Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Iran

Iran: Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index was 2.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
2.5%
Change on year
down 11.3%
World rank
50th
of 120 countries
All-time high
21.8%
in 1986
All-time low
1.8%
in 2012
Years of data
20
1986–2023

Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Iran, 1986–2023

051015201986200420231986: 21.8 %1990: 21.6 %1994: 15.8 %1998: 15.2 %2005: 4.5 %2006: 4.5 %2009: 4.9 %2011: 2.3 %2012: 1.8 %2013: 1.9 %2014: 3.3 %2015: 3 %2016: 3 %2017: 2.7 %2018: 3.2 %2019: 4.3 %2020: 4.6 %2021: 3.7 %2022: 2.8 %2023: 2.5 %

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Iran is 2.5%, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 11.3% on the previous year and up 30.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Iran peaked at 21.8% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2012.

That places Iran 50th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 21.8% 21.8% 21.8% 1
1990s 17.5% 15.2% 21.6% 3
2000s 4.6% 4.5% 4.9% 3
2010s 2.8% 1.8% 4.3% 9
2020s 3.4% 2.5% 4.6% 4

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 47 Brazil 3.0% compare
  2. 48 Sri Lanka 2.7% compare
  3. 49 Montenegro 2.5% compare
  4. 51 Nepal 2.4% compare
  5. 52 Uzbekistan 2.3% compare
  6. 53 Kyrgyzstan 2.2% compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Iran?
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Iran was 2.5% in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Iran?
The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1986.
What is the lowest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2012.
How does Iran rank for share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index?
Iran ranks 50th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
Is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is up 30.8%. 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 Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

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About this data

Indicator
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index
Unit
%
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.