Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 51,649,918 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 +1.19% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Iran vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran South Korea
2100 80,713,760 22,012,503
2099 81,246,718 22,335,528
2098 81,770,953 22,668,719
2097 82,295,714 23,009,661
2096 82,818,575 23,360,151
2095 83,338,446 23,722,747
2094 83,854,648 24,093,391
2093 84,371,569 24,473,038
2092 84,888,626 24,860,975
2091 85,410,099 25,255,379
2090 85,934,675 25,655,577
2089 86,466,409 26,060,945
2088 87,004,165 26,470,073
2087 87,549,685 26,884,813
2086 88,105,571 27,301,913
2085 88,668,329 27,723,736
2084 89,239,709 28,147,480
2083 89,817,194 28,578,182
2082 90,402,538 29,012,953
2081 90,995,822 29,456,022
2080 91,595,122 29,901,880
2079 92,196,842 30,352,062
2078 92,801,160 30,809,176
2077 93,405,954 31,273,700
2076 94,007,669 31,744,480
2075 94,606,607 32,221,226
2074 95,197,577 32,706,020
2073 95,783,994 33,196,556
2072 96,355,853 33,696,490
2071 96,915,335 34,203,935
2070 97,460,813 34,719,324
2069 97,988,897 35,241,850
2068 98,496,927 35,762,799
2067 98,978,509 36,292,307
2066 99,439,391 36,826,655
2065 99,877,457 37,368,086
2064 100,288,977 37,916,439
2063 100,668,199 38,469,051
2062 101,017,348 39,028,473
2061 101,332,810 39,584,621
2060 101,612,261 40,149,830
2059 101,858,931 40,712,514
2058 102,061,144 41,277,134
2057 102,228,085 41,833,887
2056 102,358,266 42,377,427
2055 102,449,092 42,909,302
2054 102,498,594 43,427,254
2053 102,508,245 43,938,741
2052 102,480,373 44,441,106
2051 102,417,847 44,923,604
2050 102,318,917 45,385,311
2049 102,189,816 45,832,153
2048 102,024,233 46,258,529
2047 101,832,213 46,668,898
2046 101,613,554 47,056,404
2045 101,371,784 47,433,205
2044 101,104,998 47,797,411
2043 100,818,045 48,144,730
2042 100,512,032 48,478,991
2041 100,188,214 48,806,273
2040 99,849,875 49,115,658
2039 99,501,869 49,412,830
2038 99,137,385 49,694,340
2037 98,759,167 49,957,504
2036 98,366,612 50,200,702
2035 97,963,082 50,426,000
2034 97,546,148 50,632,962
2033 97,118,106 50,821,090
2032 96,671,440 50,987,020
2031 96,204,118 51,134,940
2030 95,718,604 51,267,908
2029 95,195,996 51,385,868
2028 94,623,034 51,486,791
2027 93,987,260 51,576,746
2026 93,276,075 51,649,918
2025 92,478,162 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% 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 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M 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 0.99% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Iran South Korea
Current population
93468444
51649918
Population rank 17/197 31/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.62%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
13.7 minutes
One birth every
26.9 seconds
2.26 minutes
One death every
1.24 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +105
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 160/197
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 - 190,156 - 75,963
2023 750,150 262,044 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 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 (1960–2024, 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/south-korea | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.