Map of Iran | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 1,648,195 km²
Land: 1,531,595 km²
Water: 116,600 km²
Comparative: almost 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Country comparison total: 5,894 km
Country comparison border countries: (7) Afghanistan 921 km; Armenia 44 km; Azerbaijan 689 km; Iraq 1,599 km; Pakistan 959 km; Turkey 534 km; Turkmenistan 1,148 km

Land boundaries
Total: 5,894 km
Border countries: (7) Afghanistan 921 km; Armenia 44 km; Azerbaijan 689 km; Iraq 1,599 km; Pakistan 959 km; Turkey 534 km; Turkmenistan 1,148 km

Coastline: 2,440 km
Note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
Continental shelf: natural prolongation

Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Elevation
Highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,625 m
Lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
Mean elevation: 1,305 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use
Agricultural land: 30.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 18.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 63.1% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 79,721 km² (2020)

Major rivers
By length in km: Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km; Helmand (shared with Afghanistan [s]) - 1,130 km
By length in km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²: Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 6.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 1.1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 86 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 137.05 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Geography
Note: strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport


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Population
Distribution: population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density
Total: 88,386,937
Male: 44,795,539
Female: 43,591,398 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.88% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Iranian(s)
Adjective: Iranian

Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen, and Turkic tribes

Languages: Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic
Major-language samples: چکیده نامه جهان، منبعی ضروری برای کسب اطلاعات کلی جهان (Persian); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Muslim (official) 98.5%, Christian 0.7%, Baha'i 0.3%, agnostic 0.3%, other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Hindu) 0.2% (2020 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 10,512,797/female 10,040,282)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 31,413,125/female 30,267,241)
65 years and over: 7% (2024 est.) (male 2,869,617/female 3,283,875)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 45.3
Youth dependency ratio: 34.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.7
Potential support ratio: 9.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 33.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 33.6 years
Female: 34.1 years

Population growth rate: 0.88% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 14.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density

Urbanization
Urban population: 77.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 9.500 million TEHRAN (capital), 3.368 million Mashhad, 2.258 million Esfahan, 1.721 million Shiraz, 1.661 million Tabriz, 1.594 million Karaj (2023)

Environment
Current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 31.62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 661.71 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 158.71 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 22 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 74.3 years
Female: 77.1 years

Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.8% of population
Unimproved rural: 1.9% of population
Unimproved total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0.2% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: 100% of population
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.8% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 13.6% (2020 est.)
Male: 24.1% (2020 est.)
Female: 3.1% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.3% (2017)

Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 88.7%
Male: 92.4%
Female: 88.7% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 15 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 20% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 35.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
Conventional short form: Iran
Local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
Local short form: Iran
Former: Persia
Etymology: name derives from the Avestan term 'aryanam' meaning 'Land of the Noble [Ones]'

Government type: theocratic republic

Capital
Name: Tehran
Geographic coordinates: 35 42 N, 51 25 E
Time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC)
Daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
Etymology: various explanations of the city's name have been proffered, but the most plausible states that it derives from the Persian words tah meaning 'end or bottom' and ran meaning '[mountain] slope' to signify 'bottom of the mountain slope'; Tehran lies at the bottom slope of the Elburz Mountains

Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Dependent areas

Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty)

National holiday: Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Constitution
History: previous 1906; latest adopted 24 October 1979, effective 3 December 1979
Amendments: proposed by the supreme leader – after consultation with the Exigency Council – and submitted as an edict to the 'Council for Revision of the Constitution,' a body consisting of various executive, legislative, judicial, and academic leaders and members; passage requires absolute majority vote in a referendum and approval of the supreme leader; articles including Iran’s political system, its religious basis, and its form of government cannot be amended; amended 1989

