Wed, 19:55 27 Aug 2008 GMT17

 
Iran
 
Capital: Tehran
Area size: 1622000 sq. km Slightly smaller than Mexico
Time zone: GMT +3 1/2
Currency: Rial
Area code: (+) 98
Driving: Right
Climate description: Hot summers, bitterly cold winters; rainfall sparse over most of the country.
 

People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Persian/Farsi (official) and minority languages (Kurdish 7 percent)
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population
2007 71.3 million U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006 70.3 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2005 69.4 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2004 68.7 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2003 68.0 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2002 67.4 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2001 66.8 million U.N. DESA (2006)
2000 66.1 million U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
108.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)

Ethnic groups
Persian 51 percent, Azeri 24 percent, Kurds 7 percent, Gilaki/Mazandarani 8 percent. There are also Lur, Arab, Baloch and Turkmen minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
The Shi'ite sect of Islam predominates (89 percent), with some Sunni Muslims (10 percent). There are also Baha'i, Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population
2007 68.0 percent U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006 67.5 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2005 66.9 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2004 66.4 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2003 65.9 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2002 65.3 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2001 64.8 percent U.N. DESA (2005)
2000 64.2 percent U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1963
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)

Percentage of population under 15
2005 28.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 29.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 31.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 32.6 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 33.9 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 37.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002


Average life expectancy
2005 70.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 70.7 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 70.4 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 70.3 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 69.8 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 68.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male
2005 68.7 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 69.2 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 69.0 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 68.8 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 68.5 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 68.0 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female
2005 71.8 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 72.3 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 71.9 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 71.7 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 71.3 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 69.8 years UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality
2006 30 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005 31 per 1,000 live births U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004 32 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003 33 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 35 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 35 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 36 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
2006 34 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005 36 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004 38 per 1,000 live births UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003 39 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 42 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 42 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 44 per 1,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel
1997-2005 90 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004 90 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003 90 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002 90 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001 No data available percent
1995-2000 No data available percent

Maternal mortality
2005 140 per 100,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000 76 per 100,000 live births UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)
2005 94 UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 96 UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 99 UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 101 UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 106 UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 98 UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
2000-2006 11 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005 11 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004 11 percent UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003 11 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002 11 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001 11 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000 5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population
2002-2004 average 4 percent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average 4 percent FAO 2006
2000-2002average 4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001average 5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000average 5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water
2004 94 percent UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002 93 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000 92 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation
2004 No data available percent
2002 84 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000 83 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average
2004 77.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 77.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 77.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 77.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 76.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male
2004 83.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 83.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 83.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 83.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 83.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female
2004 70.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 70.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002 70.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001 70.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000 69.3 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones
2006 312 per 1,000 people International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007
2005 273 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2004 234 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2003 231 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2002 197 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2001 169 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2000 149 per 1,000 people ITU 2007

Cellular telephone subscribers
2006 194 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2005 104 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2004 61 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2003 52 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2002 35 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2001 32 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2000 15 per 1,000 people ITU 2007

Internet users
2006 255 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2005 109 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2004 95 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2003 72 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2002 49 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2001 16 per 1,000 people ITU 2007
2000 10 per 1,000 people ITU 2007

Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
2007 131 (joint) Transparency International 2007
2006 105 (joint) Transparency International
2005 88 (joint) Transparency International
2004 87 (joint) Transparency International
2003 78 (joint) Transparency International
2002 Not ranked
2001 Not ranked
2000 Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
1990-2005 2.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004 2.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003 <2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002 <2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001 <2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method
2006 2930 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 2580 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 2210 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 1950 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 1730 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 1710 current US$ WorldBankDataProfileTables2008
2000 1670 current US$ World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP
2006 217.9 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005 192.0 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004 163.2 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003 135.4 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002 116.4 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001 115.4 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000 101.3 current US$ billions World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual GDP growth
2005 4.4 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004 5.1 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003 7.1 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002 7.5 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001 3.7 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000 5.1 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Annual inflation
2005 15.9 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2004 20.6 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2003 11.8 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2002 28.3 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2001 11.6 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007
2000 26.4 percent World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.0 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
33.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians
2000-2004 87 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004 45 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003 110 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002 110 per 100,000 people UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
2005 0.2 percent U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2006
2003 0.1 percent UNAIDS 2006

Malaria
Limited risk from P.vivax. It exists in the summer months in Ardebil and East Azerbijan provinces north of the Zagros mountains. Risk from P.falciparum from March through to November in rural areas of the provinces of Hormozgan, Kerman (tropical part) and the southern part of Sistan-Baluchestan. P.falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases
2006 22 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2005 24 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2004 25 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2003 27 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2002 29 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2001 30 per 100,000 people WHO 2008
2000 31 per 100,000 people WHO 2008

Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium

Number of refugees originating here
2006 102483 Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005 98722 UNHCR
2004 115126 UNHCR
2003 132543 UNHCR
2002 138364 UNHCR
2001 92491 UNHCR
2000 88278 UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here
2006 968370 UNHCR
2005 716403 UNHCR
2004 1045976 UNHCR
2003 984896 UNHCR
2002 1306599 UNHCR
2001 1868000 UNHCR
2000 1868000 UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
No data available

Landmine casualties per year
2004 At least 109 Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003 At least 135 Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
2005 5.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004 4.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003 3.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education
2002-2005 4.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004 4.8 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002 4.9 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001 5.0 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000 4.4 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health
2004 3.2 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004 3.1 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002 2.9 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001 2.7 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000 2.5 percent UNDP - Human Development Report 2003


AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.


Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

Related articles

Breaking stories
Middle East UN council extends mandate of S.Lebanon force

Asia Russia's Medvedev goes east to drum up support

AlertNet insight
Americas MEDIAWATCH: Food summit thwarts hope

Blogs
Americas Bali climate change talks: 'The long, arduous road' to nowhere?

Maps
Americas Climate hazard hotspots (cumulative)


More briefings



URL: http://www.alertnet.org/db/cp/iran.htm

For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org