Key features of women's political empowerment in Iran
Iran: Key features of women's political empowerment was 0.32 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of women's political empowerment in Iran, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key features of women's political empowerment in Iran is 0.32, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of women's political empowerment in Iran peaked at 0.351 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.051, in 1789.
Iran ranks 168th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key features of women's political empowerment in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.051 | — |
| 1790 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.051 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.057 | +11.8% |
| 1849 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.057 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.056 | -1.8% |
| 1894 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.056 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.053 | -5.4% |
| 1901 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.053 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.055 | +3.8% |
| 1910 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.055 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.054 | -1.8% |
| 1914 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.054 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.056 | +3.7% |
| 1924 | 0.081 | +44.6% |
| 1925 | 0.081 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.09 | +11.1% |
| 1927 | 0.091 | +1.1% |
| 1928 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.091 | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 0.112 | +23.1% |
| 1935 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.112 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.113 | +0.9% |
| 1941 | 0.132 | +16.8% |
| 1942 | 0.135 | +2.3% |
| 1943 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 0.135 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.172 | +27.4% |
| 1951 | 0.178 | +3.5% |
| 1952 | 0.178 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.173 | -2.8% |
| 1954 | 0.15 | -13.3% |
| 1955 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.15 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.156 | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 0.164 | +5.1% |
| 1961 | 0.171 | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 0.222 | +29.8% |
| 1963 | 0.257 | +15.8% |
| 1964 | 0.295 | +14.8% |
| 1965 | 0.295 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.295 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.296 | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.296 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.308 | +4.1% |
| 1971 | 0.327 | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 0.327 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.327 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.327 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.331 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 0.331 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.331 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.331 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.264 | -20.2% |
| 1980 | 0.163 | -38.3% |
| 1981 | 0.165 | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.165 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.185 | +12.1% |
| 1985 | 0.19 | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.19 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.188 | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 0.228 | +21.3% |
| 1990 | 0.225 | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 0.233 | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 0.233 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.233 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.245 | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 0.245 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.252 | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 0.311 | +23.4% |
| 1998 | 0.323 | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 0.323 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.315 | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 0.324 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 0.324 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.322 | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 0.32 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 0.314 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 0.306 | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 0.306 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.304 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 0.305 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.298 | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 0.301 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 0.307 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 0.328 | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 0.33 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 0.328 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 0.348 | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 0.326 | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 0.351 | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 0.341 | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 0.324 | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 0.32 | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 0.316 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 0.311 | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 0.327 | +5.1% |
| 2025 | 0.32 | -2.1% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 0.32 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.776, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 0.32 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.547, 59% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.051 | 0.051 | 0.051 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.051 | 0.051 | 0.051 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.051 | 0.051 | 0.051 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.051 | 0.051 | 0.051 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.051 | 0.051 | 0.051 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.051 | 0.051 | 0.051 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0522 | 0.051 | 0.057 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.057 | 0.057 | 0.057 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.057 | 0.057 | 0.057 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.057 | 0.057 | 0.057 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.057 | 0.057 | 0.057 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0563 | 0.056 | 0.057 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0532 | 0.053 | 0.055 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0543 | 0.054 | 0.055 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.0743 | 0.054 | 0.091 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1036 | 0.091 | 0.112 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1325 | 0.113 | 0.135 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1607 | 0.15 | 0.178 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2587 | 0.164 | 0.296 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.3204 | 0.264 | 0.331 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1829 | 0.163 | 0.228 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2623 | 0.225 | 0.323 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.314 | 0.304 | 0.324 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3258 | 0.298 | 0.351 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3197 | 0.311 | 0.327 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More gender data for Iran
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 18,410 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -2.73 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 77,077 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 77,077 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 552,656 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 580,401 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 565,065 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 593,686 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 576,359 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of women's political empowerment in Iran?
- Key features of women's political empowerment in Iran was 0.32 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of women's political empowerment recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 0.351 in 2018.
- What is the lowest key features of women's political empowerment recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.051 in 1789.
- How does Iran rank for key features of women's political empowerment?
- Iran ranks 168th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of women's political empowerment rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of women's political empowerment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 237 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which women enjoy civil liberties, can participate in civil society, and are represented in politics.