International tourism, number of arrivals in Iran
Iran: International tourism, number of arrivals was 1.55 million in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, number of arrivals in Iran, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
Analysis
Iran recorded 1.55 million for international tourism, number of arrivals in 2020.
The figure is down 83.0% on the previous year and down 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, number of arrivals in Iran peaked at 9.11 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 452,000, in 1995.
Iran ranks 78th of 201 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.
International tourism, number of arrivals in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 452,000 | — |
| 1996 | 573,000 | +26.8% |
| 1997 | 764,000 | +33.3% |
| 1998 | 1.01 million | +31.9% |
| 1999 | 1.32 million | +31.1% |
| 2000 | 1.34 million | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 1.40 million | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 1.58 million | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 1.55 million | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 1.66 million | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 1.89 million | +13.9% |
| 2006 | 2.73 million | +44.8% |
| 2007 | 2.22 million | -18.9% |
| 2008 | 2.03 million | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 2.12 million | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 2.94 million | +38.8% |
| 2011 | 3.35 million | +14.2% |
| 2012 | 3.83 million | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 4.77 million | +24.4% |
| 2014 | 4.97 million | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 5.24 million | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 4.94 million | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 4.87 million | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 7.29 million | +49.9% |
| 2019 | 9.11 million | +24.8% |
| 2020 | 1.55 million | -83.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.55 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 778,000, 2.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.55 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.40 million, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 823,600 | 452,000 | 1.32 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.85 million | 1.34 million | 2.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.13 million | 2.94 million | 9.11 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.55 million | 1.55 million | 1.55 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More private sector data for Iran
- Merchandise trade 49.3% (2025)
- Food imports 26.1% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 57.5% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 65.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 1.58 billion current US$ (2000)
- Food exports 5.6% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 21.4% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 113.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 1.36 billion current US$ (2000)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,225 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, number of arrivals in Iran?
- International tourism, number of arrivals in Iran was 1.55 million in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, number of arrivals recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 9.11 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest international tourism, number of arrivals recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 452,000 in 1995.
- How does Iran rank for international tourism, number of arrivals?
- Iran ranks 78th out of 201 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, number of arrivals rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, number of arrivals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.