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Population in Iran compared to Japan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 1.31 times bigger than Iran's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 2.61% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Iran vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Japan
2100 80,713,760 76,978,998
2099 81,246,718 77,363,458
2098 81,770,953 77,742,445
2097 82,295,714 78,118,375
2096 82,818,575 78,498,614
2095 83,338,446 78,875,245
2094 83,854,648 79,250,325
2093 84,371,569 79,628,057
2092 84,888,626 80,007,967
2091 85,410,099 80,383,529
2090 85,934,675 80,760,724
2089 86,466,409 81,140,553
2088 87,004,165 81,521,696
2087 87,549,685 81,908,373
2086 88,105,571 82,304,497
2085 88,668,329 82,709,534
2084 89,239,709 83,123,058
2083 89,817,194 83,544,006
2082 90,402,538 83,980,325
2081 90,995,822 84,429,305
2080 91,595,122 84,899,768
2079 92,196,842 85,387,247
2078 92,801,160 85,897,934
2077 93,405,954 86,434,291
2076 94,007,669 86,993,007
2075 94,606,607 87,577,777
2074 95,197,577 88,190,392
2073 95,783,994 88,834,763
2072 96,355,853 89,499,356
2071 96,915,335 90,184,464
2070 97,460,813 90,899,136
2069 97,988,897 91,625,421
2068 98,496,927 92,367,969
2067 98,978,509 93,113,499
2066 99,439,391 93,869,240
2065 99,877,457 94,633,430
2064 100,288,977 95,391,433
2063 100,668,199 96,148,081
2062 101,017,348 96,902,907
2061 101,332,810 97,654,031
2060 101,612,261 98,400,894
2059 101,858,931 99,144,216
2058 102,061,144 99,868,968
2057 102,228,085 100,585,601
2056 102,358,266 101,295,868
2055 102,449,092 101,989,736
2054 102,498,594 102,683,462
2053 102,508,245 103,359,083
2052 102,480,373 104,036,901
2051 102,417,847 104,706,698
2050 102,318,917 105,377,283
2049 102,189,816 106,053,011
2048 102,024,233 106,731,207
2047 101,832,213 107,419,237
2046 101,613,554 108,115,358
2045 101,371,784 108,820,982
2044 101,104,998 109,529,333
2043 100,818,045 110,245,586
2042 100,512,032 110,968,174
2041 100,188,214 111,704,629
2040 99,849,875 112,438,759
2039 99,501,869 113,175,948
2038 99,137,385 113,915,783
2037 98,759,167 114,662,374
2036 98,366,612 115,410,956
2035 97,963,082 116,162,381
2034 97,546,148 116,911,001
2033 97,118,106 117,652,676
2032 96,671,440 118,393,188
2031 96,204,118 119,127,425
2030 95,718,604 119,856,131
2029 95,195,996 120,574,242
2028 94,623,034 121,287,543
2027 93,987,260 121,989,133
2026 93,276,075 122,677,250
2025 92,478,162 123,339,586
2024 91,567,738 123,975,371
2023 90,608,707 124,516,650
2022 89,524,246 125,124,989
2021 88,455,488 125,681,593
2020 87,723,443 126,261,000
2019 87,051,648 126,633,000
2018 86,117,998 126,811,000
2017 85,026,754 126,972,000
2016 83,812,228 127,076,000
2015 82,619,362 127,141,000
2014 81,502,045 127,276,000
2013 80,414,686 127,445,000
2012 79,370,580 127,629,000
2011 78,383,598 127,833,000
2010 77,420,842 128,070,000
2009 76,457,825 128,047,000
2008 75,514,204 128,063,000
2007 74,602,648 128,001,000
2006 73,392,747 127,854,000
2005 71,828,455 127,773,000
2004 70,256,316 127,761,000
2003 68,769,340 127,718,000
2002 68,011,317 127,445,000
2001 67,452,005 127,149,000
2000 66,418,659 126,843,000
1999 65,445,391 126,631,000
1998 64,519,859 126,400,000
1997 63,639,638 126,057,000
1996 62,881,300 125,757,000
1995 62,205,567 125,472,000
1994 61,520,598 125,178,000
1993 61,403,543 124,829,000
1992 61,184,983 124,425,000
1991 59,986,931 123,964,000
1990 58,380,092 123,478,000
1989 56,704,914 123,069,000
1988 55,072,694 122,578,000
1987 53,323,493 122,069,000
1986 51,446,045 121,482,000
1985 49,582,289 120,837,000
1984 47,793,998 120,083,000
