Iran
Asia · Southern Asia
Ancient Persian culture and ultra cheap for dollar earners, but sanctions limit access.
At a Glance
📈Iran's Human Development Index
0.780
High human development#77 of 191 countries worldwide, #19 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 60% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Iran
Iran is a country of profound civilisational depth, with some of the most spectacular Islamic architecture in the world in Isfahan and Shiraz, ancient Zoroastrian fire temples, and a Persian culture of poetry, carpet-weaving, and hospitality that has endured for millennia. The people are extraordinarily welcoming to foreign visitors, frequently going out of their way to show kindness. The gap between the complexity of Iranian society and outside perceptions of the country surprises almost everyone who visits.
- Has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than the UK.
- Highest nose job rate per capita in the world — cosmetic surgery is a significant industry.
- One of the largest educated female populations in the Middle East, despite political restrictions.
Quick Facts
Capital
Tehran
Language
Persian (Farsi)
Currency
﷼ IRR
Area
1.62M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
24Mbps
Mobile
56Mbps
GDP / Capita
$4K
PPP / Capita
$20K
Inflation
42.2%
Unemployment
8.3%
Innovation (GII)
28.5
GNI / Capita
$5K
FDI Inflows
0.3%
Education Spend
2.8%
Cost of Living
22.8
Price Level Index
98th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.613 → 0.780 (+0.167)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Iran for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
💬Quick answers
What is Iran's Human Development Index?
Iran's Human Development Index is 0.780 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #77 of 191 countries.
Is Iran safe?
Iran scores 2.76 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #142 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Iran?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Iran at 22.8 (New York = 100); that is #9 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Iran?
Life expectancy at birth in Iran is 77.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #57 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Iran?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Iran at 88.0, ranked #81 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.