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Population in Iran compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 2.54 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 1.57% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Iran vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Saudi Arabia
2100 80,713,760 74,230,118
2099 81,246,718 73,760,045
2098 81,770,953 73,287,526
2097 82,295,714 72,813,125
2096 82,818,575 72,336,039
2095 83,338,446 71,858,206
2094 83,854,648 71,379,928
2093 84,371,569 70,900,460
2092 84,888,626 70,420,464
2091 85,410,099 69,940,749
2090 85,934,675 69,462,214
2089 86,466,409 68,985,976
2088 87,004,165 68,510,277
2087 87,549,685 68,035,545
2086 88,105,571 67,562,521
2085 88,668,329 67,091,615
2084 89,239,709 66,621,667
2083 89,817,194 66,152,653
2082 90,402,538 65,684,321
2081 90,995,822 65,216,102
2080 91,595,122 64,749,128
2079 92,196,842 64,282,393
2078 92,801,160 63,815,918
2077 93,405,954 63,348,712
2076 94,007,669 62,880,120
2075 94,606,607 62,409,793
2074 95,197,577 61,937,628
2073 95,783,994 61,462,662
2072 96,355,853 60,984,202
2071 96,915,335 60,502,791
2070 97,460,813 60,018,216
2069 97,988,897 59,529,456
2068 98,496,927 59,036,086
2067 98,978,509 58,539,487
2066 99,439,391 58,039,687
2065 99,877,457 57,537,106
2064 100,288,977 57,032,172
2063 100,668,199 56,524,331
2062 101,017,348 56,014,549
2061 101,332,810 55,501,467
2060 101,612,261 54,986,901
2059 101,858,931 54,469,809
2058 102,061,144 53,950,469
2057 102,228,085 53,430,639
2056 102,358,266 52,909,061
2055 102,449,092 52,386,571
2054 102,498,594 51,862,312
2053 102,508,245 51,336,335
2052 102,480,373 50,809,100
2051 102,417,847 50,280,719
2050 102,318,917 49,751,739
2049 102,189,816 49,221,828
2048 102,024,233 48,690,143
2047 101,832,213 48,157,605
2046 101,613,554 47,623,246
2045 101,371,784 47,087,215
2044 101,104,998 46,550,306
2043 100,818,045 46,013,232
2042 100,512,032 45,475,200
2041 100,188,214 44,936,131
2040 99,849,875 44,396,093
2039 99,501,869 43,856,006
2038 99,137,385 43,314,707
2037 98,759,167 42,773,375
2036 98,366,612 42,231,639
2035 97,963,082 41,690,245
2034 97,546,148 41,150,029
2033 97,118,106 40,611,021
2032 96,671,440 40,073,144
2031 96,204,118 39,535,357
2030 95,718,604 38,998,581
2029 95,195,996 38,417,447
2028 94,623,034 37,810,902
2027 93,987,260 37,189,969
2026 93,276,075 36,566,201
2025 92,478,162 35,932,673
2024 91,567,738 35,300,280
2023 90,608,707 33,702,731
2022 89,524,246 32,175,224
2021 88,455,488 30,784,383
2020 87,723,443 31,552,510
2019 87,051,648 30,063,799
2018 86,117,998 30,196,281
2017 85,026,754 30,977,355
2016 83,812,228 30,954,198
2015 82,619,362 29,816,382
2014 81,502,045 28,309,273
2013 80,414,686 27,624,004
2012 79,370,580 26,168,861
2011 78,383,598 25,091,867
2010 77,420,842 23,978,487
2009 76,457,825 24,217,654
2008 75,514,204 23,287,877
2007 74,602,648 22,368,313
2006 73,392,747 21,459,144
2005 71,828,455 20,559,890
2004 70,256,316 19,669,480
2003 68,769,340 18,786,767
2002 68,011,317 17,910,910
2001 67,452,005 17,041,397
2000 66,418,659 16,177,722
1999 65,445,391 15,472,075
1998 64,519,859 14,922,185
1997 63,639,638 14,374,943
1996 62,881,300 13,831,009
1995 62,205,567 13,289,245
1994 61,520,598 12,750,040
1993 61,403,543 12,215,862
1992 61,184,983 11,686,676
1991 59,986,931 11,160,744
