MigrantoImmigrants in Iran
3.8M foreign-born residents — the #16 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 100% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 3752317 |
| Iraq | 55516 |
| Pakistan | 12822 |
| Azerbaijan | 4882 |
| Turkmenistan | 1992 |
| Armenia | 1008 |
| Turkey | 392 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 98%
3.8M
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Iran.
Afghanistan is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Afghanistan accounts for 98% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 1%.
Iran is a primary destination for emigrants from Afghanistan
Iran attracts 50% of all emigrants from Afghanistan, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Immigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The immigrant population grew 37% from 2.8M to 3.8M, indicating an acceleration in migration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
A significant share of the population of Afghanistan has settled here
More than 1 in 11 people from Afghanistan now live in Iran — 3.8M people, representing 8.8% of the population of Afghanistan.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4282607 |
| 1995 | 2928766 |
| 2000 | 2458733 |
| 2005 | 2529688 |
| 2010 | 2704744 |
| 2015 | 2716186 |
| 2020 | 2785736 |
| 2024 | 3828929 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Afghanistan | Iraq | Pakistan | Azerbaijan | Turkmenistan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Iran as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Iran
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Iran?
Around 3.8M foreign-born residents live in Iran, making it the #16-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Iran changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Iran has grown from 2.7M to 3.8M people, a growth of about 41%.
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