| Economy - overview | Iran's economy is marked by a bloated, inefficient state sector, over reliance on the oil sector, and statist policies that create major distortions throughout. Most economic activity is controlled by the state. Private sector activity is typically small-scale workshops, farming, and services. President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI, with limited progress. Relatively high oil prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass nearly $60 billion in foreign exchange reserves, but have not eased economic hardships such as high unemployment and inflation. The proportion of the economy devoted to the development of weapons of mass destruction remains a contentious issue with leading Western nations. |
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| GDP | 2.5% (2006) |
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| GDP - real growth rate | 4.3% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 41.7%
services: 47.1% (2006 est.) |
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| Population below poverty line | 40% (2002 est.) |
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Household income or consumption
by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Distribution of family income
- Gini index | 43 (1998) |
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| Labor force | 24.36 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2006 est.) |
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| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 30%
industry: 25%
services: 45% (2001 est.) |
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| Unemployment rate | 15% according to the Iranian government (2007 est.) |
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| Budget | revenues: $104.6 billion
expenditures: $100.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $7.6 billion (2006 est.) |
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| Industries | petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments |
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| Industrial production growth rate | 3.2% excluding oil (2006 est.) |
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Electricity -
production | 155.7 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
production by source | fossil fuel: 97.1%
hydro: 2.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption | 145.1 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
exports | 1.837 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
imports | 2.17 billion kWh (2004) |
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| Oil - production | 3.979 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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| Oil - consumption | 1.51 million bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - exports | 2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - proved reserves | 132.5 billion bbl based on Iranian claims (2006 est.) |
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| Agriculture - products | wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar |
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| Exports | $63.18 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Exports - commodities | petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets |
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| Exports - partners | Japan 16.9%, China 11.2%, Italy 6%, South Korea 5.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.4%, South Africa 4.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005) |
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| Imports | $45.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Imports - commodities | industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies |
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| Imports - partners | Germany 13.9%, UAE 8.4%, China 8.3%, Italy 7.1%, France 6.3%, South Korea 5.4%, Russia 4.9% (2005) |
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| Debt - external | $14.8 billion (2006 est.) |
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| Economic aid - recipient | $408 million (2002 est.) |
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| Currency code | IRR |
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| Exchange rates | rials per US dollar - 9,227.1 (2006), 8,964 (2005), 8,614 (2004), 8,193.9 (2003), 6,907 (2002)
note: Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regime since unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002 |
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| Fiscal year | 21 March - 20 March |
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