Population by labor force status in Iran
Iran: Population by labor force status was 20.35 million people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
20.35 million people
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
19th
of 186 countries
All-time high
26.76 million people
in 1993
All-time low
18.09 million people
in 2009
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Iran, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, population by labor force status in Iran stood at 20.35 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Iran peaked at 26.76 million people in 1993 and was at its lowest, 18.09 million people, in 2009.
That places Iran 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Population by labor force status in Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 26.33 million people | — |
| 1992 | 26.70 million people | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 26.76 million people | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 26.56 million people | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 26.17 million people | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 25.60 million people | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 24.88 million people | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 24.06 million people | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 23.18 million people | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 22.29 million people | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 21.41 million people | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 20.49 million people | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 19.74 million people | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 19.24 million people | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 18.85 million people | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 18.57 million people | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 18.33 million people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 18.14 million people | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 18.09 million people | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 18.15 million people | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 18.29 million people | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 18.48 million people | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 18.74 million people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 19.08 million people | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 19.49 million people | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 19.92 million people | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 20.32 million people | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 20.64 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 20.82 million people | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 20.86 million people | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 20.83 million people | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 20.79 million people | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 20.69 million people | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 20.55 million people | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 20.35 million people | -1.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 20.35 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.99 million people, 10.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iran's 20.35 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.91 million people, 7.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.58 million people | 23.18 million people | 26.76 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.52 million people | 18.09 million people | 22.29 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.39 million people | 18.15 million people | 20.82 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.68 million people | 20.35 million people | 20.86 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More work & labour data for Iran
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 44,188 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 40.34 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 29,874 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 8.53 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 2.43 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 57,320 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 20,416 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 36.89 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.89 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.574 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Iran?
- Population by labor force status in Iran was 20.35 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 26.76 million people in 1993.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.09 million people in 2009.
- How does Iran rank for population by labor force status?
- Iran ranks 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).