Iran

Iran Economy Overview

Iran's economy is characterized by its significant state control, with ongoing reforms to improve state-owned financial institutions. The country boasts robust oil and gas, agricultural, and service sectors, which are pivotal to its economic structure. In 2023, Iran's exports were estimated at $97.924 billion, indicating a slight decrease from the previous year. However, imports rose to $113.21 billion, highlighting a trade imbalance. The labor force is estimated to be 28.575 million in 2024, reflecting the country's substantial workforce. Despite these strengths, Iran faces challenges such as significant inflation, driven by currency depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty. These issues have led to rising poverty levels. The exchange rate of the Iranian rial has remained stable against the US dollar at 42,000 IRR from 2019 to 2023, underscoring the currency's controlled nature. Understanding these dynamics provides a comprehensive view of Iran's economic landscape.

Budget

revenues

$60.714 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures

$90.238 billion (2019 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$105.752 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$97.924 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$100.031 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$97.729 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$113.21 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$117.176 billion (2024 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petrochemicals, natural gas, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (notably sugar refining and vegetable oil manufacturing), ferrous and nonferrous metal production, armaments

Labor force

28.575 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

39.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

42,000 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

42,000 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

42,000 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

42,000 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

42,000 (2023 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$6.759 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

historically a state-controlled economy, now reforming state-owned financial institutions; robust oil and gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent significant inflation attributed to currency depreciation, international sanctions, and uncertainty among investors; rising poverty levels

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

9.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

9.2% (2024 est.)

Exports - partners

China 35%, Turkey 16%, India 8%, Pakistan 7%, Armenia 5% (2023)

Imports - partners

China 34%, UAE 20%, Turkey 11%, Brazil 8%, Germany 4% (2023)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$15,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$16,200 (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

wheat, sugarcane, milk, sugar beets, rice, tomatoes, barley, potatoes, oranges, apples (2023)

Exports - commodities

plastics, iron ore, alcohols, natural gas, refined copper (2023)

Imports - commodities

broadcasting equipment, vehicle parts/accessories, corn, soybeans, vehicle bodies (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$436.906 billion (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

50.5% (2024 est.)

government consumption

12.9% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

13.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.7% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

22.9% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-26.8% (2024 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food

27.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

43.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

44.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

32.5% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

2.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$1.373 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$1.442 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$1.486 trillion (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

male

20% (2024 est.)

total

22.8% (2024 est.)

female

35.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

industry

36.4% (2024 est.)

services

47.9% (2024 est.)

agriculture

13% (2024 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

2.8% (2023 est.)

highest 10%

28.2% (2023 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

35.9 (2023 est.)