Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in Iran
Iran: Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share was 7.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Iran, 1986–2023
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 of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Iran is 7.5%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.8% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Iran peaked at 35.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2012.
That places Iran 48th 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.
Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 35.0% | — |
| 1990 | 35.7% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 28.7% | -19.6% |
| 1998 | 27.2% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 10.7% | -60.5% |
| 2006 | 11.3% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 10.5% | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | -31.3% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 6.9% | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 8.8% | +28.2% |
| 2015 | 8.4% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 8.1% | -6.0% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | +15.8% |
| 2019 | 12.1% | +29.3% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 10.1% | -17.5% |
| 2022 | 8.2% | -19.0% |
| 2023 | 7.5% | -7.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 7.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.2%, 1.8× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Iran's 7.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.6%, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 35.0% | 35.0% | 35.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 30.5% | 27.2% | 35.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 10.8% | 10.5% | 11.3% | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.4% | 6.3% | 12.1% | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.5% | 7.5% | 12.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More poverty & inequality data for Iran
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 8 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ 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 share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Iran?
- Share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty in Iran was 7.5% in 2023, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2012.
- How does Iran rank for share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty?
- Iran ranks 48th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. 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 of population living on less than $4.20 per day vs. share in multidimensional poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $4.20 per day.