian ethnicities, namely theGeorgians,Armenians andAzerbaijani's. Other outliers are made by theBaloch people, representing a mere 1–2% of the total Iranian population, who have more patrilinial and mitochondrial DNA lines leaning towards northwest South Asian ethnic groups.
Levels of genetic variation in Iranian populations are comparable to the other groups from theCaucasus,Anatolia andEurope.[41]
A large-scale genetic analyses on variousethnic groups of Iran, published in 2019, found that genetically speaking different Iranian ethnic groups, such asPersians,Kurds,Azerbaijanis,Lurs,Mazanderanis,Gilaks andArabs, cluster tightly together, forming a single cluster known as the "CIC" (Central Iranian cluster). Compared with worldwide populations, Iranians (CIC) cluster in the center of the wider West Eurasian cluster, close to Europeans, Middle Easterners, and South-Central Asians. Iranian Arabs andTurkic-speaking Azeris genetically overlap withIranian-speaking peoples such as Persians. The genetic substructure of Iranians was found to be low, compared with other "1000G" populations. Iranians display their highest genetic affinity with other Southwest and West Asian populations, followed by Europeans and Central Asian groups. Certain South Asians (specifically theParsi minority) showed the highest affinity with Iranians, inline with their ethnic history. Overall, the study results suggest that the genetic makeup of the Iranian gene pool formed already about 5,000 years ago and shows high continuity since then, suggesting that they were largely unaffected by migration events from outside groups. On a global scale, Iranians display their highest affinity with other "West Eurasian" populations (such as Europeans or South Asians, but alsoLatin Americans), while Sub-Saharan Africans and East Asians showed large degrees of differentiation with Iranians.[42]
The largest linguistic group comprises speakers of Iranian languages, like modernPersian,Kurdish,Gilaki,Mazandarani,Luri,Talysh, andBalochi. Speakers ofTurkic languages, most notablyAzerbaijani Turkish spoken byAzerbaijanis, which is by far the second-most spoken language in the country, but also theTurkmen, and theQashqai peoples, comprise a substantial minority. The remainder are primarily speakers ofSemitic languages such asArabic andAssyrian. A small number ofMandaeans inKhuzestan speakMandaic. There are small groups using otherIndo-European languages such asArmenian andRussian; also,Georgian (a member of theKartvelian language family) is spoken in a large pocket only by thoseIranian Georgians that live inFereydan,Fereydunshahr. Most of those Georgians who live in the north Iranian provinces ofGilan,Mazandaran,Isfahan,Tehran province and the rest of Iran no longer speak the language.TheCircassians in Iran, a very large minority in the past and speakers of theCircassian language, have been strongly assimilated and absorbed within the population in the past few centuries. However, significant pockets do exist spread over the country, and they are the second-largestCaucasus-derived group in the nation after the Georgians.[43][44]
Jews have had a continuous presence in Iran since the time ofCyrus the Great of theAchaemenid Empire. In 1948, there were approximately 140,000–150,000 Jews living in Iran. According to the Tehran Jewish Committee, the Jewish population of Iran was (more recently) estimated at 25,000 to 35,000, of which approximately 15,000 are in Tehran with the rest residing in Hamadan, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Yazd, Kerman, Rafsanjan, Borujerd, Sanandaj, Tabriz, and Urmia. However, the official 2011 state census recorded only 8,756 Jews in Iran.[45]
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TheCIAWorld Factbook (which is based on 2013 statistics) gives the following numbers for the languages spoken in Iran today:Persian,Luri,Gilaki andMazandarani 66%;Turkish and otherTurkic languages 18%;Kurdish 10%;Arabic 2%;Balochi 2%; others 2% (Armenian,Georgian,Circassian,Assyrian, etc.).[46]
According to anthropologistBrian Spooner, around half of Iran's population uses a language other than Persian at home and in informal public situations.[47]
Other sources, such as theLibrary of Congress, and theEncyclopedia of Islam (Leiden)[48] give Iran's ethnic groups as following:Persians 65%,Azerbaijani Turks 16%,Kurds 7%,Lurs 6%,Arabs 2%,Baloch 2%,Turkmens 1%, Turkic tribal groups (e.g.Qashqai) 1%, and non-Persian, non-Turkic groups (e.g.Armenians,Georgians,Assyrians,Circassians) less than 1%.[49] For sources prior to and after 2000, seeLanguages and ethnicities in Iran.