1990 58,380,092 10,640,691
1989 56,704,914 10,128,394
1988 55,072,694 9,629,165
1987 53,323,493 9,130,194
1986 51,446,045 8,628,639
1985 49,582,289 8,151,779
1984 47,793,998 7,697,307
1983 46,029,535 7,252,941
1982 44,272,141 6,824,486
1981 41,989,312 6,420,551
1980 39,842,324 6,047,997
1979 38,424,952 5,703,698
1978 37,126,535 5,381,902
1977 35,933,181 5,083,048
1976 34,837,271 4,807,933
1975 33,802,973 4,556,287
1974 32,796,463 4,323,632
1973 31,839,838 4,106,344
1972 30,921,179 3,905,722
1971 30,029,071 3,724,031
1970 29,145,100 3,562,470
1969 28,273,482 3,417,114
1968 27,437,391 3,282,711
1967 26,628,432 3,157,242
1966 25,829,270 3,039,887
1965 25,036,978 2,928,771
1964 24,262,859 2,821,968
1963 23,519,005 2,719,341
1962 22,807,907 2,620,910
1961 22,125,726 2,526,347
1960 21,470,434 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.66% 0.64%
2099 -0.64% 0.64%
2098 -0.64% 0.65%
2097 -0.63% 0.66%
2096 -0.62% 0.66%
2095 -0.62% 0.67%
2094 -0.61% 0.68%
2093 -0.61% 0.68%
2092 -0.61% 0.69%
2091 -0.61% 0.69%
2090 -0.61% 0.69%
2089 -0.62% 0.69%
2088 -0.62% 0.7%
2087 -0.63% 0.7%
2086 -0.63% 0.7%
2085 -0.64% 0.71%
2084 -0.64% 0.71%
2083 -0.65% 0.71%
2082 -0.65% 0.72%
2081 -0.65% 0.72%
2080 -0.65% 0.73%
2079 -0.65% 0.73%
2078 -0.65% 0.74%
2077 -0.64% 0.75%
2076 -0.63% 0.75%
2075 -0.62% 0.76%
2074 -0.61% 0.77%
2073 -0.59% 0.78%
2072 -0.58% 0.8%
2071 -0.56% 0.81%
2070 -0.54% 0.82%
2069 -0.52% 0.84%
2068 -0.49% 0.85%
2067 -0.46% 0.86%
2066 -0.44% 0.87%
2065 -0.41% 0.89%
2064 -0.38% 0.9%
2063 -0.35% 0.91%
2062 -0.31% 0.92%
2061 -0.28% 0.94%
2060 -0.24% 0.95%
2059 -0.2% 0.96%
2058 -0.16% 0.97%
2057 -0.13% 0.99%
2056 -0.09% 1%
2055 -0.05% 1.01%
2054 -0.009% 1.02%
2053 0.03% 1.04%
2052 0.06% 1.05%
2051 0.1% 1.06%
2050 0.13% 1.08%
2049 0.16% 1.09%
2048 0.19% 1.11%
2047 0.22% 1.12%
2046 0.24% 1.14%
2045 0.26% 1.15%
2044 0.28% 1.17%
2043 0.3% 1.18%
2042 0.32% 1.2%
2041 0.34% 1.22%
2040 0.35% 1.23%
2039 0.37% 1.25%
2038 0.38% 1.27%
2037 0.4% 1.28%
2036 0.41% 1.3%
2035 0.43% 1.31%
2034 0.44% 1.33%
2033 0.46% 1.34%
2032 0.49% 1.36%
2031 0.51% 1.38%
2030 0.55% 1.51%
2029 0.61% 1.6%
2028 0.68% 1.67%
2027 0.76% 1.71%
2026 0.86% 1.76%
2025 0.99% 1.79%
2024 1.06% 4.74%
2023 1.21% 4.75%
2022 1.21% 4.52%
2021 0.83% -2.43%
2020 0.77% 4.95%
2019 1.08% -0.44%
2018 1.28% -2.52%
2017 1.45% 0.07%
2016 1.44% 3.82%
2015 1.37% 5.32%
2014 1.35% 2.48%
2013 1.32% 5.56%
2012 1.26% 4.29%
2011 1.24% 4.64%
2010 1.26% -0.99%
2009 1.25% 3.99%
2008 1.22% 4.11%
2007 1.65% 4.24%
2006 2.18% 4.37%
2005 2.24% 4.53%
2004 2.16% 4.7%
2003 1.11% 4.89%
2002 0.83% 5.1%
2001 1.56% 5.34%
2000 1.49% 4.56%
1999 1.43% 3.69%
1998 1.38% 3.81%
1997 1.21% 3.93%
1996 1.09% 4.08%
1995 1.11% 4.23%
1994 0.19% 4.37%
1993 0.36% 4.53%
1992 2% 4.71%
1991 2.75% 4.89%
1990 2.95% 5.06%
1989 2.96% 5.18%
1988 3.28% 5.47%
1987 3.65% 5.81%
1986 3.76% 5.85%
1985 3.74% 5.9%
1984 3.83% 6.13%
1983 3.97% 6.28%
1982 5.44% 6.29%
1981 5.39% 6.16%
1980 3.69% 6.04%
1979 3.5% 5.98%
1978 3.32% 5.88%
1977 3.15% 5.72%
1976 3.06% 5.52%
1975 3.07% 5.38%
1974 3% 5.29%
1973 2.97% 5.14%
1972 2.97% 4.88%
1971 3.03% 4.54%
1970 3.08% 4.25%
1969 3.05% 4.09%
1968 3.04% 3.97%
1967 3.09% 3.86%
1966 3.16% 3.79%
1965 3.19% 3.78%
1964 3.16% 3.77%
1963 3.12% 3.76%
1962 3.08% 3.74%
1961 3.05% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Iran Saudi Arabia
Current population
