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Population in Iran compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 4.12 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.4% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Iran vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Zambia
2100 80,713,760 65,217,429
2099 81,246,718 64,871,545
2098 81,770,953 64,515,891
2097 82,295,714 64,148,736
2096 82,818,575 63,777,313
2095 83,338,446 63,393,169
2094 83,854,648 62,992,652
2093 84,371,569 62,590,327
2092 84,888,626 62,175,930
2091 85,410,099 61,750,591
2090 85,934,675 61,321,399
2089 86,466,409 60,880,148
2088 87,004,165 60,434,676
2087 87,549,685 59,970,107
2086 88,105,571 59,499,234
2085 88,668,329 59,023,040
2084 89,239,709 58,535,857
2083 89,817,194 58,040,512
2082 90,402,538 57,538,672
2081 90,995,822 57,027,491
2080 91,595,122 56,506,421
2079 92,196,842 55,983,242
2078 92,801,160 55,449,777
2077 93,405,954 54,906,771
2076 94,007,669 54,361,075
2075 94,606,607 53,806,856
2074 95,197,577 53,246,777
2073 95,783,994 52,677,348
2072 96,355,853 52,101,139
2071 96,915,335 51,519,691
2070 97,460,813 50,931,614
2069 97,988,897 50,334,700
2068 98,496,927 49,737,479
2067 98,978,509 49,135,488
2066 99,439,391 48,530,443
2065 99,877,457 47,918,592
2064 100,288,977 47,299,740
2063 100,668,199 46,677,439
2062 101,017,348 46,048,819
2061 101,332,810 45,416,657
2060 101,612,261 44,777,347
2059 101,858,931 44,137,306
2058 102,061,144 43,494,451
2057 102,228,085 42,851,923
2056 102,358,266 42,206,898
2055 102,449,092 41,558,284
2054 102,498,594 40,906,492
2053 102,508,245 40,255,629
2052 102,480,373 39,603,888
2051 102,417,847 38,949,958
2050 102,318,917 38,294,607
2049 102,189,816 37,634,194
2048 102,024,233 36,971,309
2047 101,832,213 36,309,749
2046 101,613,554 35,645,868
2045 101,371,784 34,981,812
2044 101,104,998 34,316,981
2043 100,818,045 33,652,420
2042 100,512,032 32,990,657
2041 100,188,214 32,329,447
2040 99,849,875 31,664,262
2039 99,501,869 31,001,305
2038 99,137,385 30,335,662
2037 98,759,167 29,668,561
2036 98,366,612 29,000,264
2035 97,963,082 28,333,498
2034 97,546,148 27,671,195
2033 97,118,106 27,011,974
2032 96,671,440 26,356,580
2031 96,204,118 25,702,812
2030 95,718,604 25,055,216
2029 95,195,996 24,414,405
2028 94,623,034 23,780,809
2027 93,987,260 23,151,479
2026 93,276,075 22,529,742
2025 92,478,162 21,918,187
2024 91,567,738 21,314,956
2023 90,608,707 20,723,965
2022 89,524,246 20,152,938
2021 88,455,488 19,603,607
2020 87,723,443 19,059,395
2019 87,051,648 18,513,839
2018 86,117,998 17,973,569
2017 85,026,754 17,441,320
2016 83,812,228 16,914,423
2015 82,619,362 16,399,089
2014 81,502,045 15,895,315
2013 80,414,686 15,398,997
2012 79,370,580 14,913,629
2011 78,383,598 14,437,796
2010 77,420,842 13,965,594
2009 76,457,825 13,490,389
2008 75,514,204 13,021,324
2007 74,602,648 12,565,085
2006 73,392,747 12,129,553
2005 71,828,455 11,718,819
2004 70,256,316 11,338,198
2003 68,769,340 10,983,595
2002 68,011,317 10,647,949
2001 67,452,005 10,325,185
2000 66,418,659 10,017,631
1999 65,445,391 9,740,005
1998 64,519,859 9,482,408
1997 63,639,638 9,237,063
1996 62,881,300 9,004,053
1995 62,205,567 8,785,763
1994 61,520,598 8,576,269
1993 61,403,543 8,373,921
1992 61,184,983 8,176,680
