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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 7.47 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 1.28% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Iran vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran South Sudan
2100 80,713,760 24,086,901
2099 81,246,718 24,081,477
2098 81,770,953 24,063,461
2097 82,295,714 24,065,268
2096 82,818,575 24,054,483
2095 83,338,446 24,046,345
2094 83,854,648 24,047,776
2093 84,371,569 24,039,017
2092 84,888,626 24,019,054
2091 85,410,099 24,000,308
2090 85,934,675 23,978,496
2089 86,466,409 23,937,487
2088 87,004,165 23,892,166
2087 87,549,685 23,857,250
2086 88,105,571 23,803,312
2085 88,668,329 23,759,178
2084 89,239,709 23,687,109
2083 89,817,194 23,617,646
2082 90,402,538 23,541,119
2081 90,995,822 23,466,449
2080 91,595,122 23,391,758
2079 92,196,842 23,294,252
2078 92,801,160 23,197,067
2077 93,405,954 23,086,584
2076 94,007,669 22,987,331
2075 94,606,607 22,868,587
2074 95,197,577 22,726,189
2073 95,783,994 22,583,672
2072 96,355,853 22,438,943
2071 96,915,335 22,288,026
2070 97,460,813 22,151,650
2069 97,988,897 22,003,659
2068 98,496,927 21,829,800
2067 98,978,509 21,662,211
2066 99,439,391 21,496,881
2065 99,877,457 21,317,455
2064 100,288,977 21,142,002
2063 100,668,199 20,965,122
2062 101,017,348 20,785,055
2061 101,332,810 20,608,964
2060 101,612,261 20,430,857
2059 101,858,931 20,235,022
2058 102,061,144 20,048,974
2057 102,228,085 19,853,696
2056 102,358,266 19,659,362
2055 102,449,092 19,464,297
2054 102,498,594 19,257,481
2053 102,508,245 19,060,517
2052 102,480,373 18,840,461
2051 102,417,847 18,633,198
2050 102,318,917 18,434,212
2049 102,189,816 18,230,881
2048 102,024,233 18,021,026
2047 101,832,213 17,806,282
2046 101,613,554 17,579,173
2045 101,371,784 17,355,041
2044 101,104,998 17,121,972
2043 100,818,045 16,888,278
2042 100,512,032 16,645,354
2041 100,188,214 16,396,768
2040 99,849,875 16,142,816
2039 99,501,869 15,889,952
2038 99,137,385 15,628,043
2037 98,759,167 15,363,975
2036 98,366,612 15,091,275
2035 97,963,082 14,815,307
2034 97,546,148 14,543,511
2033 97,118,106 14,278,180
2032 96,671,440 14,007,134
2031 96,204,118 13,730,637
2030 95,718,604 13,465,615
2029 95,195,996 13,206,477
2028 94,623,034 12,947,082
2027 93,987,260 12,692,769
2026 93,276,075 12,439,296
2025 92,478,162 12,193,102
2024 91,567,738 11,943,408
2023 90,608,707 11,483,374
2022 89,524,246 11,021,177
2021 88,455,488 10,865,780
2020 87,723,443 10,698,467
2019 87,051,648 10,423,384
2018 86,117,998 10,122,977
2017 85,026,754 10,259,154
2016 83,812,228 10,830,102
2015 82,619,362 11,107,561
2014 81,502,045 11,235,073
2013 80,414,686 11,166,275
2012 79,370,580 10,756,240
2011 78,383,598 10,288,109
2010 77,420,842 9,745,953
2009 76,457,825 9,243,556
2008 75,514,204 8,817,647
2007 74,602,648 8,388,788
2006 73,392,747 7,976,526
2005 71,828,455 7,590,143
2004 70,256,316 7,233,041
2003 68,769,340 6,903,127
2002 68,011,317 6,596,806
2001 67,452,005 6,308,391
2000 66,418,659 6,032,267
1999 65,445,391 5,771,628
1998 64,519,859 5,620,068
1997 63,639,638 5,509,136
1996 62,881,300 5,356,925
1995 62,205,567 5,225,836
1994 61,520,598 5,071,184
1993 61,403,543 4,956,002
1992 61,184,983 4,909,749
1991 59,986,931 4,836,677
1990 58,380,092 4,737,633
