Iran: Introduction

Total Population: 73,973,630

Annual Growth Rate: 1.1%

Density: 45 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 69.5%

Population of main cities including suburbs: Teheran (12,500,000); Mashhad (2,625,000); Esfahan (2,025,000); Tabriz (1,480,000); Karaj (1,400,000).

Ethnic Origins: Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Gilakis/Mazandaranis (8%), Kurdish (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchis (2%), Lors (2%), Turkmen (2%), Armenians, Jews, Qashqais, etc.

Official Language: Persian, also called Farsi, is understood by 83% of the population.

Other Languages Spoken: Iran contains several minority groups which speak dialects related to Farsi. These dialects are practically in the process of extinction. Also let us note that the borders of Iran have been inhabited by many common ethnic minorities with the neighbouring states. Among the important minority linguistic groups, the Azeris (20%) and Luris (6.6%) in the North, the Kurds (9%) in the West, the Arabs (2.1%) in South-West, Turkmen (1.5%) in the North-East, Baluchis (1.3%) in the South-East deserve a mention.

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Shiite muslims 94.5% ; Sunni muslims 3.8% ; Judaism, Zoroastrian (1 %)

Literacy Rate: 82.4%

Area: 1,745,150 km²

Type of State: Islamic Republic. Theocratic republic based on a parliamentary democracy.

Type of Economy: According to the World Bank classification, Iran is a country with intermediate income (lower bracket) .
Dependence on hydrocarbon exports. Iran has to face many economic sanctions imposed by the international community.

HDI*: 0.702/1

HDI (World Rank): 70/169

Telephone Code:
To Make a Call From Iran, Dial 00
To Make a Call to Iran, Dial +98

Internet Suffix: .ir

Computers: 10.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 33.8 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 31.4 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 97% of the Population