93468444
36734925
Population rank 17/197 44/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.44%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
19.7 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
57 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 4/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +119,738
Net migration rank 14/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 119,738
2024 - 190,156 - 122,170
2023 750,150 262,044 474,366 325,691
2022 753,525 403,190 406,920 977,072
2021 645,725 334,967 409,032 -106,287
2020 663,978 -180,680 447,036 -74,725
2019 893,063 -32,794 474,407 191,582
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 528,767 -988,751
2017 1,140,549 34,849 546,751 -920,812
2016 1,186,949 66,630 537,829 -26,997
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 511,023 465,292
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 493,431 469,144
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 475,299 485,794
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 465,649 479,206
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 443,675 491,253
2010 980,380 -12,849 418,641 504,955
2009 958,322 211 438,557 496,229
2008 940,983 -12,184 433,457 491,337
2007 919,254 -24,950 425,199 489,136
2006 884,529 640,932 399,333 504,661
2005 837,305 765,873 375,938 518,565
2004 801,203 739,996 362,843 523,472
2003 732,600 700,222 364,520 514,606
2002 752,205 -668,962 372,099 500,508
2001 743,658 291,692 382,153 484,252
2000 731,203 300,133 392,407 468,515
1999 723,237 191,988 390,112 160,263
1998 717,655 218,171 389,499 159,898
1997 726,574 98,009 385,033 160,066
1996 784,508 -92,435 382,248 160,532
1995 879,648 -220,258 380,231 160,512
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 377,351 160,306
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 372,621 158,074
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 366,763 160,908
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 361,329 162,857
1990 1,530,434 200,711 355,495 160,416
1989 1,609,739 9,460 349,399 159,273
1988 1,614,512 30,688 342,865 146,918
1987 1,639,644 213,524 333,088 175,075
1986 1,659,289 242,411 322,340 172,606
1985 1,661,750 163,999 310,558 148,208
1984 1,653,051 97,748 296,615 153,562
1983 1,573,612 204,544 280,616 157,930
1982 1,514,240 222,390 264,831 153,528
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 249,156 140,355
1980 1,361,293 103,674 234,372 121,220
1979 1,294,306 75,451 220,186 112,826
1978 1,156,974 70,088 205,331 105,263
1977 1,091,542 68,093 191,103 96,015
1976 1,013,347 18,825 178,024 85,083
1975 929,481 106,921 166,223 73,960
1974 873,369 103,252 155,478 69,653
1973 831,880 104,779 145,450 63,995
1972 804,043 96,614 136,360 55,439
1971 805,830 77,717 127,600 43,989
1970 794,612 89,757 120,440 31,097
1969 780,660 78,196 113,859 25,312
1968 743,992 69,342 108,281 21,366
1967 727,276 77,313 103,343 17,947
1966 695,040 98,709 98,361 15,054
1965 663,029 127,808 93,820 15,000
1964 635,589 121,817 89,776 15,000
1963 620,126 110,190 85,480 15,000
1962 595,538 96,332 81,393 15,000
1961 594,674 77,811 77,743 15,000
1960 584,060 54,041 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/iran/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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