Photo: User:Gire 3pich2005 , derived: User:Nastoshka · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iran: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Iran is placed joint 82nd of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 35.88 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.49 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
joint82nd
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iran on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Iran’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
35.88
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Iran: 35.88. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Southern Asia
- 23 India
- Land neighbours
- Armenia 27.15 · Iraq 29.77 · Pakistan 29.59 · Türkiye 43.68
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Iran’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.49
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Iran: 0.49. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Southern Asia
- 0 Maldives
- Land neighbours
- Armenia 0.28 · Iraq 0.07 · Pakistan 2.69 · Türkiye 0.04
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
37.4
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Iran: 37.4. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Southern Asia
- 3.7 Bhutan
- Land neighbours
- Armenia 44 · Azerbaijan 0.7 · Iraq 28 · Pakistan 63 · Türkiye 4
02Over time
Which way Iran is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
IranWorld median
Iran fell from 43.56 in 2005 to 35.88 in 2023; the world median went from 36.28 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2023 35.88 33.72 2022 34.80 33.91 2021 35.47 34.04 2020 35.84 34.18 2019 36.48 33.51 2018 37.42 35.25 2017 36.69 34.86 2016 35.91 34.47 2015 35.26 35.52 2014 34.81 34.79 2013 33.97 36.16 2012 34.43 35.40 2011 34.66 33.96 2010 — 33.71 2009 42.05 34.91 2008 — 34.60 2007 — 34.26 2006 44.75 35.63 2005 43.56 36.28 2004 — 34.29 2003 — 35.46 2002 — 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
IranWorld median
Iran fell from 1.01 in 2005 to 0.49 in 2023; the world median went from 1.25 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2023 0.49 0.345 2022 0.56 0.420 2021 0.78 0.335 2020 0.98 0.280 2019 0.89 0.380 2018 0.69 0.460 2017 0.48 0.300 2016 0.59 0.440 2015 0.59 0.500 2014 0.71 0.635 2013 0.36 0.515 2012 0.34 0.640 2011 0.52 0.430 2010 — 0.530 2009 1.34 0.600 2008 — 0.350 2007 — 0.360 2006 0.98 0.465 2005 1.01 1.250 2004 — 0.790 2003 — 1.650 2002 — 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
IranWorld median
Iran rose from 29.9 in 2017 to 37.4 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Iran World median 2025 37.4 26.40 2024 35.7 27.10 2023 38.5 27.15 2022 39.5 27.90 2021 40.4 29.65 2020 41.8 31.80 2019 41.2 29.05 2018 32.6 29.85 2017 29.9 32.40
03In context
Iran beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Iran and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Iraq | 40th | 29.77 | 0.07 | 28 |
 Armenia | 51st | 27.15 | 0.28 | 44 |
 Türkiyecompare | 57th | 43.68 | 0.04 | 4 |
| Iran | =82nd | 35.88 | 0.49 | 37.4 |
 Pakistancompare | 93rd | 29.59 | 2.69 | 63 |
 Afghanistan | not placed | — | — | — |
 Azerbaijan | not placed | — | — | 0.7 |
 Turkmenistan | not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Iran in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iran is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Iran does better than the middle country measured.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.784.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Iran: 0.78 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4160.446No earlier reading
Iran: 0.416 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6525.7818.65No earlier reading
Iran: 25.78 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.6430.609No real change since 2013
Iran: 0.643 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 74th of 169 · derived.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2522.5484.252No earlier reading
Iran: 2.548 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 89th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.170.185▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 0.17 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Behind the world median15
Statistics on which Iran does worse than the middle country measured.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.12.392.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Iran: 2.39 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.127.027.12▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 7.02 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 60 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0519.0817.05▲ Improved since 2013
Iran: 19.08 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 78th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3335.433▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 35.4 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.5021.332▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 1.502 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 24th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1828.1626.18▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 28.16 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 23rd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.5490.413▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 0.549 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 59th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.221.8117.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 21.81 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 20th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.932.490.93▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 2.49 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 19th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.937.720.9▲ Improved since 2015
Iran: 37.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 40th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.347.531.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 7.53 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 16th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7543.321.754▼ Worsened since 2013
Iran: 3.32 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 16th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.8236.057.82No real change since 2013
Iran: 36.05 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 15th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7610.1922.76No real change since 2013
Iran: 10.19 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 48th of 60 · derived.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.841-0.1191.841▼ Worsened since 2015
Iran: -0.119 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.250.25▲ Improved since 2014
Iran: 0.25 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8817.566.88No earlier reading
Iran: 17.56 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.84.55Moved since 2017
Iran: 4.8 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
No current reading for Iran
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP) (last 2017), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Low Pay Rate, Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Iran’s 15 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Iran’s 4th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Development & Human Capital48th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 67th of 2004/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 73rd of 1763/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 82nd of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge104th of 1984/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 109th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 116th of 1934/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 122nd of 1843/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade143rd of 1772/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions168th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security165th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties187th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour175th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability180th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equality181st of 1833/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Iran can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
United Arab Emirates=3rd3/3 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Bhutan10th3/3 keysThis page
Iran=82nd3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Iran on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Iran rank on poverty & inequality?
Iran is placed joint 82nd of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Iran?
35.88 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Iran?
0.49 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Iran compare with Pakistan on poverty & inequality?
Pakistan is placed 93rd of 159, and Iran joint 82nd. Gini Index: Pakistan 29.59, Iran 35.88; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Pakistan 2.69, Iran 0.49; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Pakistan 63, Iran 37.4.
How have Iran’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index fell from 43.56 in 2005 to 35.88 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 1.01 in 2005 to 0.49 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet rose from 29.9 in 2017 to 37.4 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Iran?
No current reading is published for Iran on Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Low Pay Rate, Poverty Headcount at National Poverty Lines, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Iran’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Iran (banner) — User:Gire 3pich2005 , derived: User:Nastoshka, CC0
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iran: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iran/poverty