Country explorer: Iran

Iran has faced significant economic challenges, including fluctuating GDP per capita, a notable percentage of the population living below various poverty thresholds, persistently high unemployment rates, and severe inflation spikes, distinguishing it from many of its peers by its struggle with economic sanctions and domestic policies that have contributed to economic instability and a high cost of living.

Iran has experienced a notable demographic transition, evidenced by a gradual increase in population, significant fluctuations in net migration, a rebound in fertility rates after an initial decline, and a steady improvement in life expectancy, distinguishing it from many of its peers by showcasing a complex interplay of societal, economic, and policy-driven changes affecting its demographic landscape.

Iran has demonstrated significant progress in improving access to basic needs such as clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed drinking water, reflecting societal transformations that align with global efforts towards enhancing living standards.

Iran has experienced significant advances in human development, as highlighted by improvements in its Human Development Index, reductions in child mortality, increases in literacy rates, and a rise in average learning-adjusted years of schooling, showcasing a trajectory of progress similar to that of rapidly developing countries in its region.

Iran has experienced significant environmental shifts, marked by increases in per capita CO₂ emissions and renewable energy production, diminishing freshwater resources per capita, and fluctuations in forest area, reflecting broader societal and industrial transformations that align with global trends in environmental change.

Iran has shown significant progress in technological and innovative capacities, marked by rapid increases in internet usage, mobile subscriptions, and scientific publications, alongside substantial investments in research & development, positioning itself as a regional leader in technological advancement and innovation within the Middle Eastern context.

Iran has experienced a significant decrease in its age dependency ratio, reflecting a societal shift towards a more balanced demographic structure, alongside modest gains in self-reported life satisfaction and consistent efforts to address gender inequality, setting it apart in its region with a distinctive trajectory of social transformation.

Iran has experienced significant fluctuations in governance indicators, including declines in rule of law and political civil liberties, showcasing a divergent path of increasing restrictions compared to its regional peers and lower-middle-income countries.