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Population in Iran compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 8 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 1.27% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Iran vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran UAE
2100 80,713,760 26,368,750
2099 81,246,718 26,130,374
2098 81,770,953 25,894,010
2097 82,295,714 25,660,062
2096 82,818,575 25,427,961
2095 83,338,446 25,197,670
2094 83,854,648 24,968,891
2093 84,371,569 24,741,434
2092 84,888,626 24,515,086
2091 85,410,099 24,289,496
2090 85,934,675 24,064,404
2089 86,466,409 23,839,033
2088 87,004,165 23,613,963
2087 87,549,685 23,388,786
2086 88,105,571 23,163,641
2085 88,668,329 22,938,169
2084 89,239,709 22,711,804
2083 89,817,194 22,484,154
2082 90,402,538 22,255,625
2081 90,995,822 22,026,183
2080 91,595,122 21,796,073
2079 92,196,842 21,565,118
2078 92,801,160 21,333,574
2077 93,405,954 21,101,274
2076 94,007,669 20,868,733
2075 94,606,607 20,636,203
2074 95,197,577 20,404,044
2073 95,783,994 20,171,659
2072 96,355,853 19,940,853
2071 96,915,335 19,710,934
2070 97,460,813 19,483,026
2069 97,988,897 19,256,572
2068 98,496,927 19,032,681
2067 98,978,509 18,811,331
2066 99,439,391 18,593,017
2065 99,877,457 18,377,364
2064 100,288,977 18,164,584
2063 100,668,199 17,955,352
2062 101,017,348 17,749,596
2061 101,332,810 17,547,827
2060 101,612,261 17,349,620
2059 101,858,931 17,153,273
2058 102,061,144 16,959,263
2057 102,228,085 16,767,893
2056 102,358,266 16,579,195
2055 102,449,092 16,392,558
2054 102,498,594 16,207,309
2053 102,508,245 16,024,789
2052 102,480,373 15,844,357
2051 102,417,847 15,665,362
2050 102,318,917 15,487,008
2049 102,189,816 15,309,031
2048 102,024,233 15,132,784
2047 101,832,213 14,958,209
2046 101,613,554 14,788,046
2045 101,371,784 14,620,902
2044 101,104,998 14,454,466
2043 100,818,045 14,289,021
2042 100,512,032 14,124,515
2041 100,188,214 13,961,010
2040 99,849,875 13,798,651
2039 99,501,869 13,637,499
2038 99,137,385 13,477,450
2037 98,759,167 13,319,346
2036 98,366,612 13,163,073
2035 97,963,082 13,009,160
2034 97,546,148 12,857,729
2033 97,118,106 12,709,520
2032 96,671,440 12,564,906
2031 96,204,118 12,424,286
2030 95,718,604 12,288,186
2029 95,195,996 12,148,661
2028 94,623,034 11,999,549
2027 93,987,260 11,831,082
2026 93,276,075 11,632,806
2025 92,478,162 11,367,504
2024 91,567,738 10,986,400
2023 90,608,707 10,483,751
2022 89,524,246 10,074,977
2021 88,455,488 9,575,152
2020 87,723,443 9,401,038
2019 87,051,648 9,445,785
2018 86,117,998 9,346,701
2017 85,026,754 9,223,225
2016 83,812,228 8,935,095
2015 82,619,362 8,505,237
2014 81,502,045 8,059,440
2013 80,414,686 7,693,031
2012 79,370,580 7,391,448
2011 78,383,598 7,104,538
2010 77,420,842 6,869,838
2009 76,457,825 6,707,058
2008 75,514,204 6,302,664
2007 74,602,648 5,624,635
2006 73,392,747 5,009,100
2005 71,828,455 4,664,790
2004 70,256,316 4,428,967
2003 68,769,340 4,192,457
2002 68,011,317 3,956,826
2001 67,452,005 3,723,590
2000 66,418,659 3,493,575
1999 65,445,391 3,266,009
1998 64,519,859 3,040,421
1997 63,639,638 2,817,410
1996 62,881,300 2,597,564
1995 62,205,567 2,434,662
1994 61,520,598 2,328,188
1993 61,403,543 2,222,093
1992 61,184,983 2,114,730
1991 59,986,931 2,006,626
