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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 1.34 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 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.15% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Iran vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran United Kingdom
2100 80,660,972 74,517,005
2099 81,193,582 74,647,273
2098 81,717,474 74,766,073
2097 82,241,892 74,879,923
2096 82,764,411 74,991,940
2095 83,283,942 75,102,041
2094 83,799,806 75,198,597
2093 84,316,389 75,296,704
2092 84,833,108 75,390,038
2091 85,354,240 75,480,137
2090 85,878,473 75,566,962
2089 86,409,859 75,649,353
2088 86,947,263 75,721,067
2087 87,492,427 75,791,990
2086 88,047,949 75,859,854
2085 88,610,339 75,918,647
2084 89,181,346 75,969,065
2083 89,758,453 76,018,614
2082 90,343,413 76,059,464
2081 90,936,310 76,086,593
2080 91,535,218 76,118,679
2079 92,136,544 76,147,352
2078 92,740,467 76,165,841
2077 93,344,865 76,183,437
2076 93,946,187 76,185,828
2075 94,544,733 76,198,349
2074 95,135,317 76,209,676
2073 95,721,351 76,218,781
2072 96,292,835 76,211,187
2071 96,851,951 76,200,495
2070 97,397,073 76,190,801
2069 97,924,812 76,184,140
2068 98,432,509 76,183,288
2067 98,913,776 76,175,881
2066 99,374,357 76,168,987
2065 99,812,137 76,168,193
2064 100,223,387 76,165,129
2063 100,602,361 76,165,534
2062 100,951,282 76,158,910
2061 101,266,537 76,156,587
2060 101,545,806 76,157,104
2059 101,792,315 76,157,593
2058 101,994,395 76,139,384
2057 102,161,227 76,119,478
2056 102,291,323 76,086,799
2055 102,382,089 76,047,952
2054 102,431,558 75,980,524
2053 102,441,204 75,907,047
2052 102,413,350 75,815,200
2051 102,350,865 75,709,173
2050 102,251,999 75,591,218
2049 102,122,983 75,460,140
2048 101,957,508 75,313,837
2047 101,765,614 75,153,802
2046 101,547,098 74,986,563
2045 101,305,486 74,808,886
2044 101,038,874 74,623,687
2043 100,752,109 74,424,133
2042 100,446,296 74,224,922
2041 100,122,690 74,020,934
2040 99,784,572 73,812,680
2039 99,436,793 73,600,788
2038 99,072,548 73,378,310
2037 98,694,577 73,155,497
2036 98,302,279 72,921,995
2035 97,899,013 72,671,687
2034 97,482,352 72,418,766
2033 97,054,589 72,145,065
2032 96,608,216 71,869,259
2031 96,141,200 71,581,519
2030 95,656,003 71,267,237
2029 95,133,736 70,948,992
2028 94,561,150 70,609,246
2027 93,925,792 70,248,858
2026 93,215,072 69,883,746
2025 92,417,681 69,487,000
2024 91,567,738 69,281,000
2023 90,608,707 68,526,000
2022 89,524,246 67,636,000
2021 88,455,488 66,978,000
2020 87,723,443 66,740,000
2019 87,051,648 66,628,000
2018 86,117,998 66,287,000
2017 85,026,754 65,964,000
2016 83,812,228 65,606,000
2015 82,619,362 65,087,000
2014 81,502,045 64,619,000
2013 80,414,686 64,138,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% 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 9.27% to 102,251,999 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M people compared to the peak of 76.2M 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 0.93% 0.3%
2024 1.06% 1.1%
2023 1.21% 1.32%
2022 1.21% 0.98%
2021 0.83% 0.36%
2020 0.77% 0.17%
2019 1.08% 0.51%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Iran United Kingdom
Current population
93580141
70071289
Population rank 17/197 22/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.84%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
2.56 minutes
One birth every
27.4 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
1.21 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,329 +564
Annual growth/decline +849,943 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 145/197
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 715,785 190,156 13,233 417,114
2023 750,150 262,044 34,606 445,523
2022 753,525 403,190 39,770 487,029
2021 645,725 334,967 30,609 462,967
2020 663,978 -180,680 -4,272 144,221
2019 893,063 -32,794 108,338 232,727
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 119,317 259,744
2017 1,140,549 34,849 145,121 272,311
2016 1,186,949 66,630 177,136 324,649
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 175,735 347,839
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 206,781 306,091
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 198,827 237,272
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 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 (1960–2025, 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/united-kingdom | 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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