Iran flag

Iran GDP Growth Rate (2026)

Latest Update: September 2026
Source: IMF
Iran has a large Middle Eastern economy supported by energy, manufacturing, services, agriculture, and domestic consumption. This page examines its GDP growth trend, historical performance, regional position, and outlook.
GDP Growth Rate 2026
-6.1%
Annual real GDP growth
World Rank
#192
Out of 195 countries
Change vs 2025
-4.6 pp
2025: -1.5%
Asia Rank
#46
Out of 49 countries

1. Iran GDP Growth Rate in 2026

Iranian economic growth is influenced by oil production, domestic demand, industrial activity, government policy, and trade conditions. Sanctions, inflation, and currency pressures remain especially important.

2. Iran GDP Growth Rate Trends (1980–2026)

Iran’s growth history has been shaped by energy cycles, sanctions, political developments, and changes in domestic investment. Oil exports have remained a major source of economic strength and volatility.

3. Iran GDP Growth Rate (Historical Data)

Year GDP Growth Rate Change (pp)
2026 -6.1% -4.6 pp
2025 -1.5% -5.2 pp
2024 +3.7% -1.6 pp
2023 +5.3% +0.9 pp
2022 +4.4% +0.3 pp
2021 +4.1% -0.3 pp
2020 +4.4% +6.8 pp
2019 -2.4% +1.3 pp
2018 -3.7% -6.7 pp
2017 +3.0% -3.5 pp

4. Iran GDP Growth Performance

Current Growth Rate
-6.1%
(2026 to 2026)
5-Year Average
+1.2%
(2022 to 2026)
10-Year Average
+1.1%
(2017 to 2026)
20-Year Average
+1.9%
(2007 to 2026)
The economy benefits from substantial energy resources and a large domestic market, but sanctions and financial restrictions constrain trade, investment, and technology access.

5. Iran GDP Growth Rate vs Asia and World

Iran
-6.1%
Asia Average
+2.4%
World Average
+2.8%
-6.1% -1.6% 2.8%
Annual real GDP growth (%)
Iran’s GDP growth rate is approximately 8.4 pp below the Asia average and 8.9 pp below the world average.

6. Iran GDP Growth Rate Ranking in Asia

Rank Country GDP Growth Rate
#41 Japan +0.7%
#42 Yemen +0.5%
#43 Bahrain -0.5%
#44 Kuwait -0.6%
#45 Syria -1.2%
#46 Iran -6.1%
#47 Iraq -6.8%
#48 Qatar -8.7%
#49 State of Palestine -26.6%

7. Top 10 Fastest-Growing Countries in the World (2026)

Rank Country GDP Growth Rate
#1 Guyana flag Guyana +16.2%
#2 Ethiopia flag Ethiopia +9.2%
#3 Guinea flag Guinea +8.7%
#4 Uganda flag Uganda +7.5%
#5 Bhutan flag Bhutan +7.5%
#6 Rwanda flag Rwanda +7.2%
#7 Vietnam flag Vietnam +7.1%
#8 Benin flag Benin +7.0%
#9 Niger flag Niger +6.7%
#10 Libya flag Libya +6.7%

8. GDP Growth Rate and Economy Size in Iran

Iran GDP (Nominal)
$300.3 Billion
(2026)
Iran GDP Growth Rate
-6.1%
(2026)
Iran’s growth can diverge sharply from regional and global trends because of geopolitical conditions and sanctions. Energy production remains a key factor in relative performance.
Explore more: Iran GDP

9. Iran GDP Growth Rate Forecast

The outlook depends on oil exports, sanctions, inflation, investment, and domestic policy. Geopolitical tensions and restricted access to global finance remain major risks.
Year GDP Growth Rate Change
2027 +3.2% +9.3 pp
2028 +1.5% -1.7 pp
2029 +1.8% +0.3 pp
2030 +2.1% +0.3 pp

10. Iran GDP Growth Rate: Key Findings

Iran GDP growth rate is estimated at -6.1% in 2026.
It ranks #192 globally and #46 in Asia by annual GDP growth rate.
The growth rate slowed by 4.6 percentage points compared with 2025.
The 5-year average GDP growth rate is +1.2%.
The 10-year average GDP growth rate is +1.1%.
The current rate is 8.4 percentage points below the Asia average.
The current rate is 8.9 percentage points below the world average.
The forecast GDP growth rate is +2.1% in 2030, 8.2 percentage points above the 2026 rate.

11. What Is GDP Growth Rate?

GDP growth rate measures the percentage change in a country’s real gross domestic product from one period to the next, usually year over year.
GDP Growth Rate = (Real GDPₜ − Real GDPₜ₋₁) ÷ Real GDPₜ₋₁ × 100
A positive rate indicates economic expansion, while a negative rate indicates contraction. Real GDP growth is preferred for growth comparisons because it adjusts for price changes.

12. Methodology and Data Sources

Additional Source: World Bank
Measure: Annual percentage change in real GDP
Unit: Percent (%)
Comparisons: Year-to-year rate differences are shown in percentage points (pp)
Update Frequency: Annually and when new forecasts are released
Last Updated: September 2026

13. Iran GDP Growth Rate FAQs

Iran GDP growth rate is estimated at -6.1% in 2026.
Iran ranks #192 globally and #46 in Asia by annual GDP growth rate.
The economy is contracting, with real GDP growth of approximately -6.1% in 2026.
Iran GDP growth rate was -1.4% in 2015.
Iran GDP growth rate is 8.4 percentage points below the Asia average.
Disclaimer: All data are estimates based on IMF, World Bank, United Nations and related economic datasets. Figures may differ from official national statistics.