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Population in Iran compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 1.81 times bigger than South Korea's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.75% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.15% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Iran vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran South Korea
2100 80,660,972 22,001,649
2099 81,193,582 22,324,514
2098 81,717,474 22,657,541
2097 82,241,892 22,998,315
2096 82,764,411 23,348,632
2095 83,283,942 23,711,049
2094 83,799,806 24,081,510
2093 84,316,389 24,460,970
2092 84,833,108 24,848,715
2091 85,354,240 25,242,926
2090 85,878,473 25,642,926
2089 86,409,859 26,048,094
2088 86,947,263 26,457,020
2087 87,492,427 26,871,556
2086 88,047,949 27,288,450
2085 88,610,339 27,710,065
2084 89,181,346 28,133,600
2083 89,758,453 28,564,090
2082 90,343,413 28,998,646
2081 90,936,310 29,441,497
2080 91,535,218 29,887,135
2079 92,136,544 30,337,095
2078 92,740,467 30,793,984
2077 93,344,865 31,258,278
2076 93,946,187 31,728,826
2075 94,544,733 32,205,338
2074 95,135,317 32,689,892
2073 95,721,351 33,180,187
2072 96,292,835 33,679,874
2071 96,851,951 34,187,068
2070 97,397,073 34,702,204
2069 97,924,812 35,224,472
2068 98,432,509 35,745,164
2067 98,913,776 36,274,411
2066 99,374,357 36,808,495
2065 99,812,137 37,349,660
2064 100,223,387 37,897,742
2063 100,602,361 38,450,082
2062 100,951,282 39,009,227
2061 101,266,537 39,565,102
2060 101,545,806 40,130,032
2059 101,792,315 40,692,438
2058 101,994,395 41,256,780
2057 102,161,227 41,813,259
2056 102,291,323 42,356,530
2055 102,382,089 42,888,143
2054 102,431,558 43,405,840
2053 102,441,204 43,917,075
2052 102,413,350 44,419,192
2051 102,350,865 44,901,452
2050 102,251,999 45,362,931
2049 102,122,983 45,809,553
2048 101,957,508 46,235,718
2047 101,765,614 46,645,885
2046 101,547,098 47,033,200
2045 101,305,486 47,409,815
2044 101,038,874 47,773,842
2043 100,752,109 48,120,989
2042 100,446,296 48,455,085
2041 100,122,690 48,782,206
2040 99,784,572 49,091,438
2039 99,436,793 49,388,464
2038 99,072,548 49,669,835
2037 98,694,577 49,932,869
2036 98,302,279 50,175,947
2035 97,899,013 50,401,135
2034 97,482,352 50,607,994
2033 97,054,589 50,796,030
2032 96,608,216 50,961,878
2031 96,141,200 51,109,725
2030 95,656,003 51,242,628
2029 95,133,736 51,360,529
2028 94,561,150 51,461,403
2027 93,925,792 51,551,313
2026 93,215,072 51,624,449
2025 92,417,681 51,684,564
2024 91,567,738 51,751,065
2023 90,608,707 51,712,619
2022 89,524,246 51,672,569
2021 88,455,488 51,769,539
2020 87,723,443 51,836,239
2019 87,051,648 51,764,822
2018 86,117,998 51,585,058
2017 85,026,754 51,361,911
2016 83,812,228 51,217,803
2015 82,619,362 51,014,947
2014 81,502,045 50,746,659
2013 80,414,686 50,428,893
2012 79,370,580 50,199,853
2011 78,383,598 49,936,638
2010 77,420,842 49,554,112
2009 76,457,825 49,307,835
2008 75,514,204 49,054,708
2007 74,602,648 48,683,638
2006 73,392,747 48,438,292
2005 71,828,455 48,184,561
2004 70,256,316 48,082,519
2003 68,769,340 47,892,330
2002 68,011,317 47,644,736
2001 67,452,005 47,370,164
2000 66,418,659 47,008,111
1999 65,445,391 46,616,677
1998 64,519,859 46,286,503
1997 63,639,638 45,953,580
1996 62,881,300 45,524,681
1995 62,205,567 45,092,991
1994 61,520,598 44,641,540
1993 61,403,543 44,194,628
1992 61,184,983 43,747,962
1991 59,986,931 43,295,704
1990 58,380,092 42,869,283
