Country Profile: Iran

Iran, historically known as Persia until 1935, is a large Middle Eastern nation with a diverse ethnic population and a rich cultural heritage. The country's governance is characterized by a theocratic republic, where ultimate authority rests with the Supreme Leader, a religious figure. In recent years, Iran's economy has faced challenges, including international sanctions impacting its oil-dependent market, resulting in high inflation and increasing poverty. The population, projected to be over 89 million by 2025, is primarily urbanized, with significant concentrations in the northern and western regions.

Geography

Iran is strategically located in the Middle East, bordered by the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. Its total area is approximately 1,648,195 sq km, making it almost 2.5 times the size of Texas. The country's terrain is diverse, featuring rugged mountains, vast deserts like the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, and small plains along its coasts. Iran's climate is predominantly arid or semiarid, with subtropical conditions along the Caspian coast.

5,894 km of land borders with Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and others.
2,440 km of coastline, including 740 km along the Caspian Sea.
29% of land is designated as agricultural (2023).
Home to 208.6 billion barrels of crude oil reserves (2021 estimate).

People and Society

The estimated population of Iran is 89,177,357 as of 2025, consisting of various ethnic groups, primarily Persians, Azeris, and Kurds. The official language is Persian Farsi, and the predominant religion is Islam, with 98.5% of the population identifying as Muslim. The population is experiencing a slight decline, with a negative growth rate of -0.87% projected for 2025, and a significant urban population accounting for 77.3% of total residents.

35.2 years is the median age of the population (2025 estimate).
23.3% of the population is aged 0-14 years.
7% of the population is over the age of 65 (2024 estimate).
86% literacy rate among the total population (2016 estimate).

Economy

Iran's economy is traditionally state-controlled but is gradually reforming to enhance private sector participation. The country has a significant oil and gas sector, contributing to over 36.4% of GDP, and faces challenges like inflation, which reached 44.6% in 2023. The real GDP (PPP) is estimated at $1.486 trillion for 2024, reflecting a growth rate of 3%.

$436.906 billion GDP at official exchange rate (2024 estimate).
9.2% unemployment rate projected for 2024.
$100.031 billion in exports expected in 2024.
13% of the economy is based on agriculture (2024 estimate).

Government

Iran operates as a theocratic republic, where the Supreme Leader holds significant power and the president is elected through a popular vote. The political system is a mix of religious and secular laws, with an elected legislature known as the Islamic Parliament (Majles). The most recent presidential election occurred in June 2024, leading to the election of Masoud Pezeshkian as president.

31 provinces constitute the administrative divisions of Iran.
The legal system integrates both Islamic and secular laws.
Citizens gain residency after a 5-year naturalization period.
Next Majles election is expected in February 2028.

Military and Security

Iran's military comprises two primary entities: the Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The military focuses on both external defense and internal security, with approximately 600,000 total active personnel. Recent military expenditures account for 2% of GDP in 2024.

Up to 400,000 personnel in the Artesh.
Around 190,000 personnel in the IRGC.
16 years is the minimum age for voluntary military service.
Iran maintains a military presence in Syria as part of its foreign policy.

Energy

Iran is endowed with abundant energy resources, primarily petroleum and natural gas, making it a significant player in the global energy market. The country has 4.112 million bbl/day of petroleum production and 265.088 billion cubic meters of natural gas production (2023 estimates).

94.6% of electricity generation comes from fossil fuels (2023).
100% electrification rate of the total population (2022).
Natural gas proven reserves estimated at 33.987 trillion cubic meters (2021).
Iran exported 14.698 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2023.

Environment

Iran faces significant environmental challenges, including air pollution, desertification, and inadequate potable water. The country has made commitments to various international environmental agreements but has struggled with effective implementation due to internal and external pressures.

79,721 sq km of irrigated land (2020 estimate).
29% of land is agricultural (2023 estimates).
6.6% of land is covered by forests (2023).
Major pollution sources include vehicle emissions and industrial discharges.

Transportation

Iran possesses a developing transportation infrastructure, with a mix of road, rail, and air transport systems. It features 177 airports and a merchant marine fleet of 965 vessels. The railway network spans approximately 8,483.5 km.

18 ports facilitate maritime trade.
90 heliports are available across the country (2025).
The civil aircraft registration code prefix is EP.

Communications

The communications sector in Iran is dominated by state-run entities with limited private competition. As of 2023, about 80% of the population uses the internet, and there are 159 million mobile cellular subscriptions.

32 fixed telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2023).
10.9 million fixed broadband subscriptions (2023).
State-run media operate numerous channels and stations but restrict independent broadcasting.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	89,177,357	Estimated for 2025
Area	1,648,195 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$1.486 trillion	Estimated for 2024
Unemployment Rate	9.2%	Estimated for 2024
Inflation Rate	44.6%	2023 estimate
Literacy Rate	86%	2016 estimate
Urban Population	77.3%	Total population (2023)
Electricity Access	100%	Electrification (2022)
Energy Consumption per Capita	160.779 million Btu/person	Estimated for 2023
Total Agricultural Land	29%	Estimated for 2023