1983 46,029,535 119,307,000
1982 44,272,141 118,480,000
1981 41,989,312 117,661,000
1980 39,842,324 116,807,000
1979 38,424,952 115,890,000
1978 37,126,535 114,913,000
1977 35,933,181 113,872,000
1976 34,837,271 112,775,000
1975 33,802,973 111,573,000
1974 32,796,463 110,162,000
1973 31,839,838 108,707,000
1972 30,921,179 107,188,000
1971 30,029,071 105,697,000
1970 29,145,100 103,403,000
1969 28,273,482 102,219,000
1968 27,437,391 101,011,000
1967 26,628,432 99,879,000
1966 25,829,270 98,851,000
1965 25,036,978 97,952,000
1964 24,262,859 96,903,000
1963 23,519,005 95,900,000
1962 22,807,907 94,933,000
1961 22,125,726 94,055,000
1960 21,470,434 93,216,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Japan
2100 -0.66% -0.5%
2099 -0.64% -0.49%
2098 -0.64% -0.48%
2097 -0.63% -0.48%
2096 -0.62% -0.48%
2095 -0.62% -0.47%
2094 -0.61% -0.47%
2093 -0.61% -0.47%
2092 -0.61% -0.47%
2091 -0.61% -0.47%
2090 -0.61% -0.47%
2089 -0.62% -0.47%
2088 -0.62% -0.47%
2087 -0.63% -0.48%
2086 -0.63% -0.49%
2085 -0.64% -0.5%
2084 -0.64% -0.5%
2083 -0.65% -0.52%
2082 -0.65% -0.53%
2081 -0.65% -0.55%
2080 -0.65% -0.57%
2079 -0.65% -0.59%
2078 -0.65% -0.62%
2077 -0.64% -0.64%
2076 -0.63% -0.67%
2075 -0.62% -0.69%
2074 -0.61% -0.73%
2073 -0.59% -0.74%
2072 -0.58% -0.76%
2071 -0.56% -0.79%
2070 -0.54% -0.79%
2069 -0.52% -0.8%
2068 -0.49% -0.8%
2067 -0.46% -0.81%
2066 -0.44% -0.81%
2065 -0.41% -0.79%
2064 -0.38% -0.79%
2063 -0.35% -0.78%
2062 -0.31% -0.77%
2061 -0.28% -0.76%
2060 -0.24% -0.75%
2059 -0.2% -0.73%
2058 -0.16% -0.71%
2057 -0.13% -0.7%
2056 -0.09% -0.68%
2055 -0.05% -0.68%
2054 -0.009% -0.65%
2053 0.03% -0.65%
2052 0.06% -0.64%
2051 0.1% -0.64%
2050 0.13% -0.64%
2049 0.16% -0.64%
2048 0.19% -0.64%
2047 0.22% -0.64%
2046 0.24% -0.65%
2045 0.26% -0.65%
2044 0.28% -0.65%
2043 0.3% -0.65%
2042 0.32% -0.66%
2041 0.34% -0.65%
2040 0.35% -0.65%
2039 0.37% -0.65%
2038 0.38% -0.65%
2037 0.4% -0.65%
2036 0.41% -0.65%
2035 0.43% -0.64%
2034 0.44% -0.63%
2033 0.46% -0.63%
2032 0.49% -0.62%
2031 0.51% -0.61%
2030 0.55% -0.6%
2029 0.61% -0.59%
2028 0.68% -0.58%
2027 0.76% -0.56%
2026 0.86% -0.54%
2025 0.99% -0.51%
2024 1.06% -0.43%
2023 1.21% -0.49%
2022 1.21% -0.44%
2021 0.83% -0.46%
2020 0.77% -0.29%
2019 1.08% -0.14%
2018 1.28% -0.13%
2017 1.45% -0.08%
2016 1.44% -0.05%
2015 1.37% -0.11%
2014 1.35% -0.13%
2013 1.32% -0.14%
2012 1.26% -0.16%
2011 1.24% -0.19%
2010 1.26% 0.02%
2009 1.25% -0.01%
2008 1.22% 0.05%
2007 1.65% 0.11%
2006 2.18% 0.06%
2005 2.24% 0.009%
2004 2.16% 0.03%
2003 1.11% 0.21%
2002 0.83% 0.23%
2001 1.56% 0.24%
2000 1.49% 0.17%
1999 1.43% 0.18%
1998 1.38% 0.27%
1997 1.21% 0.24%
1996 1.09% 0.23%
1995 1.11% 0.23%
1994 0.19% 0.28%
1993 0.36% 0.32%
1992 2% 0.37%
1991 2.75% 0.39%
1990 2.95% 0.33%
1989 2.96% 0.4%
1988 3.28% 0.42%
1987 3.65% 0.48%
1986 3.76% 0.53%
1985 3.74% 0.63%
1984 3.83% 0.65%
1983 3.97% 0.7%
1982 5.44% 0.7%
1981 5.39% 0.73%
1980 3.69% 0.79%
1979 3.5% 0.85%
1978 3.32% 0.91%
1977 3.15% 0.97%
1976 3.06% 1.08%
1975 3.07% 1.28%
1974 3% 1.34%
1973 2.97% 1.42%
1972 2.97% 1.41%
1971 3.03% 2.22%
1970 3.08% 1.16%
1969 3.05% 1.2%
1968 3.04% 1.13%
1967 3.09% 1.04%
1966 3.16% 0.92%
1965 3.19% 1.08%
1964 3.16% 1.05%
1963 3.12% 1.02%
1962 3.08% 0.93%
1961 3.05% 0.9%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Iran Japan
Current population
93468444
122677250
Population rank 17/197 12/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 1.48%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
58.3 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