1989 56,704,914 42,449,038
1988 55,072,694 42,031,247
1987 53,323,493 41,621,690
1986 51,446,045 41,213,674
1985 49,582,289 40,805,744
1984 47,793,998 40,405,956
1983 46,029,535 39,910,403
1982 44,272,141 39,326,352
1981 41,989,312 38,723,248
1980 39,842,324 38,123,775
1979 38,424,952 37,534,236
1978 37,126,535 36,969,185
1977 35,933,181 36,411,795
1976 34,837,271 35,848,523
1975 33,802,973 35,280,725
1974 32,796,463 34,692,266
1973 31,839,838 34,103,149
1972 30,921,179 33,505,406
1971 30,029,071 32,882,704
1970 29,145,100 32,240,827
1969 28,273,482 31,544,266
1968 27,437,391 30,838,302
1967 26,628,432 30,130,983
1966 25,829,270 29,435,571
1965 25,036,978 28,704,674
1964 24,262,859 27,984,155
1963 23,519,005 27,261,747
1962 22,807,907 26,513,030
1961 22,125,726 25,765,673
1960 21,470,434 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran South Korea
2100 -0.66% -1.45%
2099 -0.64% -1.47%
2098 -0.64% -1.48%
2097 -0.63% -1.5%
2096 -0.62% -1.53%
2095 -0.62% -1.54%
2094 -0.61% -1.55%
2093 -0.61% -1.56%
2092 -0.61% -1.56%
2091 -0.61% -1.56%
2090 -0.61% -1.56%
2089 -0.62% -1.55%
2088 -0.62% -1.54%
2087 -0.63% -1.53%
2086 -0.63% -1.52%
2085 -0.64% -1.51%
2084 -0.64% -1.51%
2083 -0.65% -1.5%
2082 -0.65% -1.5%
2081 -0.65% -1.49%
2080 -0.65% -1.48%
2079 -0.65% -1.48%
2078 -0.65% -1.49%
2077 -0.64% -1.48%
2076 -0.63% -1.48%
2075 -0.62% -1.48%
2074 -0.61% -1.48%
2073 -0.59% -1.48%
2072 -0.58% -1.48%
2071 -0.56% -1.48%
2070 -0.54% -1.48%
2069 -0.52% -1.46%
2068 -0.49% -1.46%
2067 -0.46% -1.45%
2066 -0.44% -1.45%
2065 -0.41% -1.45%
2064 -0.38% -1.44%
2063 -0.35% -1.43%
2062 -0.31% -1.4%
2061 -0.28% -1.41%
2060 -0.24% -1.38%
2059 -0.2% -1.37%
2058 -0.16% -1.33%
2057 -0.13% -1.28%
2056 -0.09% -1.24%
2055 -0.05% -1.19%
2054 -0.009% -1.16%
2053 0.03% -1.13%
2052 0.06% -1.07%
2051 0.1% -1.02%
2050 0.13% -0.97%
2049 0.16% -0.92%
2048 0.19% -0.88%
2047 0.22% -0.82%
2046 0.24% -0.79%
2045 0.26% -0.76%
2044 0.28% -0.72%
2043 0.3% -0.69%
2042 0.32% -0.67%
2041 0.34% -0.63%
2040 0.35% -0.6%
2039 0.37% -0.57%
2038 0.38% -0.53%
2037 0.4% -0.48%
2036 0.41% -0.45%
2035 0.43% -0.41%
2034 0.44% -0.37%
2033 0.46% -0.33%
2032 0.49% -0.29%
2031 0.51% -0.26%
2030 0.55% -0.23%
2029 0.61% -0.2%
2028 0.68% -0.17%
2027 0.76% -0.14%
2026 0.86% -0.12%
2025 0.93% -0.13%
2024 1.06% 0.07%
2023 1.21% 0.08%
2022 1.21% -0.19%
2021 0.83% -0.13%
2020 0.77% 0.14%
2019 1.08% 0.35%
2018 1.28% 0.43%
2017 1.45% 0.28%
2016 1.44% 0.4%
2015 1.37% 0.53%
2014 1.35% 0.63%
2013 1.32% 0.46%
2012 1.26% 0.53%
2011 1.24% 0.77%
2010 1.26% 0.5%
2009 1.25% 0.52%
2008 1.22% 0.76%
2007 1.65% 0.51%
2006 2.18% 0.53%
2005 2.24% 0.21%
2004 2.16% 0.4%
2003 1.11% 0.52%
2002 0.83% 0.58%
2001 1.56% 0.77%
2000 1.49% 0.84%
1999 1.43% 0.71%
1998 1.38% 0.72%
1997 1.21% 0.94%
1996 1.09% 0.96%
1995 1.11% 1.01%
1994 0.19% 1.01%
1993 0.36% 1.02%
1992 2% 1.04%
1991 2.75% 0.99%
1990 2.95% 0.99%
1989 2.96% 0.99%
1988 3.28% 0.98%
1987 3.65% 0.99%
1986 3.76% 1%
1985 3.74% 0.99%
1984 3.83% 1.24%
1983 3.97% 1.49%
1982 5.44% 1.56%
1981 5.39% 1.57%
1980 3.69% 1.57%
1979 3.5% 1.53%
1978 3.32% 1.53%
1977 3.15% 1.57%
1976 3.06% 1.61%
1975 3.07% 1.7%
1974 3% 1.73%
1973 2.97% 1.78%
1972 2.97% 1.89%
1971 3.03% 1.99%
1970 3.08% 2.21%
1969 3.05% 2.29%
1968 3.04% 2.35%
1967 3.09% 2.36%
1966 3.16% 2.55%
1965 3.19% 2.57%
1964 3.16% 2.65%
1963 3.12% 2.82%
1962 3.08% 2.9%
1961 3.05% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Iran South Korea
