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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 1.33 times bigger than the United Kingdom's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.97% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Iran vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran United Kingdom
2100 80,713,760 74,700,585
2099 81,246,718 74,831,175
2098 81,770,953 74,950,267
2097 82,295,714 75,064,397
2096 82,818,575 75,176,691
2095 83,338,446 75,287,063
2094 83,854,648 75,383,856
2093 84,371,569 75,482,205
2092 84,888,626 75,575,769
2091 85,410,099 75,666,091
2090 85,934,675 75,753,129
2089 86,466,409 75,835,723
2088 87,004,165 75,907,614
2087 87,549,685 75,978,712
2086 88,105,571 76,046,742
2085 88,668,329 76,105,680
2084 89,239,709 76,156,223
2083 89,817,194 76,205,894
2082 90,402,538 76,246,844
2081 90,995,822 76,274,040
2080 91,595,122 76,306,205
2079 92,196,842 76,334,949
2078 92,801,160 76,353,484
2077 93,405,954 76,371,123
2076 94,007,669 76,373,520
2075 94,606,607 76,386,071
2074 95,197,577 76,397,426
2073 95,783,994 76,406,554
2072 96,355,853 76,398,941
2071 96,915,335 76,388,223
2070 97,460,813 76,378,505
2069 97,988,897 76,371,827
2068 98,496,927 76,370,973
2067 98,978,509 76,363,548
2066 99,439,391 76,356,638
2065 99,877,457 76,355,841
2064 100,288,977 76,352,770
2063 100,668,199 76,353,175
2062 101,017,348 76,346,535
2061 101,332,810 76,344,206
2060 101,612,261 76,344,725
2059 101,858,931 76,345,215
2058 102,061,144 76,326,961
2057 102,228,085 76,307,006
2056 102,358,266 76,274,247
2055 102,449,092 76,235,304
2054 102,498,594 76,167,710
2053 102,508,245 76,094,051
2052 102,480,373 76,001,979
2051 102,417,847 75,895,690
2050 102,318,917 75,777,445
2049 102,189,816 75,646,044
2048 102,024,233 75,499,380
2047 101,832,213 75,338,951
2046 101,613,554 75,171,300
2045 101,371,784 74,993,186
2044 101,104,998 74,807,530
2043 100,818,045 74,607,485
2042 100,512,032 74,407,783
2041 100,188,214 74,203,292
2040 99,849,875 73,994,525
2039 99,501,869 73,782,112
2038 99,137,385 73,559,085
2037 98,759,167 73,335,723
2036 98,366,612 73,101,646
2035 97,963,082 72,850,722
2034 97,546,148 72,597,177
2033 97,118,106 72,322,802
2032 96,671,440 72,046,316
2031 96,204,118 71,757,868
2030 95,718,604 71,442,811
2029 95,195,996 71,123,782
2028 94,623,034 70,783,199
2027 93,987,260 70,421,923
2026 93,276,075 70,055,911
2025 92,478,162 69,658,188
2024 91,567,738 69,226,000
2023 90,608,707 68,492,000
2022 89,524,246 67,604,000
2021 88,455,488 66,984,000
2020 87,723,443 66,744,000
2019 87,051,648 66,631,000
2018 86,117,998 66,289,000
2017 85,026,754 65,966,000
2016 83,812,228 65,607,000
2015 82,619,362 65,088,000
2014 81,502,045 64,620,000
2013 80,414,686 64,139,000
2012 79,370,580 63,711,000
2011 78,383,598 63,258,810
2010 77,420,842 62,766,365
2009 76,457,825 62,276,270
2008 75,514,204 61,806,995
2007 74,602,648 61,322,463
2006 73,392,747 60,846,820
2005 71,828,455 60,401,206
2004 70,256,316 59,987,905
2003 68,769,340 59,647,577
2002 68,011,317 59,370,479
2001 67,452,005 59,119,673
2000 66,418,659 58,892,514
1999 65,445,391 58,682,466
1998 64,519,859 58,487,141
1997 63,639,638 58,316,954
1996 62,881,300 58,166,950
1995 62,205,567 58,019,030
1994 61,520,598 57,865,745
1993 61,403,543 57,718,614
1992 61,184,983 57,580,402
1991 59,986,931 57,424,897
1990 58,380,092 57,247,586