1991 59,986,931 7,981,650
1990 58,380,092 7,786,169
1989 56,704,914 7,589,216
1988 55,072,694 7,391,440
1987 53,323,493 7,191,282
1986 51,446,045 6,986,471
1985 49,582,289 6,780,953
1984 47,793,998 6,580,490
1983 46,029,535 6,381,038
1982 44,272,141 6,178,637
1981 41,989,312 5,983,289
1980 39,842,324 5,802,833
1979 38,424,952 5,631,728
1978 37,126,535 5,465,374
1977 35,933,181 5,302,480
1976 34,837,271 5,143,842
1975 33,802,973 4,990,086
1974 32,796,463 4,842,746
1973 31,839,838 4,702,693
1972 30,921,179 4,569,309
1971 30,029,071 4,442,525
1970 29,145,100 4,321,718
1969 28,273,482 4,197,116
1968 27,437,391 4,065,593
1967 26,628,432 3,936,343
1966 25,829,270 3,812,003
1965 25,036,978 3,692,086
1964 24,262,859 3,577,017
1963 23,519,005 3,465,907
1962 22,807,907 3,358,099
1961 22,125,726 3,254,086
1960 21,470,434 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Zambia
2100 -0.66% 0.53%
2099 -0.64% 0.55%
2098 -0.64% 0.57%
2097 -0.63% 0.58%
2096 -0.62% 0.61%
2095 -0.62% 0.64%
2094 -0.61% 0.64%
2093 -0.61% 0.67%
2092 -0.61% 0.69%
2091 -0.61% 0.7%
2090 -0.61% 0.72%
2089 -0.62% 0.74%
2088 -0.62% 0.77%
2087 -0.63% 0.79%
2086 -0.63% 0.81%
2085 -0.64% 0.83%
2084 -0.64% 0.85%
2083 -0.65% 0.87%
2082 -0.65% 0.9%
2081 -0.65% 0.92%
2080 -0.65% 0.93%
2079 -0.65% 0.96%
2078 -0.65% 0.99%
2077 -0.64% 1%
2076 -0.63% 1.03%
2075 -0.62% 1.05%
2074 -0.61% 1.08%
2073 -0.59% 1.11%
2072 -0.58% 1.13%
2071 -0.56% 1.15%
2070 -0.54% 1.19%
2069 -0.52% 1.2%
2068 -0.49% 1.23%
2067 -0.46% 1.25%
2066 -0.44% 1.28%
2065 -0.41% 1.31%
2064 -0.38% 1.33%
2063 -0.35% 1.37%
2062 -0.31% 1.39%
2061 -0.28% 1.43%
2060 -0.24% 1.45%
2059 -0.2% 1.48%
2058 -0.16% 1.5%
2057 -0.13% 1.53%
2056 -0.09% 1.56%
2055 -0.05% 1.59%
2054 -0.009% 1.62%
2053 0.03% 1.65%
2052 0.06% 1.68%
2051 0.1% 1.71%
2050 0.13% 1.75%
2049 0.16% 1.79%
2048 0.19% 1.82%
2047 0.22% 1.86%
2046 0.24% 1.9%
2045 0.26% 1.94%
2044 0.28% 1.97%
2043 0.3% 2.01%
2042 0.32% 2.05%
2041 0.34% 2.1%
2040 0.35% 2.14%
2039 0.37% 2.19%
2038 0.38% 2.25%
2037 0.4% 2.3%
2036 0.41% 2.35%
2035 0.43% 2.39%
2034 0.44% 2.44%
2033 0.46% 2.49%
2032 0.49% 2.54%
2031 0.51% 2.58%
2030 0.55% 2.62%
2029 0.61% 2.66%
2028 0.68% 2.72%
2027 0.76% 2.76%
2026 0.86% 2.79%
2025 0.99% 2.83%
2024 1.06% 2.85%
2023 1.21% 2.83%
2022 1.21% 2.8%
2021 0.83% 2.86%
2020 0.77% 2.95%
2019 1.08% 3.01%
2018 1.28% 3.05%
2017 1.45% 3.12%
2016 1.44% 3.14%
2015 1.37% 3.17%
2014 1.35% 3.22%
2013 1.32% 3.25%
2012 1.26% 3.3%
2011 1.24% 3.38%
2010 1.26% 3.52%
2009 1.25% 3.6%
2008 1.22% 3.63%
2007 1.65% 3.59%
2006 2.18% 3.5%
2005 2.24% 3.36%
2004 2.16% 3.23%
2003 1.11% 3.15%
2002 0.83% 3.13%
2001 1.56% 3.07%
2000 1.49% 2.85%
1999 1.43% 2.72%
1998 1.38% 2.66%
1997 1.21% 2.59%
1996 1.09% 2.48%
1995 1.11% 2.44%
1994 0.19% 2.42%
1993 0.36% 2.41%
1992 2% 2.44%
1991 2.75% 2.51%
1990 2.95% 2.6%
1989 2.96% 2.68%
1988 3.28% 2.78%
1987 3.65% 2.93%
1986 3.76% 3.03%
1985 3.74% 3.05%
1984 3.83% 3.13%
1983 3.97% 3.28%
1982 5.44% 3.26%
1981 5.39% 3.11%
1980 3.69% 3.04%
1979 3.5% 3.04%
1978 3.32% 3.07%
1977 3.15% 3.08%
1976 3.06% 3.08%
1975 3.07% 3.04%
1974 3% 2.98%
1973 2.97% 2.92%
1972 2.97% 2.85%
1971 3.03% 2.8%
1970 3.08% 2.97%
1969 3.05% 3.24%
1968 3.04% 3.28%
1967 3.09% 3.26%
1966 3.16% 3.25%
1965 3.19% 3.22%
1964 3.16% 3.21%
1963 3.12% 3.21%
1962 3.08% 3.2%
