Iran’s economy is balancing low consumer price inflation with sustained spending on research and development at 4.1% of GDP in 2023. Inflation stayed at about 1.0% in 2023 while the country still recorded a current account deficit of US$ 7.9 billion. Energy data underscores the mismatch with wind supplying only 0.1% of electricity generation in 2022, even as overall generation rose 2.6% year over year in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- 12.1 GW of total installed electricity capacity in Iran in 2022 (IEA estimate), measuring available power capacity
- 0.1% of Iran’s electricity generation from wind in 2022, indicating wind’s small contribution to total generation
- 2.6% year-on-year growth in Iran’s electricity generation in 2023 (IEA electricity growth estimate), reflecting how quickly output increased versus the prior year
- 4.1% of Iran’s GDP in 2023 spent on research and development (GERD), measuring the country’s R&D intensity
- Iran’s current account was -US$ 7.9 billion in 2023 (IMF estimate), measuring net external income flows
- 1.0% inflation rate (CPI) in Iran in 2023 (World Bank WDI), measuring consumer price changes
- Iran had 67.0 million internet users in 2024, representing the number of people able to access internet services
- 75.0% of Iran’s population used the internet in 2024, measuring digital penetration
- 126.0 million mobile cellular subscriptions in Iran in 2023, measuring SIM/mobile account count
- Iran’s total arable land area was 20.7 million hectares in 2022, measuring land suitable for crops
- 23.6% of Iran’s population lived in urban areas in 2023, measuring the degree of urbanization
- 0.70 maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) in Iran in 2020 (WHO/World Bank), measuring maternal health outcomes
- 32.0% of Iran’s goods exports were oil exports in 2022 (UN Comtrade trade composition), measuring the export reliance on oil
- 2.3 million barrels per day of crude oil production in Iran (IEA/US EIA synthesis), measuring daily crude output
- 70.0% of Iran’s export revenues came from crude oil, condensate, and petroleum products in 2022 (OPEC/IEA country context), showing dependency on oil trade
In 2022 to 2023, Iran’s growth rose modestly, but the economy and power mix still relied heavily on oil and thermal generation.
Related reading
01 · Category
Energy & Power5 stats
01
12.1 GW of total installed electricity capacity in Iran in 2022 (IEA estimate), measuring available power capacity
02
0.1% of Iran’s electricity generation from wind in 2022, indicating wind’s small contribution to total generation
03
2.6% year-on-year growth in Iran’s electricity generation in 2023 (IEA electricity growth estimate), reflecting how quickly output increased versus the prior year
04
1.7% of Iran’s final energy consumption from renewables in 2022, indicating renewables’ limited share of end-use energy
05
70.8% of Iran’s electricity generated from thermal sources in 2022, representing the proportion of total generation from thermal generation
Interpretation
Energy & Power Interpretation
Despite a 12.1 GW installed electricity capacity in 2022 and a 2.6% rise in generation in 2023, Iran’s Energy and Power system remains overwhelmingly thermal with 70.8% of electricity coming from thermal sources and renewables contributing only 1.7% of final energy and just 0.1% from wind.
02 · Category
Economy & Trade9 stats
01
4.1% of Iran’s GDP in 2023 spent on research and development (GERD), measuring the country’s R&D intensity
02
Iran’s current account was -US$ 7.9 billion in 2023 (IMF estimate), measuring net external income flows
03
1.0% inflation rate (CPI) in Iran in 2023 (World Bank WDI), measuring consumer price changes
04
US$ 391.0 billion nominal GDP in Iran in 2023 (current US$), measuring total market value of goods and services
05
US$ 29.2 billion merchandise exports from Iran in 2022, quantifying outward sales of goods
06
US$ 41.2 billion trade balance surplus/deficit (imports minus exports) in 2022 (UN Comtrade aggregation for Iran), measuring net trade position
07
Iran’s population was 86.9 million in 2023, providing a headcount measure for market size and labor supply
08
67.1 years is Iran’s life expectancy at birth in 2023, indicating average expected lifespan
09
US$ 6,190GNI per capita (Atlas method) for Iran in 2023, measuring average income per person
Interpretation
Economy & Trade Interpretation
In the Economy and Trade picture, Iran’s GDP stood at US$391.0 billion in 2023 while inflation was only 1.0% and the country ran a trade balance deficit of US$41.2 billion in 2022, suggesting that despite stable consumer prices it has faced notable net external trade pressures.
03 · Category
Digital Connectivity4 stats
01
Iran had 67.0 million internet users in 2024, representing the number of people able to access internet services
02
75.0% of Iran’s population used the internet in 2024, measuring digital penetration
03
126.0 million mobile cellular subscriptions in Iran in 2023, measuring SIM/mobile account count
04
63% of smartphone users in Iran used messaging apps weekly in 2024 (DataReportal’s referenced survey data), measuring communications app engagement
Interpretation
Digital Connectivity Interpretation
With 75.0% internet penetration and 67.0 million people online in 2024, Iran’s digital connectivity is reaching most of the population, supported by heavy mobile use reflected in 126.0 million mobile cellular subscriptions and strong weekly engagement where 63% of smartphone users use messaging apps.
04 · Category
Society, Health & Education7 stats
01
Iran’s total arable land area was 20.7 million hectares in 2022, measuring land suitable for crops
02
23.6% of Iran’s population lived in urban areas in 2023, measuring the degree of urbanization
03
0.70 maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) in Iran in 2020 (WHO/World Bank), measuring maternal health outcomes
04
2.1% of Iran’s GDP spent on health in 2022, measuring public and private health expenditure intensity
05
7.2 years expected years of schooling for children entering school in Iran in 2022, measuring education attainment potential
06
88% of Iran’s primary school-age children were enrolled in 2022 (World Bank education enrollment), measuring access to primary education
07
42% of Iran’s population had attained at least secondary education in 2022 (World Bank Human Capital), measuring educational attainment
Interpretation
Society, Health & Education Interpretation
In Iran, strong education access and attainment appear to be paired with solid but improvable health outcomes, shown by 88% primary enrollment and 42% completing at least secondary education alongside a relatively low 0.70 maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births.
05 · Category
Industry, Agriculture & Trade9 stats
01
32.0% of Iran’s goods exports were oil exports in 2022 (UN Comtrade trade composition), measuring the export reliance on oil
02
2.3 million barrels per day of crude oil production in Iran (IEA/US EIA synthesis), measuring daily crude output
03
70.0% of Iran’s export revenues came from crude oil, condensate, and petroleum products in 2022 (OPEC/IEA country context), showing dependency on oil trade
04
4.4 million tonnes of rice production in Iran in 2022, measuring rice output volume
05
1.3% of global steel production accounted for Iran in 2023 (World Steel Association shares derived from national totals), measuring production share
06
16.0 million tonnes of cement production in Iran in 2023, measuring cement output volume
07
US$ 7.6 billion foreign direct investment (net inflows) into Iran in 2022, measuring capital inflows for investment projects
08
US$ 2.1 billion in remittances received by Iran in 2023, measuring household external transfers
09
12.0 million tonnes of crude oil exports from Iran in 2022 (EIA/UN Comtrade linkage in trade tables), measuring export shipment volume
Interpretation
Industry, Agriculture & Trade Interpretation
Iran’s Industry, Agriculture & Trade profile in 2022 and 2023 is dominated by energy dependence, with crude oil and related products making up 70.0% of export revenues and 32.0% of goods exports while rice output reached 4.4 million tonnes and steel accounted for 1.3% of global production.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Iran Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/iran-statistics
MLA
Lars Eriksen. "Iran Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/iran-statistics.
Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Iran Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/iran-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)