1989 56,704,914 57,076,711
1988 55,072,694 56,928,327
1987 53,323,493 56,802,050
1986 51,446,045 56,681,396
1985 49,582,289 56,550,268
1984 47,793,998 56,422,072
1983 46,029,535 56,332,848
1982 44,272,141 56,313,641
1981 41,989,312 56,333,829
1980 39,842,324 56,314,216
1979 38,424,952 56,246,951
1978 37,126,535 56,196,504
1977 35,933,181 56,193,492
1976 34,837,271 56,211,968
1975 33,802,973 56,225,800
1974 32,796,463 56,229,974
1973 31,839,838 56,194,527
1972 30,921,179 56,086,065
1971 30,029,071 55,896,223
1970 29,145,100 55,663,250
1969 28,273,482 55,441,750
1968 27,437,391 55,211,700
1967 26,628,432 54,943,600
1966 25,829,270 54,648,500
1965 25,036,978 54,348,050
1964 24,262,859 54,000,000
1963 23,519,005 53,650,000
1962 22,807,907 53,250,000
1961 22,125,726 52,800,000
1960 21,470,434 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran United Kingdom
2100 -0.66% -0.17%
2099 -0.64% -0.16%
2098 -0.64% -0.15%
2097 -0.63% -0.15%
2096 -0.62% -0.15%
2095 -0.62% -0.13%
2094 -0.61% -0.13%
2093 -0.61% -0.12%
2092 -0.61% -0.12%
2091 -0.61% -0.11%
2090 -0.61% -0.11%
2089 -0.62% -0.09%
2088 -0.62% -0.09%
2087 -0.63% -0.09%
2086 -0.63% -0.08%
2085 -0.64% -0.07%
2084 -0.64% -0.07%
2083 -0.65% -0.05%
2082 -0.65% -0.04%
2081 -0.65% -0.04%
2080 -0.65% -0.04%
2079 -0.65% -0.02%
2078 -0.65% -0.02%
2077 -0.64% -0.003%
2076 -0.63% -0.02%
2075 -0.62% -0.01%
2074 -0.61% -0.01%
2073 -0.59% 0.01%
2072 -0.58% 0.01%
2071 -0.56% 0.01%
2070 -0.54% 0.009%
2069 -0.52% 0.001%
2068 -0.49% 0.01%
2067 -0.46% 0.009%
2066 -0.44% 0.001%
2065 -0.41% 0.004%
2064 -0.38% -0%
2063 -0.35% 0.009%
2062 -0.31% 0.003%
2061 -0.28% -0.001%
2060 -0.24% -0.001%
2059 -0.2% 0.02%
2058 -0.16% 0.03%
2057 -0.13% 0.04%
2056 -0.09% 0.05%
2055 -0.05% 0.09%
2054 -0.009% 0.1%
2053 0.03% 0.12%
2052 0.06% 0.14%
2051 0.1% 0.16%
2050 0.13% 0.17%
2049 0.16% 0.19%
2048 0.19% 0.21%
2047 0.22% 0.22%
2046 0.24% 0.24%
2045 0.26% 0.25%
2044 0.28% 0.27%
2043 0.3% 0.27%
2042 0.32% 0.28%
2041 0.34% 0.28%
2040 0.35% 0.29%
2039 0.37% 0.3%
2038 0.38% 0.3%
2037 0.4% 0.32%
2036 0.41% 0.34%
2035 0.43% 0.35%
2034 0.44% 0.38%
2033 0.46% 0.38%
2032 0.49% 0.4%
2031 0.51% 0.44%
2030 0.55% 0.45%
2029 0.61% 0.48%
2028 0.68% 0.51%
2027 0.76% 0.52%
2026 0.86% 0.57%
2025 0.99% 0.62%
2024 1.06% 1.07%
2023 1.21% 1.31%
2022 1.21% 0.93%
2021 0.83% 0.36%
2020 0.77% 0.17%
2019 1.08% 0.52%
2018 1.28% 0.49%
2017 1.45% 0.55%
2016 1.44% 0.8%
2015 1.37% 0.72%
2014 1.35% 0.75%
2013 1.32% 0.67%
2012 1.26% 0.71%
2011 1.24% 0.78%
2010 1.26% 0.79%
2009 1.25% 0.76%
2008 1.22% 0.79%
2007 1.65% 0.78%
2006 2.18% 0.74%
2005 2.24% 0.69%
2004 2.16% 0.57%
2003 1.11% 0.47%
2002 0.83% 0.42%
2001 1.56% 0.39%
2000 1.49% 0.36%
1999 1.43% 0.33%
1998 1.38% 0.29%
1997 1.21% 0.26%
1996 1.09% 0.25%
1995 1.11% 0.26%
1994 0.19% 0.25%
1993 0.36% 0.24%
1992 2% 0.27%
1991 2.75% 0.31%
1990 2.95% 0.3%
1989 2.96% 0.26%
1988 3.28% 0.22%
1987 3.65% 0.21%
1986 3.76% 0.23%
1985 3.74% 0.23%
1984 3.83% 0.16%
1983 3.97% 0.03%
1982 5.44% -0.04%
1981 5.39% 0.03%
1980 3.69% 0.12%
1979 3.5% 0.09%
1978 3.32% 0.005%
1977 3.15% -0.03%
1976 3.06% -0.02%
1975 3.07% -0.007%
1974 3% 0.06%
1973 2.97% 0.19%
1972 2.97% 0.34%
1971 3.03% 0.42%
1970 3.08% 0.4%
1969 3.05% 0.42%
1968 3.04% 0.49%
1967 3.09% 0.54%
1966 3.16% 0.55%
1965 3.19% 0.64%
1964 3.16% 0.65%
1963 3.12% 0.75%
1962 3.08% 0.85%
