Drinking water usage in urban areas in Iran
Iran: Drinking water usage in urban areas was 4,069 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Drinking water usage in urban areas in Iran, 2000–2024
Source: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Iran recorded 4,069 people for drinking water usage in urban areas in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drinking water usage in urban areas in Iran peaked at 15,857 people in 2004 and was at its lowest, 3,325 people, in 2013.
Iran ranks 56th of 188 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.
Drinking water usage in urban areas in Iran, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14,357 people | — |
| 2001 | 14,744 people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 15,029 people | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 15,360 people | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 15,857 people | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 14,868 people | -6.2% |
| 2006 | 13,784 people | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 12,540 people | -9.0% |
| 2008 | 11,169 people | -10.9% |
| 2009 | 9,736 people | -12.8% |
| 2010 | 8,237 people | -15.4% |
| 2011 | 6,669 people | -19.0% |
| 2012 | 5,031 people | -24.6% |
| 2013 | 3,325 people | -33.9% |
| 2014 | 3,395 people | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 3,466 people | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 3,541 people | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 3,618 people | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 3,689 people | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 3,753 people | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 3,807 people | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 3,862 people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3,932 people | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 4,003 people | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 4,069 people | +1.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drinking water usage in urban areas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | -33.9% | 5,031 people | 3,325 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13,744 people | 9,736 people | 15,857 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,472 people | 3,325 people | 8,237 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,935 people | 3,807 people | 4,069 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.0807 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drinking water usage in urban areas in Iran?
- Drinking water usage in urban areas in Iran was 4,069 people in 2024, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drinking water usage in urban areas recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 15,857 people in 2004.
- What is the lowest drinking water usage in urban areas recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,325 people in 2013.
- How does Iran rank for drinking water usage in urban areas?
- Iran ranks 56th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is drinking water usage in urban areas rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Drinking water usage in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people using drinking water directly collected from surface waters.