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Population density: Iran vs Lebanon compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iran has a population density of 148.9 people per square mile compared to 1,492 people in Lebanon. Iran has 193,748 sq ft of land per person vs 19,377 sq ft in Lebanon. Iran and Lebanon rank 134th and 14th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iran has 1.13% of the world's population and 1.09% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.07% of the population and 0.007% of the land area for Lebanon, making the population density in Iran 90% lower than in Lebanon.

Population density by year

Iran
Lebanon

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iran Lebanon
2026 148.9 1,492
2025 147.6 1,480
2024 146.2 1,470
2023 144.6 1,462
2022 142.9 1,454
2021 141.2 1,448
2020 140 1,444
2019 139 1,467
2018 137.5 1,515
2017 135.7 1,560
2016 133.3 1,601
2015 131.4 1,639
2014 129.6 1,607
2013 127.9 1,454
2012 126.2 1,326
2011 124.6 1,290
2010 123.1 1,276
2009 121.6 1,264
2008 120.1 1,247
2007 118.6 1,226
2006 116.7 1,203
2005 114.2 1,183
2004 111.7 1,164
2003 109.4 1,146
2002 108.1 1,130
2001 107.3 1,114
2000 105.6 1,096
1999 104.1 1,077
1998 102.6 1,059
1997 101.2 1,040
1996 100 1,022
1995 98.9 1,003
1994 97.8 985
1993 97.6 967
1992 97.3 949
1991 95.4 929
1990 92.8 910
1989 90.2 893
1988 87.6 875
1987 84.8 857
1986 81.8 836
1985 78.8 815
1984 76 798
1983 73.2 784
1982 70.4 773
1981 66.8 762
1980 63.4 746
1979 61.1 730
1978 59 715
1977 57.1 699
1976 55.4 690
1975 53.8 682
1974 52.2 667
1973 50.6 651
1972 49.2 635
1971 47.8 619
1970 46.3 604
1969 45 589
1968 43.6 574
1967 42.3 559
1966 41.1 544
1965 39.8 529
1964 38.6 514
1963 37.4 499
1962 36.3 483
1961 35.2 468

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iran/lebanon | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iran increased by 27.6%, compared to a 24% growth in Lebanon.

In 2006, Iran ranked 130th by population density and is 134th now. Lebanon was 16th in 2006 and ranks 14th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iran
Lebanon
1x
Year Urban population
Iran Lebanon
2024 77% 90.7%
2023 76.7% 90.5%
2022 76.3% 90.2%
2021 76% 90%
2020 75.6% 89.7%
2019 75.2% 89.5%
2018 74.8% 89.3%
2017 74.4% 89.1%
2016 73.9% 88.8%
2015 73.4% 88.6%
2014 72.8% 88.4%
2013 72.3% 88.2%
2012 71.8% 88%
2011 71.2% 87.8%
2010 70.6% 87.6%
2009 70% 87.5%
2008 69.4% 87.3%
2007 68.8% 87.1%
2006 68.3% 86.9%
2005 67.9% 86.8%
2004 67.3% 86.6%
2003 66.6% 86.4%
2002 65.9% 86.3%
2001 65.2% 86.1%
2000 64.5% 86%
1999 63.7% 85.9%
1998 62.9% 85.8%
1997 62.1% 85.6%
1996 61.1% 85.4%
1995 60.4% 85.1%
1994 59.6% 84.8%
1993 58.7% 84.5%
1992 57.9% 84.2%
1991 56.9% 83.8%
1990 56.5% 83.3%
1989 55.9% 82.9%
1988 55.4% 82.4%
1987 54.8% 81.8%
1986 54.2% 81.1%
1985 53.6% 80.3%
1984 52.8% 79.3%
1983 52.1% 78.2%
1982 51.4% 77.1%
1981 50.7% 75.8%
1980 49.9% 74.5%
1979 49.2% 73.1%
1978 48.5% 71.7%
1977 47.8% 70.2%
1976 46.8% 68.7%
1975 46.1% 67.1%
1974 45.2% 65.6%
1973 44.3% 64.1%
1972 43.3% 62.5%
1971 42.4% 61%
1970 41.5% 59.5%
1969 40.6% 57.9%
1968 39.7% 56.2%
1967 38.9% 54.4%
1966 37.7% 52.5%
1965 37.1% 50.6%
1964 36.6% 48.7%
1963 35.9% 46.8%
1962 35.3% 45%
1961 34.6% 43.3%
1960 34% 41.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iran/lebanon | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.3% to 77% in Iran and from 86.6% to 90.7% in Lebanon.

Densely populated cities

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
Lebanon
City Population
Beirut 2.42M
Tripoli 863K
Sidon 164K
Tyre 160K
Jounieh 102K
Zahle 100K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iran/lebanon | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2006–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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