1990 58,380,092 1,898,220
1989 56,704,914 1,789,851
1988 55,072,694 1,681,788
1987 53,323,493 1,574,244
1986 51,446,045 1,467,383
1985 49,582,289 1,377,911
1984 47,793,998 1,305,996
1983 46,029,535 1,235,305
1982 44,272,141 1,166,370
1981 41,989,312 1,099,855
1980 39,842,324 1,015,700
1979 38,424,952 912,010
1978 37,126,535 809,274
1977 35,933,181 710,209
1976 34,837,271 615,866
1975 33,802,973 542,856
1974 32,796,463 489,087
1973 31,839,838 436,399
1972 30,921,179 385,014
1971 30,029,071 335,027
1970 29,145,100 286,536
1969 28,273,482 239,660
1968 27,437,391 199,416
1967 26,628,432 179,700
1966 25,829,270 173,976
1965 25,036,978 167,103
1964 24,262,859 159,692
1963 23,519,005 152,211
1962 22,807,907 144,946
1961 22,125,726 137,989
1960 21,470,434 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran UAE
2100 -0.66% 0.91%
2099 -0.64% 0.91%
2098 -0.64% 0.91%
2097 -0.63% 0.91%
2096 -0.62% 0.91%
2095 -0.62% 0.92%
2094 -0.61% 0.92%
2093 -0.61% 0.92%
2092 -0.61% 0.93%
2091 -0.61% 0.94%
2090 -0.61% 0.95%
2089 -0.62% 0.95%
2088 -0.62% 0.96%
2087 -0.63% 0.97%
2086 -0.63% 0.98%
2085 -0.64% 1%
2084 -0.64% 1.01%
2083 -0.65% 1.03%
2082 -0.65% 1.04%
2081 -0.65% 1.06%
2080 -0.65% 1.07%
2079 -0.65% 1.09%
2078 -0.65% 1.1%
2077 -0.64% 1.11%
2076 -0.63% 1.13%
2075 -0.62% 1.14%
2074 -0.61% 1.15%
2073 -0.59% 1.16%
2072 -0.58% 1.17%
2071 -0.56% 1.17%
2070 -0.54% 1.18%
2069 -0.52% 1.18%
2068 -0.49% 1.18%
2067 -0.46% 1.17%
2066 -0.44% 1.17%
2065 -0.41% 1.17%
2064 -0.38% 1.17%
2063 -0.35% 1.16%
2062 -0.31% 1.15%
2061 -0.28% 1.14%
2060 -0.24% 1.14%
2059 -0.2% 1.14%
2058 -0.16% 1.14%
2057 -0.13% 1.14%
2056 -0.09% 1.14%
2055 -0.05% 1.14%
2054 -0.009% 1.14%
2053 0.03% 1.14%
2052 0.06% 1.14%
2051 0.1% 1.15%
2050 0.13% 1.16%
2049 0.16% 1.16%
2048 0.19% 1.17%
2047 0.22% 1.15%
2046 0.24% 1.14%
2045 0.26% 1.15%
2044 0.28% 1.16%
2043 0.3% 1.16%
2042 0.32% 1.17%
2041 0.34% 1.18%
2040 0.35% 1.18%
2039 0.37% 1.19%
2038 0.38% 1.19%
2037 0.4% 1.19%
2036 0.41% 1.18%
2035 0.43% 1.18%
2034 0.44% 1.17%
2033 0.46% 1.15%
2032 0.49% 1.13%
2031 0.51% 1.11%
2030 0.55% 1.15%
2029 0.61% 1.24%
2028 0.68% 1.42%
2027 0.76% 1.7%
2026 0.86% 2.33%
2025 0.99% 3.47%
2024 1.06% 4.79%
2023 1.21% 4.06%
2022 1.21% 5.22%
2021 0.83% 1.85%
2020 0.77% -0.47%
2019 1.08% 1.06%
2018 1.28% 1.34%
2017 1.45% 3.22%
2016 1.44% 5.05%
2015 1.37% 5.53%
2014 1.35% 4.76%
2013 1.32% 4.08%
2012 1.26% 4.04%
2011 1.24% 3.42%
2010 1.26% 2.43%
2009 1.25% 6.42%
2008 1.22% 12.1%
2007 1.65% 12.3%
2006 2.18% 7.38%
2005 2.24% 5.32%
2004 2.16% 5.64%
2003 1.11% 5.96%
2002 0.83% 6.26%
2001 1.56% 6.58%
2000 1.49% 6.97%
1999 1.43% 7.42%
1998 1.38% 7.92%
1997 1.21% 8.46%
1996 1.09% 6.69%
1995 1.11% 4.57%
1994 0.19% 4.77%
1993 0.36% 5.08%
1992 2% 5.39%
1991 2.75% 5.71%
1990 2.95% 6.05%
1989 2.96% 6.43%
1988 3.28% 6.83%
1987 3.65% 7.28%
1986 3.76% 6.49%
1985 3.74% 5.51%
1984 3.83% 5.72%
1983 3.97% 5.91%
1982 5.44% 6.05%
1981 5.39% 8.29%
1980 3.69% 11.4%
1979 3.5% 12.7%
1978 3.32% 13.9%
1977 3.15% 15.3%
1976 3.06% 13.4%
1975 3.07% 11%
1974 3% 12.1%
1973 2.97% 13.3%
1972 2.97% 14.9%
1971 3.03% 16.9%
1970 3.08% 19.6%
1969 3.05% 20.2%
1968 3.04% 11%
1967 3.09% 3.29%
1966 3.16% 4.11%
1965 3.19% 4.64%
1964 3.16% 4.91%
1963 3.12% 5.01%
1962 3.08% 5.04%
1961 3.05% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Iran UAE
