Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran
Iran: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 1.79 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran, 1986–2023
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran is 1.79 million people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 14.0% on the previous year and up 44.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran peaked at 4.52 million people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 675,456 people, in 1990.
Iran ranks 41st of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 918,311 people | — |
| 1990 | 675,456 people | -26.4% |
| 1994 | 979,407 people | +45.0% |
| 1998 | 1.30 million people | +33.1% |
| 2005 | 3.90 million people | +199.1% |
| 2006 | 4.52 million people | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 3.67 million people | -18.8% |
| 2011 | 1.26 million people | -65.7% |
| 2012 | 1.50 million people | +19.3% |
| 2013 | 1.24 million people | -17.1% |
| 2014 | 1.14 million people | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 1.42 million people | +24.9% |
| 2016 | 1.69 million people | +18.3% |
| 2017 | 1.95 million people | +15.6% |
| 2018 | 2.00 million people | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 1.33 million people | -33.3% |
| 2020 | 1.09 million people | -18.2% |
| 2021 | 1.36 million people | +25.2% |
| 2022 | 1.57 million people | +15.5% |
| 2023 | 1.79 million people | +14.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.79 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 626,662 people, 2.9× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.79 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 489,356 people, 3.7× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +199.1% | 1.30 million people | 3.90 million people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 918,311 people | 918,311 people | 918,311 people | 1 |
| 1990s | 986,054 people | 675,456 people | 1.30 million people | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.03 million people | 3.67 million people | 4.52 million people | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.50 million people | 1.14 million people | 2.00 million people | 9 |
| 2020s | 1.45 million people | 1.09 million people | 1.79 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More poverty & inequality data for Iran
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.7 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,420 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 4.44 % change on previous year (2023)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via -11.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gender Inequality Index 0.482 (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 29.4% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Iran was 1.79 million people in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 4.52 million people in 2006.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 675,456 people in 1990.
- How does Iran rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Iran ranks 41st out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $40 per day.