Economy of Iran
Iran is a mixed economy with a large public sector. Some 60% of Iran's economy is centrally planned.. Iran's economy is characterized by its hydrocarbon, agricultural, and service sectors, in addition to manufacturing and financial services, with over 40 industries directly involved in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The stock exchange has been one of the best performing exchanges in the world over the past decade. With 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves, Iran is considered an "energy superpower".
Tehran province hosts 45% of Iran's industries. | |
Currency | Iranian rial (IRR,﷼) |
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March 21–20 | |
Trade organizations | ECO, OPEC, GECF, WTO (observer), SCO, Brics and others |
Country group |
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Statistics | |
Population | 87,590,873 (2023 est.) |
GDP |
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GDP rank |
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GDP growth |
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GDP per capita |
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GDP per capita rank |
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GDP by sector |
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GDP by component |
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40% (2022) | |
NA | |
Population below poverty line |
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38.8 medium (2018) | |
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Labor force |
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Unemployment |
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Average net salary |
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Gross savings | 41.758% of GDP (2022) |
Main industries | petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, car manufacture, parts, pharmaceuticals, home appliances, electronics, telecom, energy, power, textiles, construction, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments |
External | |
Exports | $107.43 billion (2018) |
Export goods | petroleum (56%), chemical and petrochemical products, automobiles, fruits and nuts, carpets |
Main export partners | |
Imports | $54.46 billion (2018) |
Import goods | industrial raw materials and intermediate goods (46%), capital goods (35%), foodstuffs and other consumer goods (19%), technical services |
Main import partners | |
FDI stock |
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Gross external debt | $9.142 billion (December 2022) |
Public finances | |
Government debt |
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+3% (of GDP) (2022 est.) | |
Revenues | IRR 8,298,940 billion (2022) |
Expenses | IRR 12,487,173 billion (2022) |
Credit rating |
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$85.2 billion (December 31, 2020, est.) | |
A unique feature of Iran's economy is the presence of large religious foundations called bonyads, whose combined budgets represent more than 30 percent of central government spending.
Price controls and subsidies, particularly on food and energy, are heavily prominent in the economy. Contraband, administrative controls, widespread corruption, and other restrictive factors undermine private sector-led growth. The government's 20-year vision (as of 2020), involves market-based reforms reflected in the government's, with a five year development plan (FY 2016 to FY 2021) focusing on "a resilient economy" and "progress in science and technology". Most of the country's exports are oil and gas, accounting for a majority of government revenue in 2010. However in March 2022, the Iranian parliament under new president Ebrahim Raisi decided to eliminate a major subsidy for importing food, medicines and animal feed, valued at $15 billion in FY2021. Also in March 2022, 20 billion tons of basic goods exports from Russia including vegetable oil, wheat, barley and corn were agreed.
Iran's educated population, high human development, constrained economy and insufficient foreign and domestic investment prompted an increasing number of Iranians to seek overseas employment, resulting in a significant "brain drain". However, in 2015, Iran and the P5+1 reached a deal on the nuclear program which removed most international sanctions. Consequently, for a short period, the tourism industry was significantly improved and the inflation of the country was decreased though US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 hindered the growth of the economy again and increased inflation.
GDP contracted in 2018 and 2019, but a modest rebound was expected in 2020. Challenges include a COVID-19 outbreak starting in February 2020 and US sanctions reimposed in mid-2018, increased unemployment due to the sanctions, inflation, a "chronically weak and undercapitalised" banking system, and an "anemic" private sector. Iran's currency (Iranian rial) has fallen, and Iran has a relatively low rating in "Economic Freedom", and "ease of doing business".