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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 122,704,252 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 2.6% 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 +1.15% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Iran vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Japan
2100 80,660,972 76,995,942
2099 81,193,582 77,380,486
2098 81,717,474 77,759,557
2097 82,241,892 78,135,569
2096 82,764,411 78,515,892
2095 83,283,942 78,892,606
2094 83,799,806 79,267,768
2093 84,316,389 79,645,584
2092 84,833,108 80,025,578
2091 85,354,240 80,401,222
2090 85,878,473 80,778,500
2089 86,409,859 81,158,413
2088 86,947,263 81,539,639
2087 87,492,427 81,926,401
2086 88,047,949 82,322,612
2085 88,610,339 82,727,738
2084 89,181,346 83,141,354
2083 89,758,453 83,562,394
2082 90,343,413 83,998,809
2081 90,936,310 84,447,888
2080 91,535,218 84,918,455
2079 92,136,544 85,406,042
2078 92,740,467 85,916,840
2077 93,344,865 86,453,316
2076 93,946,187 87,012,155
2075 94,544,733 87,597,053
2074 95,135,317 88,209,803
2073 95,721,351 88,854,316
2072 96,292,835 89,519,055
2071 96,851,951 90,204,314
2070 97,397,073 90,919,143
2069 97,924,812 91,645,589
2068 98,432,509 92,388,299
2067 98,913,776 93,133,993
2066 99,374,357 93,889,902
2065 99,812,137 94,654,259
2064 100,223,387 95,412,429
2063 100,602,361 96,169,244
2062 100,951,282 96,924,236
2061 101,266,537 97,675,525
2060 101,545,806 98,422,553
2059 101,792,315 99,166,038
2058 101,994,395 99,890,950
2057 102,161,227 100,607,740
2056 102,291,323 101,318,164
2055 102,382,089 102,012,184
2054 102,431,558 102,706,063
2053 102,441,204 103,381,833
2052 102,413,350 104,059,800
2051 102,350,865 104,729,745
2050 102,251,999 105,400,477
2049 102,122,983 106,076,354
2048 101,957,508 106,754,699
2047 101,765,614 107,442,881
2046 101,547,098 108,139,155
2045 101,305,486 108,844,934
2044 101,038,874 109,553,441
2043 100,752,109 110,269,851
2042 100,446,296 110,992,599
2041 100,122,690 111,729,216
2040 99,784,572 112,463,507
2039 99,436,793 113,200,859
2038 99,072,548 113,940,856
2037 98,694,577 114,687,611
2036 98,302,279 115,436,359
2035 97,899,013 116,187,949
2034 97,482,352 116,936,734
2033 97,054,589 117,678,572
2032 96,608,216 118,419,247
2031 96,141,200 119,153,646
2030 95,656,003 119,882,512
2029 95,133,736 120,600,781
2028 94,561,150 121,314,239
2027 93,925,792 122,015,984
2026 93,215,072 122,704,252
2025 92,417,681 123,366,734
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% 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 9.27% to 102,251,999 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M 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 0.93% -0.49%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Iran Japan
Current population
93580141
122704252
Population rank 17/197 12/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 1.48%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
52 seconds
One birth every
27.4 seconds
44.6 seconds
One death every
1.21 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,329 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +849,943 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 183/197
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 715,785 190,156 -942,213 153,357
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 89.9% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 8,963,093 people) and 10.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,004,177 people). In Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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