1989 56,704,914 4,713,229
1988 55,072,694 4,848,029
1987 53,323,493 4,962,395
1986 51,446,045 4,921,240
1985 49,582,289 4,834,296
1984 47,793,998 4,750,627
1983 46,029,535 4,661,574
1982 44,272,141 4,557,686
1981 41,989,312 4,447,272
1980 39,842,324 4,339,030
1979 38,424,952 4,232,605
1978 37,126,535 4,127,657
1977 35,933,181 4,024,032
1976 34,837,271 3,921,910
1975 33,802,973 3,821,494
1974 32,796,463 3,723,259
1973 31,839,838 3,627,383
1972 30,921,179 3,542,497
1971 30,029,071 3,468,646
1970 29,145,100 3,409,614
1969 28,273,482 3,365,533
1968 27,437,391 3,321,528
1967 26,628,432 3,277,648
1966 25,829,270 3,236,423
1965 25,036,978 3,189,835
1964 24,262,859 3,129,918
1963 23,519,005 3,072,669
1962 22,807,907 3,024,308
1961 22,125,726 2,976,724
1960 21,470,434 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran South Sudan
2100 -0.66% 0.02%
2099 -0.64% 0.07%
2098 -0.64% -0.008%
2097 -0.63% 0.04%
2096 -0.62% 0.03%
2095 -0.62% -0.006%
2094 -0.61% 0.04%
2093 -0.61% 0.08%
2092 -0.61% 0.08%
2091 -0.61% 0.09%
2090 -0.61% 0.17%
2089 -0.62% 0.19%
2088 -0.62% 0.15%
2087 -0.63% 0.23%
2086 -0.63% 0.19%
2085 -0.64% 0.3%
2084 -0.64% 0.29%
2083 -0.65% 0.33%
2082 -0.65% 0.32%
2081 -0.65% 0.32%
2080 -0.65% 0.42%
2079 -0.65% 0.42%
2078 -0.65% 0.48%
2077 -0.64% 0.43%
2076 -0.63% 0.52%
2075 -0.62% 0.63%
2074 -0.61% 0.63%
2073 -0.59% 0.64%
2072 -0.58% 0.68%
2071 -0.56% 0.62%
2070 -0.54% 0.67%
2069 -0.52% 0.8%
2068 -0.49% 0.77%
2067 -0.46% 0.77%
2066 -0.44% 0.84%
2065 -0.41% 0.83%
2064 -0.38% 0.84%
2063 -0.35% 0.87%
2062 -0.31% 0.85%
2061 -0.28% 0.87%
2060 -0.24% 0.97%
2059 -0.2% 0.93%
2058 -0.16% 0.98%
2057 -0.13% 0.99%
2056 -0.09% 1%
2055 -0.05% 1.07%
2054 -0.009% 1.03%
2053 0.03% 1.17%
2052 0.06% 1.11%
2051 0.1% 1.08%
2050 0.13% 1.12%
2049 0.16% 1.16%
2048 0.19% 1.21%
2047 0.22% 1.29%
2046 0.24% 1.29%
2045 0.26% 1.36%
2044 0.28% 1.38%
2043 0.3% 1.46%
2042 0.32% 1.52%
2041 0.34% 1.57%
2040 0.35% 1.59%
2039 0.37% 1.68%
2038 0.38% 1.72%
2037 0.4% 1.81%
2036 0.41% 1.86%
2035 0.43% 1.87%
2034 0.44% 1.86%
2033 0.46% 1.94%
2032 0.49% 2.01%
2031 0.51% 1.97%
2030 0.55% 1.96%
2029 0.61% 2%
2028 0.68% 2%
2027 0.76% 2.04%
2026 0.86% 2.02%
2025 0.99% 2.09%
2024 1.06% 4.01%
2023 1.21% 4.19%
2022 1.21% 1.43%
2021 0.83% 1.56%
2020 0.77% 2.64%
2019 1.08% 2.97%
2018 1.28% -1.33%
2017 1.45% -5.27%
2016 1.44% -2.5%
2015 1.37% -1.13%
2014 1.35% 0.62%
2013 1.32% 3.81%
2012 1.26% 4.55%
2011 1.24% 5.56%
2010 1.26% 5.44%
2009 1.25% 4.83%
2008 1.22% 5.11%
2007 1.65% 5.17%
2006 2.18% 5.09%
2005 2.24% 4.94%
2004 2.16% 4.78%
2003 1.11% 4.64%
2002 0.83% 4.57%
2001 1.56% 4.58%
2000 1.49% 4.52%
1999 1.43% 2.7%
1998 1.38% 2.01%
1997 1.21% 2.84%
1996 1.09% 2.51%
1995 1.11% 3.05%
1994 0.19% 2.32%
1993 0.36% 0.94%
1992 2% 1.51%
1991 2.75% 2.09%
1990 2.95% 0.52%
1989 2.96% -2.78%
1988 3.28% -2.3%
1987 3.65% 0.84%
1986 3.76% 1.8%
1985 3.74% 1.76%
1984 3.83% 1.91%
1983 3.97% 2.28%
1982 5.44% 2.48%
1981 5.39% 2.49%
1980 3.69% 2.51%
1979 3.5% 2.54%
1978 3.32% 2.58%
1977 3.15% 2.6%
1976 3.06% 2.63%
1975 3.07% 2.64%
1974 3% 2.64%
1973 2.97% 2.4%
1972 2.97% 2.13%
1971 3.03% 1.73%
1970 3.08% 1.31%
1969 3.05% 1.32%
1968 3.04% 1.34%
1967 3.09% 1.27%
1966 3.16% 1.46%
1965 3.19% 1.91%
1964 3.16% 1.86%
1963 3.12% 1.6%
1962 3.08% 1.6%
1961 3.05% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Iran South Sudan
