Sex ratio by age in Iran
Iran: Sex ratio by age was 21.46 males per 100 females in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
21.46 males per 100 females
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
111th
of 212 countries
All-time high
66.67 males per 100 females
in 1951
All-time low
21.05 males per 100 females
in 2022
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in Iran, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
Iran recorded 21.46 males per 100 females for sex ratio by age in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 43.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Iran peaked at 66.67 males per 100 females in 1951 and was at its lowest, 21.05 males per 100 females, in 2022.
Iran ranks 111th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Sex ratio by age in Iran, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 60 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 66.67 males per 100 females | +11.1% |
| 1952 | 62.5 males per 100 females | -6.3% |
| 1953 | 53.33 males per 100 females | -14.7% |
| 1954 | 58.33 males per 100 females | +9.4% |
| 1955 | 50 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 1956 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 60 males per 100 females | +20.0% |
| 1958 | 60 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 60 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 50 males per 100 females | -16.7% |
| 1961 | 55.56 males per 100 females | +11.1% |
| 1962 | 55.56 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 55.56 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 50 males per 100 females | -10.0% |
| 1965 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 45.45 males per 100 females | -9.1% |
| 1969 | 54.55 males per 100 females | +20.0% |
| 1970 | 58.33 males per 100 females | +6.9% |
| 1971 | 58.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 58.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 50 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 1974 | 46.67 males per 100 females | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 53.33 males per 100 females | +14.3% |
| 1976 | 53.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 53.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 53.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 53.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 53.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 50 males per 100 females | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 47.06 males per 100 females | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 44.44 males per 100 females | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 42.11 males per 100 females | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 47.37 males per 100 females | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 50 males per 100 females | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 45.45 males per 100 females | -9.1% |
| 1990 | 43.48 males per 100 females | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 41.67 males per 100 females | -4.2% |
| 1992 | 40 males per 100 females | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 40.74 males per 100 females | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 40 males per 100 females | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 38.24 males per 100 females | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 36.84 males per 100 females | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 37.21 males per 100 females | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 35.42 males per 100 females | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 35.19 males per 100 females | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 35 males per 100 females | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 34.78 males per 100 females | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 35.9 males per 100 females | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 37.21 males per 100 females | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 38.3 males per 100 females | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 37.14 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 36.75 males per 100 females | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 36.15 males per 100 females | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 35.66 males per 100 females | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 34.62 males per 100 females | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 35.33 males per 100 females | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 36.72 males per 100 females | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 37.23 males per 100 females | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 37.69 males per 100 females | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 37.26 males per 100 females | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 36.64 males per 100 females | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 35.69 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 35 males per 100 females | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 34.08 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 33.62 males per 100 females | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 33.55 males per 100 females | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 28.05 males per 100 females | -16.4% |
| 2022 | 21.05 males per 100 females | -25.0% |
| 2023 | 21.46 males per 100 females | +1.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 21.46 males per 100 females is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 22.73 males per 100 females, 94% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Iran's 21.46 males per 100 females is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.46 males per 100 females, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 58.08 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females | 66.67 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 51.67 males per 100 females | 45.45 males per 100 females | 55.56 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 53.83 males per 100 females | 46.67 males per 100 females | 58.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 47.98 males per 100 females | 42.11 males per 100 females | 53.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.88 males per 100 females | 35.19 males per 100 females | 43.48 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.15 males per 100 females | 34.62 males per 100 females | 38.3 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.93 males per 100 females | 33.62 males per 100 females | 37.69 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.03 males per 100 females | 21.05 males per 100 females | 33.55 males per 100 females | 4 |
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 sex ratio by age in Iran?
- Sex ratio by age in Iran was 21.46 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 66.67 males per 100 females in 1951.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.05 males per 100 females in 2022.
- How does Iran rank for sex ratio by age?
- Iran ranks 111th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.