42.2 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,627 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +959,031 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 185/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +140,579
Net migration rank 14/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 140,579
2024 - 190,156 - 153,357
2023 750,150 262,044 -871,617 175,003
2022 753,525 403,190 -825,825 175,003
2021 645,725 334,967 -640,976 -34,996
2020 663,978 -180,680 -542,923 42,001
2019 893,063 -32,794 -531,858 318,190
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 -456,520 320,601
2017 1,140,549 34,849 -406,310 322,564
2016 1,186,949 66,630 -343,106 314,732
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 -292,424 168,896
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 -267,279 58,109
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 -242,146 66,449
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 -229,733 67,904
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 -204,533 97,720
2010 980,380 -12,849 -128,070 131,860
2009 958,322 211 -76,828 125,450
2008 940,983 -12,184 -51,225 142,605
2007 919,254 -24,950 -25,600 138,024
2006 884,529 640,932 12,785 130,065
2005 837,305 765,873 -25,554 113,017
2004 801,203 739,996 76,656 69,014
2003 732,600 700,222 114,946 74,875
2002 752,205 -668,962 178,423 60,864
2001 743,658 291,692 203,438 59,563
2000 731,203 300,133 228,317 23,468
1999 723,237 191,988 202,610 56,901
1998 717,655 218,171 265,440 45,912
1997 726,574 98,009 277,325 43,366
1996 784,508 -92,435 314,392 25,030
1995 879,648 -220,258 276,039 87,714
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 363,017 154,214
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 312,073 168,836
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 360,833 170,878
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 396,685 161,331
1990 1,530,434 200,711 407,478 124,582
1989 1,609,739 9,460 467,662 31,202
1988 1,614,512 30,688 527,085 51,154
1987 1,639,644 213,524 598,138 28,001
1986 1,659,289 242,411 631,706 27,987
1985 1,661,750 163,999 676,687 -141,323
1984 1,653,051 97,748 756,523 -273,686
1983 1,573,612 204,544 775,495 -269,755
1982 1,514,240 222,390 805,664 -288,550
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 811,861 -278,525
1980 1,361,293 103,674 864,372 -92,314
1979 1,294,306 75,451 950,298 -57,692
1978 1,156,974 70,088 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 1,091,542 68,093 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 1,013,347 18,825 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 929,481 106,921 1,204,989 107
1974 873,369 103,252 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 831,880 104,779 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 804,043 96,614 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 805,830 77,717 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 794,612 89,757 1,230,496 33,731
1969 780,660 78,196 1,195,962 49,447
1968 743,992 69,342 1,191,930 43,593
1967 727,276 77,313 1,258,475 29,632
1966 695,040 98,709 682,072 68,934
1965 663,029 127,808 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 635,589 121,817 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 620,126 110,190 987,770 -100,742
1962 595,538 96,332 901,864 -57,075
1961 594,674 77,811 893,522 -58,882
1960 584,060 54,041 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/japan | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people). In Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/japan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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