1961 3.05% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Iran Zambia
Current population
93468444
22697916
Population rank 17/197 62/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.27%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 21/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +116,786 +6,562
Net migration rank 14/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 6,562
2024 - 190,156 - 7,381
2023 750,150 262,044 577,660 9,521
2022 753,525 403,190 563,456 -8,566
2021 645,725 334,967 535,629 8,143
2020 663,978 -180,680 536,484 8,156
2019 893,063 -32,794 528,089 18,385
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 515,644 18,431
2017 1,140,549 34,849 504,630 25,789
2016 1,186,949 66,630 497,521 25,860
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 491,021 16,261
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 483,663 16,574
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 476,846 15,542
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 469,406 8,958
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 459,743 13,569
2010 980,380 -12,849 448,337 22,761
2009 958,322 211 434,458 44,867
2008 940,983 -12,184 419,560 39,249
2007 919,254 -24,950 403,729 49,945
2006 884,529 640,932 387,891 29,517
2005 837,305 765,873 368,756 35,316
2004 801,203 739,996 349,352 7,819
2003 732,600 700,222 331,189 20,845
2002 752,205 -668,962 316,041 3,206
2001 743,658 291,692 302,682 23,582
2000 731,203 300,133 293,186 -4,338
1999 723,237 191,988 283,297 -16,888
1998 717,655 218,171 275,568 -26,796
1997 726,574 98,009 268,198 -26,276
1996 784,508 -92,435 262,468 -38,358
1995 879,648 -220,258 257,897 -45,423
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 252,023 -45,504
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 245,917 -47,739
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 239,953 -43,656
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 237,957 -44,203
1990 1,530,434 200,711 235,835 -38,619
1989 1,609,739 9,460 233,429 -36,736
1988 1,614,512 30,688 230,118 -31,270
1987 1,639,644 213,524 227,813 -26,338
1986 1,659,289 242,411 224,768 -16,610
1985 1,661,750 163,999 221,351 -18,474
1984 1,653,051 97,748 216,695 -18,652
1983 1,573,612 204,544 212,712 -11,849
1982 1,514,240 222,390 207,621 -3,676
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 202,822 -16,072
1980 1,361,293 103,674 198,817 -24,664
1979 1,294,306 75,451 197,578 -29,515
1978 1,156,974 70,088 194,933 -30,284
1977 1,091,542 68,093 191,557 -30,423
1976 1,013,347 18,825 186,762 -30,612
1975 929,481 106,921 182,258 -30,886
1974 873,369 103,252 174,484 -31,178
1973 831,880 104,779 168,258 -31,472
1972 804,043 96,614 161,648 -31,672
1971 805,830 77,717 155,249 -31,651
1970 794,612 89,757 149,380 -31,370
1969 780,660 78,196 142,660 -11,469
1968 743,992 69,342 137,315 -5,447
1967 727,276 77,313 131,938 -5,298
1966 695,040 98,709 127,164 -5,129
1965 663,029 127,808 122,814 -5,023
1964 635,589 121,817 117,197 -4,851
1963 620,126 110,190 114,555 -4,676
1962 595,538 96,332 110,173 -4,428
1961 594,674 77,811 106,318 -4,043
1960 584,060 54,041 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/iran/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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