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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 4.1 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 +1.15% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Iran vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Zambia
2100 80,660,972 65,204,593
2099 81,193,582 64,858,778
2098 81,717,474 64,503,193
2097 82,241,892 64,136,110
2096 82,764,411 63,764,760
2095 83,283,942 63,380,692
2094 83,799,806 62,980,254
2093 84,316,389 62,578,008
2092 84,833,108 62,163,693
2091 85,354,240 61,738,437
2090 85,878,473 61,309,330
2089 86,409,859 60,868,166
2088 86,947,263 60,422,781
2087 87,492,427 59,958,303
2086 88,047,949 59,487,524
2085 88,610,339 59,011,423
2084 89,181,346 58,524,337
2083 89,758,453 58,029,088
2082 90,343,413 57,527,347
2081 90,936,310 57,016,267
2080 91,535,218 56,495,299
2079 92,136,544 55,972,223
2078 92,740,467 55,438,864
2077 93,344,865 54,895,964
2076 93,946,187 54,350,375
2075 94,544,733 53,796,265
2074 95,135,317 53,236,297
2073 95,721,351 52,666,980
2072 96,292,835 52,090,884
2071 96,851,951 51,509,551
2070 97,397,073 50,921,590
2069 97,924,812 50,324,793
2068 98,432,509 49,727,689
2067 98,913,776 49,125,817
2066 99,374,357 48,520,891
2065 99,812,137 47,909,160
2064 100,223,387 47,290,430
2063 100,602,361 46,668,252
2062 100,951,282 46,039,755
2061 101,266,537 45,407,718
2060 101,545,806 44,768,534
2059 101,792,315 44,128,619
2058 101,994,395 43,485,891
2057 102,161,227 42,843,489
2056 102,291,323 42,198,591
2055 102,382,089 41,550,105
2054 102,431,558 40,898,440
2053 102,441,204 40,247,706
2052 102,413,350 39,596,094
2051 102,350,865 38,942,292
2050 102,251,999 38,287,070
2049 102,122,983 37,626,787
2048 101,957,508 36,964,032
2047 101,765,614 36,302,603
2046 101,547,098 35,638,852
2045 101,305,486 34,974,927
2044 101,038,874 34,310,227
2043 100,752,109 33,645,797
2042 100,446,296 32,984,164
2041 100,122,690 32,323,084
2040 99,784,572 31,658,029
2039 99,436,793 30,995,204
2038 99,072,548 30,329,691
2037 98,694,577 29,662,721
2036 98,302,279 28,994,556
2035 97,899,013 28,327,922
2034 97,482,352 27,665,749
2033 97,054,589 27,006,658
2032 96,608,216 26,351,393
2031 96,141,200 25,697,754
2030 95,656,003 25,050,285
2029 95,133,736 24,409,600
2028 94,561,150 23,776,128
2027 93,925,792 23,146,922
2026 93,215,072 22,525,308
2025 92,417,681 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 9.27% to 102,251,999 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M 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 0.93% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Iran Zambia
Current population
93580141
22844606
Population rank 17/197 62/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.27%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
27.4 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
1.21 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,329 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +849,943 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 19/197
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 715,785 190,156 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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