Current population
93468444
11686438
Population rank 17/197 84/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.14%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
26.9 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
1.24 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 3/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +158,634
Net migration rank 14/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 158,634
2024 - 190,156 - 278,439
2023 750,150 262,044 92,698 300,004
2022 753,525 403,190 81,758 322,773
2021 645,725 334,967 76,802 421,663
2020 663,978 -180,680 87,871 92,541
2019 893,063 -32,794 86,296 -125,186
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 86,840 14,611
2017 1,140,549 34,849 89,382 34,155
2016 1,186,949 66,630 87,028 195,317
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 85,044 342,468
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 84,277 360,174
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 82,977 279,269
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 78,682 225,921
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 73,496 215,183
2010 980,380 -12,849 69,907 161,842
2009 958,322 211 66,521 163,643
2008 940,983 -12,184 55,426 523,207
2007 919,254 -24,950 55,048 722,380
2006 884,529 640,932 54,338 399,306
2005 837,305 765,873 60,046 174,926
2004 801,203 739,996 60,344 176,319
2003 732,600 700,222 59,118 177,237
2002 752,205 -668,962 55,922 178,988
2001 743,658 291,692 52,789 178,779
2000 731,203 300,133 49,993 178,469
1999 723,237 191,988 46,198 180,469
1998 717,655 218,171 41,176 183,329
1997 726,574 98,009 38,207 183,310
1996 784,508 -92,435 37,886 180,296
1995 879,648 -220,258 38,685 68,938
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 42,976 62,352
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 41,324 65,545
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 42,119 65,739
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 41,409 66,943
1990 1,530,434 200,711 41,339 67,118
1989 1,609,739 9,460 40,148 68,132
1988 1,614,512 30,688 38,861 68,991
1987 1,639,644 213,524 37,741 69,493
1986 1,659,289 242,411 36,829 69,655
1985 1,661,750 163,999 34,855 37,605
1984 1,653,051 97,748 33,250 38,124
1983 1,573,612 204,544 31,480 38,536
1982 1,514,240 222,390 29,585 38,276
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 27,560 37,600
1980 1,361,293 103,674 25,005 78,148
1979 1,294,306 75,451 21,987 82,238
1978 1,156,974 70,088 18,879 82,359
1977 1,091,542 68,093 15,787 81,111
1976 1,013,347 18,825 12,876 78,903
1975 929,481 106,921 11,859 42,380
1974 873,369 103,252 10,835 42,474
1973 831,880 104,779 9,822 42,243
1972 804,043 96,614 8,818 41,888
1971 805,830 77,717 7,839 41,425
1970 794,612 89,757 6,922 40,792
1969 780,660 78,196 6,138 39,902
1968 743,992 69,342 5,588 28,866
1967 727,276 77,313 5,264 -283
1966 695,040 98,709 4,955 1,516
1965 663,029 127,808 4,675 2,598
1964 635,589 121,817 4,410 3,126
1963 620,126 110,190 4,157 3,264
1962 595,538 96,332 3,901 3,212
1961 594,674 77,811 3,657 3,141
1960 584,060 54,041 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/iran/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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