GeoRealityMatch
Stunning panoramic view of Tehran's skyline at dusk, showcasing the city's dense urban environment and architectural diversity.Explore the historic architecture of Masoudieh Mansion in Tehran with its stunning arches.

Iran

Asia · Southern Asia

High development

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country. It is less peaceful than most countries.

Source: FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Safety

143rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.759lower is more peacefulLow safety
#143 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
49.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$4,650national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
8.0New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
17.2years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 8% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 18% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$10K$20K$19,699 PPP$3,924Inflation, % a year50%0200620102015202020252006, $3,619 a person, $15,907 at PPP, inflation 10%2007, $4,688 a person, $17,384 at PPP, inflation 17.3%2008, $5,377 a person, $17,549 at PPP, inflation 25.4%2009, $5,416 a person, $17,615 at PPP, inflation 13.6%2010, $6,291 a person, $18,628 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2011, $8,026 a person, $19,275 at PPP, inflation 26.3%2012, $8,114 a person, $17,021 at PPP, inflation 27.3%2013, $6,223 a person, $16,215 at PPP, inflation 36.6%2014, $5,672 a person, $16,065 at PPP, inflation 16.6%2015, $4,953 a person, $14,274 at PPP, inflation 12.5%2016, $5,711 a person, $15,195 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2017, $6,001 a person, $15,719 at PPP, inflation 8%2018, $4,783 a person, $15,324 at PPP, inflation 18%2019, $3,997 a person, $13,928 at PPP, inflation 39.9%2020, $3,203 a person, $15,119 at PPP, inflation 30.6%2021, $4,605 a person, $15,884 at PPP, inflation 43.4%2022, $4,721 a person, $17,543 at PPP, inflation 43.5%2023, $5,049 a person, $18,933 at PPP, inflation 44.6%2024, $5,190 a person, $19,903 at PPP, inflation 32.5%2025, $3,924 a person, $19,699 at PPP, inflation 42.2%$0$10K$20KInflation, % a year50%0200620102015202020252006, $3,619 a person, $15,907 at PPP, inflation 10%2007, $4,688 a person, $17,384 at PPP, inflation 17.3%2008, $5,377 a person, $17,549 at PPP, inflation 25.4%2009, $5,416 a person, $17,615 at PPP, inflation 13.6%2010, $6,291 a person, $18,628 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2011, $8,026 a person, $19,275 at PPP, inflation 26.3%2012, $8,114 a person, $17,021 at PPP, inflation 27.3%2013, $6,223 a person, $16,215 at PPP, inflation 36.6%2014, $5,672 a person, $16,065 at PPP, inflation 16.6%2015, $4,953 a person, $14,274 at PPP, inflation 12.5%2016, $5,711 a person, $15,195 at PPP, inflation 7.2%2017, $6,001 a person, $15,719 at PPP, inflation 8%2018, $4,783 a person, $15,324 at PPP, inflation 18%2019, $3,997 a person, $13,928 at PPP, inflation 39.9%2020, $3,203 a person, $15,119 at PPP, inflation 30.6%2021, $4,605 a person, $15,884 at PPP, inflation 43.4%2022, $4,721 a person, $17,543 at PPP, inflation 43.5%2023, $5,049 a person, $18,933 at PPP, inflation 44.6%2024, $5,190 a person, $19,903 at PPP, inflation 32.5%2025, $3,924 a person, $19,699 at PPP, inflation 42.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
77.9years, at birthHigh
#57 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
81WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
32.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
8.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
24 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
492EF English Proficiency Index scoreLowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet24 MbpsSlow
Mobile56 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Explore the historic architecture of Masoudieh Mansion in Tehran with its stunning arches.
How it changed

Iran's Human Development Index

0.799High human development

75th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 17th of 43 in Asia.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #73Mauritius0.806
  2. #74Bosnia and Herzegovina0.804
  3. #75Iran0.799
  4. #76Saint Vincent and the Grenadines0.798
  5. #76Thailand0.798
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.626 in 1990 to 0.799 in 2023.

0.600.720.850.79919902000201020231990: 0.6261991: 0.6451992: 0.6521993: 0.6581994: 0.6641995: 0.6721996: 0.6811997: 0.6871998: 0.6951999: 0.7032000: 0.7102001: 0.7192002: 0.7272003: 0.7322004: 0.7412005: 0.7462006: 0.7572007: 0.7612008: 0.7652009: 0.7712010: 0.7782011: 0.7872012: 0.7952013: 0.7942014: 0.7952015: 0.7882016: 0.7912017: 0.7932018: 0.7902019: 0.7872020: 0.7752021: 0.7772022: 0.7932023: 0.7990.600.720.8519902000201020231990: 0.6261991: 0.6451992: 0.6521993: 0.6581994: 0.6641995: 0.6721996: 0.6811997: 0.6871998: 0.6951999: 0.7032000: 0.7102001: 0.7192002: 0.7272003: 0.7322004: 0.7412005: 0.7462006: 0.7572007: 0.7612008: 0.7652009: 0.7712010: 0.7782011: 0.7872012: 0.7952013: 0.7942014: 0.7952015: 0.7882016: 0.7912017: 0.7932018: 0.7902019: 0.7872020: 0.7752021: 0.7772022: 0.7932023: 0.799

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
77.8 years2024at birthUp 5.4 years from 72.5 years in 2005
Internet users
85%2024of people onlineUp 77 points from 9% in 2006
Urban population
77%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 9 points from 68% in 2006
Births per woman
1.682024births per womanDown 0.08 from 1.76 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
1%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 2 points from 98% in 2005
Infant mortality
102024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 13 from 23 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
9.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 2.5 t from 6.5 t in 2005
Forest area
7%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 6% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Ancient Persian culture and ultra cheap for dollar earners, but sanctions limit access. The case against is the UK's advice against travel, a low peace ranking and polluted air.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalTehran
  • LanguagesPersian (Farsi)
  • CurrencyIranian rial (IRR)
  • Area1,622,500 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
Every figure

Everything we hold on Iran

Compare Iran

Borders

AfghanistanArmeniaAzerbaijanIraqPakistanTurkeyTurkmenistan

Side by side

Compare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Iran's Human Development Index?

Iran's Human Development Index is 0.799 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #75 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Iran safe?

Iran scores 2.76 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #143 of 161 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.