About 99% of the Iranians are Muslims; 90% belong to theShi'a branch of Islam, the official state religion, and about 9% belong to theSunni branch, which predominates in neighbouring Muslim countries.[14] Less than 1% non-Muslim minorities includeChristians,Zoroastrians,Jews,Baháʼís,Mandaeans, andYarsan. By far the largest group of Christians in Iran are Armenians under theArmenian Apostolic Church which has 41,385 adherents as of 2016 census.[50] There are hundreds of Christian churches in Iran.[citation needed] TheBaháʼí Faith, Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority with a population around 300,000, is not officially recognised (and therefore not included in the census results), and has been persecuted since its inception in Iran. Since the1979 revolution thepersecution of Baháʼís has increased with executions, the denial of civil rights and liberties, and the denial of access to higher education and employment.[51][52] Unofficial estimates for theAssyrian Christian population range between 20,000,[53][54] and 70,000.[55][56] The number of IranianMandaeans is a matter of dispute. In 2009, there were an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Mandaeans in Iran, according to the Associated Press.[57] Whereas Alarabiya has put the number of Iranian Mandaeans as high as 60,000 in 2011.[58]
| Muslims | Christians | Zoroastrians | Jews | Other | Unknown | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| census 1956 | 18,654,127 | 98.4% | 114,528 | 0.6% | 15,723 | 0.1% | 65,232 | 0.3% | 59,256 | 0.3% | 45,838 | 0.2% |
| census 1966 | 24,771,922 | 98.8% | 149,427 | 0.6% | 19,816 | 0.1% | 60,683 | 0.2% | 77,075 | 0.3% | ||
| census 1976 | 33,396,908 | 99.1% | 168,593 | 0.5% | 21,400 | 0.1% | 62,258 | 0.2% | 59,583 | 0.2% | ||
| census 2006 | 70,097,741 | 99.4% | 109,415 | 0.2% | 19,823 | 0.0% | 9,252 | 0.0% | 54,234 | 0.1% | 205,317 | 0.3% |
| census 2011 | 74,682,938 | 99.4% | 117,704 | 0.2% | 25,271 | 0.0% | 8,756 | 0.0% | 49,101 | 0.1% | 265,899 | 0.4% |
| census 2016 | 79,598,054 | 99.6% | 130,158 | 0.2% | 23,109 | 0.0% | 9,826 | 0.0% | 40,551 | 0.1% | 124,572 | 0.2% |
Most of the largeCircassian migrational waves towards mainland Iran stem from the Safavid and Qajar era; however, a certain amount also stem from the relatively recent arrivals that migrated as the Circassianswere displaced from the Caucasus in the 19th century. ABlack African population exists due tohistorical slavery.A substantial number ofRussians arrived in the early 20th century as refugees from theRussian Revolution, but their number has dwindled following theIran crisis of 1946 and theIranian Revolution.In the 20th to 21st centuries, there has been limited immigration to Iran from Turkey,Iraq (especially huge numbers during the 1970s known asMoaveds),Afghanistan (mostly arriving as refugees in 1978),Lebanon (especially inQom, though a Lebanese community has been present in the nation for centuries),India (mostly arriving temporarily during the 1950s to 1970s, typically working as doctors, engineers, and teachers),Korea (mostly in the 1970s as labour migrants),China (mostly since the 2000s working in engineering or business projects), andPakistan, partly due to labour migrants and partly toBalochi ties across the Iranian-Pakistani border.About 200,000Iraqis arrived as refugees in 2003,[citation needed] mostly living in refugee camps near the border; an unknown number of these has since returned to Iraq.
Over the same period, there has also been substantial emigration from Iran, especially since theIranian revolution (seeIranian diaspora,Human capital flight from Iran,Jewish exodus from Iran), especiallyto theUnited States,Canada,Germany,Israel, andSweden.
Iran hosts one of the largestrefugee population in the world, with more than one million refugees, mostly fromAfghanistan (80%) andIraq (10%). Since 2006, Iranian officials have been working with theUNHCR and Afghan officials for theirrepatriation.[60][61] Between 1979 and 1997, UNHCR spent more than US$1 billion on Afghan refugees in Pakistan but only $150 million on those in Iran. In 1999, theIranian government estimated the cost of maintaining its refugee population at US$10 million per day, compared with the US$18 million UNHCR allocated for all of its operations in Iran in 1999.[61] As of 2016, some 300,000work permits have been issued for foreign nationals in Iran.[62]
The term "Iranian citizens abroad" or "Iranian/Persian diaspora" refers to theIranian people and their children born inIran but living outside of Iran. Migrant Iranian workers abroad remitted less than two billion dollars home in 2006.[63]
As of 2010, there are about four to five millionIranians living abroad, mostly in the United States, Canada,Europe,Persian Gulf States,Turkey, Australia and the broaderMiddle East.[19][64] According to the 2000 Census and other independent surveys, there are an estimated 1 millionIranian-Americans living in the U.S., in particular, theLos Angeles area is estimated to be host to approximately 72,000 Iranians, earning theWestwood area of LA the nicknameTehrangeles.[65] Other metropolises that have large Iranian populations includeDubai with 300,000 Iranians,Vancouver,London,Toronto,San Francisco Bay Area,Washington D.C.,Buenos Aires,Mexico City,Stockholm,Berlin,Hamburg andFrankfurt. Their combinednet worth is estimated to be $1.3 trillion.[66]
Note that this differs from the otherIranian peoples living in other areas ofGreater Iran, who are of related ethnolinguistical family, speaking languages belonging to theIranian languages which is a branch ofIndo-European languages.