Legal system: religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Iran
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
Head of government: President Masoud PEZESHKIAN (assumed office on 30 July 2024)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the supreme leader has some control over appointments to several ministries
Elections/appointments: supreme leader appointed for life by Assembly of Experts; president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term and an additional nonconsecutive term); election last held on 28 June 2024 first round (runoff held on 5 July 2024)
Election results: 2024: first round results - Masoud PEZESHKIAN (independent) 44.4%, Saeed JALILI (Front of Islamic Revolution Stability) 40.4%, Mohammad Baqer QAKIBAF (Progress and Justice Population of Islamic Iran) 14.3%, other 0.9%; second round results - Masoud PEZESHKIAN elected; Masoud PEZESHKIAN 54.8%, Saeed JALILI 45.2%; 2021: Ebrahim RAISI elected president; percent of vote - Ebrahim RAISI (independent) 72.4%, Mohsen REZAI (RFII) 13.8%, Abbdolnaser HEMATI (ECP) 9.8%, Amir-Hosein Qazizadeh-HASHEMI (Islamic Law Party) 4%
Note: presidential election held early due to the death of President Ebrahim RAISI in a helicopter accident in May 2024

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami or Majles (290 seats; 285 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by multiple non-transferable vote in 2 rounds, 1 seat each for Zoroastrians, Jews, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Armenians in the north of the country and Armenians in the south; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: first round held on 1 March 2024 for 245 seats; second round for 45 remaining seats to be held on 10 May 2024 (next full Majles election to be held in 2,028)
Elections results: percent of vote by coalition in first round - NA; seats by coalition in first round - conservatives and hardliners 200, other 45; composition - NA
Note: all candidates to the Majles must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a 12-member group of which 6 are appointed by the supreme leader and 6 are jurists nominated by the judiciary and elected by the Majles

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and organized into 42 two-bench branches, each with a justice and a judge)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the head of the High Judicial Council (HJC), a 5-member body to include the Supreme Court chief justice, the prosecutor general, and 3 clergy, in consultation with judges of the Supreme Court; president appointed for a single, renewable 5-year term; other judges appointed by the HJC; judge tenure NA
Subordinate courts: Penal Courts I and II; Islamic Revolutionary Courts; Courts of Peace; Special Clerical Court (functions outside the judicial system and handles cases involving clerics); military courts

Political parties and leaders: Combatant Clergy Association (an active political group), Executives of Construction Party, Front of Islamic Revolutionary Stability, Islamic Coalition Party, Progress and Justice Population of Islamic Iran, Militant Clerics Society (Majma-e Ruhaniyoun-e Mobarez) or MRM, Moderation and Development Party, National Trust Party (Hezb-e E'temad-eMelli) or HEM, Progress and Justice Society, Union of Islamic Iran People's Party (Hezb-e Ettehad-e Iran-e Eslami)

International organization participation: BRICS, CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none
In the us note: Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Embassy of Pakistan, 1250 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 965-4,990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073; email: requests@daftar.org; info@daftarwashington.com; website: [link]
From the us embassy: none; the US Interests Section is located in the Embassy of Switzerland; US Foreign Interests Section, Embassy of Switzerland, Pasdaran, Shahid Mousavi Street (Golestan 5th), Corner of Paydarfard Street, No. 55, Tehran

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color of Islam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty and peace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom

National symbols: lion; national colors: green, white, red

National anthem
Name: 'Soroud-e Melli-ye Jomhouri-ye Eslami-ye Iran' (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
Lyrics/music: multiple authors/Hassan RIAHI
Note 1: adopted 1990; Iran has had six national anthems; the first, entitled 'Salam-e Shah' (Royal Salute) was in use from 1873-1909; next came 'Salamati-ye Dowlat-e Elliye-ye Iran' (Salute of the Sublime State of Persia, 1909-1933); it was followed by 'Sorud-e melli' (The Imperial Anthem of Iran; 1933-1979), which chronicled the exploits of the Pahlavi Dynasty; 'Ey Iran' (Oh Iran) functioned unofficially as the national anthem for a brief period between the ouster of the Shah in 1979 and the early days of the Islamic Republic in 1980; 'Payandeh Bada Iran' (Long Live Iran) was used between 1980 and 1990 during the time of Ayatollah KHOMEINI
Note 2: a recording of the current Iranian national anthem is unavailable since the US Navy Band does not record anthems for countries from which the US does not anticipate official visits; the US does not have diplomatic relations with Iran

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 28 (26cultural, 2 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: traditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities; strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty; increasing poverty