Current population
93580141
51624449
Population rank 17/197 31/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.62%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
7.93 minutes
One birth every
27.4 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
1.21 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,329 -182
Annual growth/decline +849,943 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 169/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +65,731
Net migration rank 14/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 65,731
2024 715,785 190,156 -119,027 75,963
2023 750,150 262,044 -124,111 87,800
2022 753,525 403,190 -124,014 87,800
2021 645,725 334,967 -56,947 -16,778
2020 663,978 -180,680 -31,101 112,631
2019 893,063 -32,794 10,353 128,622
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 30,951 118,220
2017 1,140,549 34,849 71,907 104,029
2016 1,186,949 66,630 122,923 91,568
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 163,248 276,427
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 167,464 308,037
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 166,415 301,926
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 215,859 281,866
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 214,728 269,958
2010 980,380 -12,849 213,083 52,042
2009 958,322 211 197,231 5,308
2008 940,983 -12,184 215,841 -19,630
2007 919,254 -24,950 248,286 -42,293
2006 884,529 640,932 203,441 -28,434
2005 837,305 765,873 187,920 -47,821
2004 801,203 739,996 225,988 -42,549
2003 732,600 700,222 244,251 -31,994
2002 752,205 -668,962 247,752 -18,105
2001 743,658 291,692 312,643 -28,006
2000 731,203 300,133 390,167 -84,960
1999 723,237 191,988 368,272 -107,448
1998 717,655 218,171 393,436 -98,044
1997 726,574 98,009 422,773 -109,130
1996 784,508 -92,435 446,142 -115,705
1995 879,648 -220,258 468,967 -208,491
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 473,200 -208,309
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 477,302 -222,802
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 494,352 -265,849
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 467,594 -270,754
1990 1,530,434 200,711 411,546 79,294
1989 1,609,739 9,460 403,266 186,120
1988 1,614,512 30,688 399,297 192,534
1987 1,639,644 213,524 378,758 198,057
1986 1,659,289 242,411 395,651 189,782
1985 1,661,750 163,999 416,219 97,949
1984 1,653,051 97,748 436,384 101,394
1983 1,573,612 204,544 514,844 102,167
1982 1,514,240 222,390 605,626 48,638
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 631,189 18,442
1980 1,361,293 103,674 583,294 -148,341
1979 1,294,306 75,451 623,068 -139,566
1978 1,156,974 70,088 499,084 -85,721
1977 1,091,542 68,093 578,947 -90,737
1976 1,013,347 18,825 530,558 -92,314
1975 929,481 106,921 603,300 -52,332
1974 873,369 103,252 673,030 27,005
1973 831,880 104,779 699,115 35,779
1972 804,043 96,614 740,469 25,382
1971 805,830 77,717 789,185 -6,326
1970 794,612 89,757 747,987 -27,999
1969 780,660 78,196 694,227 -21,175
1968 743,992 69,342 684,487 -16,868
1967 727,276 77,313 692,169 -16,484
1966 695,040 98,709 623,534 -16,688
1965 663,029 127,808 641,090 -146,386
1964 635,589 121,817 655,501 -102,284
1963 620,126 110,190 685,824 -80,226
1962 595,538 96,332 712,590 -94,606
1961 594,674 77,811 730,173 -93,179
1960 584,060 54,041 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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