1961 3.05% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Iran United Kingdom
Current population
93468444
70154914
Population rank 17/197 22/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.85%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
43 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
45.9 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 97/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +389,911
Net migration rank 14/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 389,911
2024 - 190,156 - 417,114
2023 750,150 262,044 34,589 445,523
2022 753,525 403,190 39,751 487,029
2021 645,725 334,967 30,612 462,967
2020 663,978 -180,680 -4,272 144,221
2019 893,063 -32,794 108,342 232,727
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 119,321 259,744
2017 1,140,549 34,849 145,125 272,311
2016 1,186,949 66,630 177,139 324,649
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 175,738 347,839
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 206,784 306,091
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 198,830 237,272
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 248,473 172,088
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 259,361 228,773
2010 980,380 -12,849 251,066 274,811
2009 958,322 211 230,422 249,639
2008 940,983 -12,184 216,325 263,390
2007 919,254 -24,950 196,232 309,385
2006 884,529 640,932 176,455 288,923
2005 837,305 765,873 144,963 308,279
2004 801,203 739,996 131,974 276,077
2003 732,600 700,222 89,471 211,846
2002 752,205 -668,962 65,308 203,577
2001 743,658 291,692 65,032 175,133
2000 731,203 300,133 70,671 153,917
1999 723,237 191,988 64,551 152,653
1998 717,655 218,171 87,730 125,541
1997 726,574 98,009 99,138 59,723
1996 784,508 -92,435 98,884 54,964
1995 879,648 -220,258 87,028 61,385
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 127,304 45,339
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 103,893 27,403
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 149,709 17,846
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 143,562 27,601
1990 1,530,434 200,711 154,569 57,132
1989 1,609,739 9,460 119,861 49,586
1988 1,614,512 30,688 136,628 13,952
1987 1,639,644 213,524 136,325 8,266
1986 1,659,289 242,411 90,690 41,836
1985 1,661,750 163,999 79,170 83,164
1984 1,653,051 97,748 84,633 71,107
1983 1,573,612 204,544 61,966 27,063
1982 1,514,240 222,390 56,314 -61,152
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 73,234 -83,876
1980 1,361,293 103,674 95,734 -25,187
1979 1,294,306 75,451 61,872 11,255
1978 1,156,974 70,088 16,859 3,783
1977 1,091,542 68,093 0 -21,636
1976 1,013,347 18,825 -5,621 -19,135
1975 929,481 106,921 33,735 -40,241
1974 873,369 103,252 67,476 -65,710
1973 831,880 104,779 112,389 -33,840
1972 804,043 96,614 162,650 -1,406
1971 805,830 77,717 257,123 1,175
1970 794,612 89,757 244,918 -15,254
1969 780,660 78,196 260,577 -60,655
1968 743,992 69,342 292,622 -38,852
1967 727,276 77,313 346,145 -39,659
1966 695,040 98,709 333,356 -27,935
1965 663,029 127,808 364,132 -24,955
1964 635,589 121,817 405,000 -23,885
1963 620,126 110,190 337,995 8,271
1962 595,538 96,332 340,800 76,443
1961 594,674 77,811 311,519 52,295
1960 584,060 54,041 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/iran/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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