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $1.44 trillion (2023 est.); $1.373 trillion (2022 est.); $1.323 trillion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 4.95% (2023 est.); 3.78% (2022 est.); 4.72% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $16,200 (2023 est.); $15,500 (2022 est.); $15,000 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 47.2% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 13.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -26.9% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 13% (2023 est.)
Industry: 41.8% (2023 est.)
Services: 42.7% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: wheat, sugarcane, milk, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, potatoes, vegetables, oranges, chicken (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Industrial production growth rate: 8.84% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 29.159 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 9.1% (2023 est.); 9.09% (2022 est.); 9.28% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 20% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 35.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $60.714 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $90.238 billion (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt: 39.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Note: includes publicly guaranteed debt

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.01% of GDP (2017 est.)
From coal: 0.01% of GDP (2017 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 44.58% (2023 est.); 43.49% (2022 est.); 43.39% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $9.491 billion (2017 est.); $16.28 billion (2016 est.)

Exports: $110.882 billion (2022 est.); $82.015 billion (2021 est.); $46.568 billion (2020 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 36%, Turkey 20%, Kuwait 6%, Pakistan 5%, India 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: ethylene polymers, refined copper, acyclic alcohols, aluminum, natural gas (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $102.47 billion (2022 est.); $77.33 billion (2021 est.); $58.461 billion (2020 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 28%, UAE 19%, Brazil 13%, Turkey 9%, India 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: broadcasting equipment, corn, soybeans, vehicle parts/accessories, rice (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $120.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.); $133.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt external: $269.852 million (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 80.74 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 315.843 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 9.47 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 2.273 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 37.65 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 93.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 4.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Production: 2.791 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 3.531 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 261,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 852,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.203 billion metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 3.985 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 2.136 million bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 208.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 263.28 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 244.89 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 19.251 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 2.788 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 33.987 trillion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 750.453 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 6.714 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 259.198 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 484.541 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 152.479 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 29.342 million (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 145.668 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.); 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.); 2.5% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces:
Note 1: the Artesh Navy operates Iran’s larger warships and operates in the Gulf of Oman, the Caspian Sea, and deep waters in the region and beyond; the IRGC Navy has responsibility for the closer-in waters of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz
Note 2: the Basij is a volunteer paramilitary group under the IRGC with local organizations across the country, which sometimes acts as an auxiliary law enforcement unit for the IRGC; it is formally known as the Organization for the Mobilization of the Oppressed and also known as the Popular Mobilization Army
Note 3: the Ministry of Intelligence and Security and law enforcement forces under the Interior Ministry, which report to the president, and the IRGC, which reports to the supreme leader, share responsibility for law enforcement and maintaining order
Note 4: the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) is the uniformed police of Iran and includes branches for public security, traffic control, anti-narcotics, special forces (riot control, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, etc), intelligence, and criminal investigations; it has responsibility for border security (Border Guard Command)

Military service age and obligation: military service is compulsory for all Iranian men 18-19 to approximately age 40; 16 for voluntary military service (may be as low as 15 for the Basij); conscript military service obligation is up to 24 months, depending on the location of service (soldiers serving in places of high security risk and deprived areas serve shorter terms); women exempted from military service (2023)
Note: conscripts serve in the Artesh, IRGC, and Law Enforcement, while Navy and Air/Air Defense Force personnel are primarily volunteers

Space program

Terrorist groups: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); al-Qa’ida
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 22 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 237
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 25,604,871 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 290.74 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EP

Airports: 173 (2024)

Heliports: 89 (2024)

Pipelines: 7 km condensate, 973 km condensate/gas, 20,794 km gas, 570 km liquid petroleum gas, 8,625 km oil, 7,937 km refined products (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 223,485 km
Paved: 195,618 km
Unpaved: 27,867 km (2016)

Waterways: 850 km (2012) (on Karun River; some navigation on Lake Urmia)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 500,000 undocumented Afghans, 750,000 Afghan refugee card holders, 12,000 Iraqi refugee card holders (2022)
Stateless persons: 34 (mid-year 2021)

Illicit drugs: significant transit and destination country for opiates and cannabis products mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan; produces and consumes methamphetamine and traffics it to international markets; one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; opium and cannabis most widely used drugs domestically along with increase in crystal methamphetamine