International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) in Iran
Iran: International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) was 5.02 billion current US$ in 2018. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, receipts for travel items in Iran, 1995–2018
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Iran recorded 5.02 billion current US$ for international tourism, receipts for travel items in 2018. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 19.8% on the previous year and up 189.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts for travel items in Iran peaked at 5.02 billion current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, 16.00 million current US$, in 1997.
That places Iran 26th out of 191 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) in Iran, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 67.00 million current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 19.00 million current US$ | -71.6% |
| 1997 | 16.00 million current US$ | -15.8% |
| 1998 | 490.00 million current US$ | +2962.5% |
| 1999 | 403.00 million current US$ | -17.8% |
| 2000 | 467.00 million current US$ | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 891.00 million current US$ | +90.8% |
| 2002 | 1.36 billion current US$ | +52.3% |
| 2003 | 1.03 billion current US$ | -23.9% |
| 2004 | 1.04 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 791.00 million current US$ | -24.2% |
| 2006 | 1.22 billion current US$ | +53.7% |
| 2007 | 1.68 billion current US$ | +37.9% |
| 2008 | 1.74 billion current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 2.06 billion current US$ | +18.3% |
| 2010 | 2.44 billion current US$ | +18.6% |
| 2011 | 2.35 billion current US$ | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 2.35 billion current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.05 billion current US$ | +30.2% |
| 2014 | 3.84 billion current US$ | +25.8% |
| 2015 | 4.39 billion current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2016 | 4.29 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 4.19 billion current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 5.02 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 5.02 billion current US$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 426.00 million current US$, 11.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Iran's 5.02 billion current US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 762.50 million current US$, 6.6× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +2962.5% | 16.00 million current US$ | 490.00 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 199.00 million current US$ | 16.00 million current US$ | 490.00 million current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.23 billion current US$ | 467.00 million current US$ | 2.06 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.55 billion current US$ | 2.35 billion current US$ | 5.02 billion current US$ | 9 |
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, receipts for travel items in Iran?
- International tourism, receipts for travel items in Iran was 5.02 billion current US$ in 2018, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 5.02 billion current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.00 million current US$ in 1997.
- How does Iran rank for international tourism, receipts for travel items?
- Iran ranks 26th out of 191 countries with data for 2018.
- Is international tourism, receipts for travel items rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 189.2%. 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, receipts for travel items (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.