The Tats are anIranian people, presently living withinAzerbaijan and Russia (mainly SouthernDagestan). The Tats are part of the indigenous peoples ofIranian origin in the Caucasus.[67][68][69]
Tats use theTat language, asouthwestern Iranian language and a variety ofPersian[70][71][72][73][74]Azerbaijani andRussian are also spoken. Tats are mainlyShia Muslims, with a significantSunniMuslim minority. Likely the ancestors of modern Tats settled in South Caucasus when theSassanid Empire from the 3rd to 7th centuries built cities and founded military garrisons to strengthen their positions in this region.[75]
The Parsis are the close-knitZoroastrian community based primarily in India but also found inPakistan. Parsis are descended fromPersian Zoroastrians who emigrated to the Indian subcontinent over 1,000 years ago.Indian census data (2001) records 69,601 Parsis in India, with a concentration in and around the city ofMumbai. There are approximately 8,000 Parsis elsewhere on the subcontinent, with an estimated 2,500 Parsis in the city ofKarachi and approximately 50 Parsi families in Sri Lanka. The number of Parsis worldwide is estimated to be fewer than 100,000.[76]
In Pakistan and India, the term "Irani" has come to denoteIranianZoroastrians who have migrated to Pakistan and India within the last two centuries, as opposed to mostParsis who arrived in India over 1000 years ago. Many of them moved during theQajar era, when persecution of Iranian Zoroastrians was rampant. They are culturally and linguistically closer to theZoroastrians of Iran. Unlike theParsis, they speak aDari dialect, the language spoken by the Iranian Zoroastrians inYazd andKerman. Their last names often resemble modern Iranian names, however Irani is a common surname among them. In India they are mostly located in modern-dayMumbai while in Pakistan they are mostly located in modern-dayKarachi. In both Pakistan and India, they are famous for their restaurants and tea-houses.[77] Some, such asArdeshir Irani, have also become very famous in cinema.
The "Ajam" are an ethnic community of Bahrain, of Iranian origin. They have traditionally been merchants living in specific quarters ofManama andMuharraq. The Iranians who adhere toShiite sect of Islam areAjam, and they are different from theHuwala. Ajams are also a large percentage of the populace in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
In addition to this, many names of ancient villages in Bahrain are of Persian origin. It is believed that these names were given during theSafavid rule of Bahrain (1501–1722). i.e. Karbabad, Salmabad, Karzakan, Duraz, Barbar, which indicates that the history of Ajams is much older.
Huwala are the descendants ofPersians and Arab-Persians who belong to theSunni sect ofIslam.[78] Huwala migrated fromAhvaz in Iran to thePersian Gulf in the seventeenth and eighteenth century.[78][79]
Seven groups (Iranian Arabs, Azeris, Gilaks, Kurds, Mazanderanis, Lurs and Persians) strongly overlapped in their overall autosomal diversity in an MDS analysis (Fig 1B), suggesting the existence of a Central Iranian Cluster (CIC), notably also including Iranian Arabs and Azeris. On a global scale (Fig 2 including 'Old World' populations only; see S2 Fig for all 1000G populations), CIC Iranians closely clustered with Europeans, while Iranian Turkmen showed similar yet distinct degrees of admixture compared to other South Asians. A local comparison corroborated the distinct genetic diversity of CIC Iranians relative to other geographically close populations [2, 6, 44] (Fig 3 and S3 Fig). Still, genetic substructure was much smaller among Iranian groups than in relation to any of the 1000G populations, supporting the view that the CIC groups form a distinct genetic entity, despite internal heterogeneity. European (FST~0.0105–0.0294), South Asians (FST~0.0141–0.0338), but also some Latin American populations (Puerto Ricans: FST~0.0153–0.0228; Colombians: FST~0.0170–0.0261) were closest to Iranians, whereas Sub-Saharan Africans and admixed Afro-Americans (FST~0.0764–0.1424) as well as East Asians (FST ~ 0.0645–0.1055) showed large degrees of differentiation with Iranians.
A government census published earlier this year indicated there were a mere 8,756 Jews left in Iran
The contemporary Tats are the descendants of an Iranian-speaking population sent out of Persia by the dynasty of the Sasanids in the fifth to sixth centuries.
Tat- Persian spoken in the East Caucasus
It is a comparison of the verbal systems of three varieties of Persian—standard Persian, tat, tajik
It embraces Gilani, Ta- lysh, Tabari, Kurdish, Gabri, and the Tati Persian of the Caucasus, all but the last belonging to the north-western group of Iranian language.
