Share of the population using the Internet in Iran
Iran: Share of the population using the Internet was 85.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population using the Internet in Iran, 1990–2024
Source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population using the internet in Iran is 85.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and up 116.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population using the internet in Iran peaked at 85.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
Iran ranks 85th of 208 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population using the Internet in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +924.5% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | +278.0% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | +196.2% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | +113.2% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | +279.8% |
| 2000 | 0.9% | +146.5% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | +58.9% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +211.7% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | +49.9% |
| 2004 | 7.5% | +8.0% |
| 2005 | 8.1% | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 8.8% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 9.5% | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | +26.9% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | +14.8% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 19.0% | +19.5% |
| 2012 | 22.7% | +19.6% |
| 2013 | 29.9% | +31.8% |
| 2014 | 39.4% | +31.4% |
| 2015 | 45.3% | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 53.2% | +17.4% |
| 2017 | 64.0% | +20.3% |
| 2018 | 70.2% | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 72.5% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 75.6% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 78.6% | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 81.7% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 83.7% | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 85.3% | +1.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 85.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 81.5%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iran's 85.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 85.3%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population using the Internet in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +924.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1996 | +278.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1999 | +279.8% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| 2002 | +211.7% | 1.5% | 4.6% |
| 1997 | +196.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2000 | +146.5% | 0.4% | 0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 7 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 0.9% | 13.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.2% | 15.9% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.0% | 75.6% | 85.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More science & technology data for Iran
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 174.07 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.74 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 159.39 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 92.86 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 4.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 5.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 55,085 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0006 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population using the internet in Iran?
- Share of the population using the internet in Iran was 85.3% in 2024, according to World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population using the internet recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 85.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of the population using the internet recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does Iran rank for share of the population using the internet?
- Iran ranks 85th out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population using the internet rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database - International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population using the Internet. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population who used the Internet in the last three months.