Current population
93468444
12507858
Population rank 17/197 80/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.15%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
26.9 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
1.24 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 7/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +116,786 +6,145
Net migration rank 14/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 6,145
2024 - 190,156 - 15,374
2023 750,150 262,044 217,966 455,000
2022 753,525 403,190 211,166 40,259
2021 645,725 334,967 213,567 -154,359
2020 663,978 -180,680 212,332 62,935
2019 893,063 -32,794 209,708 65,198
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 168,497 157,408
2017 1,140,549 34,849 72,193 -670,477
2016 1,186,949 66,630 110,553 -654,225
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 148,542 -159,822
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 227,611 -471,523
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 315,983 65,337
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 312,974 125,771
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 303,181 194,325
2010 980,380 -12,849 287,409 299,402
2009 958,322 211 278,859 139,129
2008 940,983 -12,184 268,268 165,557
2007 919,254 -24,950 256,546 167,350
2006 884,529 640,932 246,706 153,926
2005 837,305 765,873 239,272 132,869
2004 801,203 739,996 231,877 110,182
2003 732,600 700,222 225,822 91,951
2002 752,205 -668,962 212,014 82,847
2001 743,658 291,692 204,108 77,856
2000 731,203 300,133 196,055 74,227
1999 723,237 191,988 180,721 70,271
1998 717,655 218,171 -12,157 64,285
1997 726,574 98,009 121,454 48,280
1996 784,508 -92,435 116,728 17,953
1995 879,648 -220,258 110,417 17,077
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 165,407 16,407
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 32,779 15,772
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 28,874 15,077
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 87,873 14,327
1990 1,530,434 200,711 82,900 12,988
1989 1,609,739 9,460 83,735 -130,821
1988 1,614,512 30,688 -125,447 -97,065
1987 1,639,644 213,524 5,756 -11,976
1986 1,659,289 242,411 99,502 -10,973
1985 1,661,750 163,999 95,342 -9,986
1984 1,653,051 97,748 90,970 -8,984
1983 1,573,612 204,544 104,107 -7,986
1982 1,514,240 222,390 118,641 -6,983
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 115,163 -5,994
1980 1,361,293 103,674 112,307 -4,997
1979 1,294,306 75,451 109,540 -3,997
1978 1,156,974 70,088 107,352 -2,998
1977 1,091,542 68,093 104,886 -1,997
1976 1,013,347 18,825 102,346 -995
1975 929,481 106,921 99,882 -395
1974 873,369 103,252 97,181 -192
1973 831,880 104,779 94,765 0
1972 804,043 96,614 74,803 193
1971 805,830 77,717 72,308 394
1970 794,612 89,757 44,776 587
1969 780,660 78,196 42,015 786
1968 743,992 69,342 44,213 995
1967 727,276 77,313 41,357 1,194
1966 695,040 98,709 38,523 1,386
1965 663,029 127,808 51,682 1,591
1964 635,589 121,817 64,786 1,785
1963 620,126 110,190 46,333 1,591
1962 595,538 96,332 47,406 1,386
1961 594,674 77,811 45,186 1,194
1960 584,060 54,041 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/iran/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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