MigrantoImmigrants in Iran
3.8M foreigners live in Iran — 4% of the country's population
Immigrants in Iran by country
The 3 largest groups make up 100% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 3752317 |
| Iraq | 55516 |
| Pakistan | 12822 |
| Azerbaijan | 4882 |
| Turkmenistan | 1992 |
| Armenia | 1008 |
| Turkey | 392 |
By region of origin
98% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Iran in numbers
Afghans are the largest group by a wide margin
98% of all immigrants were born in Afghanistan, while the next group accounts for just 1%.
50% of all emigrants from Afghanistan live in Iran
No other country has more people born in Afghanistan.
The immigrant population has grown 37% since 2020
The number of foreigners living in Iran rose from 2.8M to 3.8M in four years.
1 in 11 people born in Afghanistan lives in Iran
3.8M people born in Afghanistan live in Iran — 8.8% of the population of Afghanistan.
Immigrant population in Iran over time
Foreigners living in Iran, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4282607 |
| 1995 | 2928766 |
| 2000 | 2458733 |
| 2005 | 2529688 |
| 2010 | 2704744 |
| 2015 | 2716186 |
| 2020 | 2785736 |
| 2024 | 3828929 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Iran, by year
| Year | Afghans | Iraqis | Pakistanis | Azerbaijanis | Turkmens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3980307 | 290278 | 9925 | 896 | 237 |
| 1995 | 2660518 | 257645 | 8297 | 903 | 238 |
| 2000 | 2232283 | 204812 | 15251 | 3046 | 944 |
| 2005 | 2376348 | 121384 | 18233 | 7767 | 2990 |
| 2010 | 2572558 | 99556 | 19207 | 7349 | 2999 |
| 2015 | 2621236 | 68735 | 16032 | 5744 | 2344 |
| 2020 | 2710601 | 54445 | 12575 | 4788 | 1954 |
| 2024 | 3752317 | 55516 | 12822 | 4882 | 1992 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Iran
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Iran
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Iran?
Around 3.8M immigrants live in Iran — the world's #16 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Iran are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 4% of the population of Iran — that's 3.8M out of a total population of 91.6M.
Where do most immigrants in Iran come from?
Most immigrants in Iran come from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan — these three countries account for about 100% of all immigrants.
How many Afghans live in Iran?
Around 3.8M Afghans live in Iran — about 98% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Iran growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Iran has grown from 2.7M to 3.8M, about 41%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Iran come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Iran. Their children born in Iran are not included.
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Living in Iran
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