Country data
Location: Middle East
Time zone: CET + 2.5 (during summer time CET + 1.5)
Total area: 1,648,195 km²
Land area: 1,531,595 km²
Water area: 116,600 km²
Length of the state border: 5,894 km
Bordering countries:
Afghanistan: 921 km
Armenia: 44 km
Azerbaijan: 689 km
Iraq: 1,599 km
Pakistan: 959 km
Turkey: 534 km
Turkmenistan: 1,148 km
Coastline: 2,440 km
Capital: Tehran
Provinces: 31
Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Jonubi Razavi, Khorasan-e Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz
Telephone code: 00 98 (Source: Allcitycodes)
Highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Population
Population: approx. 80.8 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)
Population growth: 1.2% per year
Population density (residents per km²): 49
Life expectancy: 69 (male), 73 (female)
Official language: Persian
Religions:
- 99% Muslim
- 1% other
Climate
There is a dry desert climate. It is often very hot, especially in the lower regions, with temperatures of up to 40 ° C. The temperatures fluctuate considerably between day and night.
In the higher regions, the climate is somewhat more moderate and easier to bear.
Precipitation increases from east to west.
Currency / finance
Currency unit: Iranian Rial (IRR)
Division: 1 rial = 100 dinars
ATMs: are not available.
International credit cards: Very few large hotels and shops accept them.
Regulations: Foreign currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. There is an obligation to declare all foreign currencies and precious metals.
The local currency can be imported and exported up to 500,000 IRR.
The Israeli currency is not allowed to be imported into Iran.
When leaving the country, all exchange receipts often have to be presented.
Cash payments are common throughout the country. You should therefore carry a sufficient amount of foreign currency (US dollars, euros) with you.
Customs regulations
The following may be carried duty-free:
- 200 cigarettes or 200 g tobacco
- small amounts of perfume
(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)
Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.
Alcohol, drugs of all kinds, products made from schnapps and pornographic magazines are not allowed to be imported into Iran.
Valuable goods and electrical appliances must be declared so that they can be exported again.
Travel advice
There is a high risk when traveling in the area of the Turkish and Iraqi border regions.
In the border regions to Afghanistan and Pakistan, freedom of movement is severely restricted and there are very many people and security checks.
Large crowds or demonstrations should be avoided across the country.
Behavioral advice
In the Muslim country there are very strict clothing regulations that must be observed.
Possession and consumption of alcohol are severely punished.
Possession and trafficking in drugs and drug-like substances is punishable by death.
Economy
The state name of the oil country Iran comes from the Persian Arian, which means -land of the Aryans-.
Large parts of the economy are geared towards oil. However, a lot of effort is being made to develop alternative industries.
In particular, agriculture, the textile industry and the production of cement and building materials are promoted.
Industries: petroleum, food production, textiles
Natural resources: iron ores, natural gas, petroleum, copper
Land use:
- Usable land: 10%
- Grain cultivation: 1%
- Pasture area: 27%
- Forests: 7%
- other: 55%
Plants
The country’s forests consist mainly of deciduous trees.
The flora is particularly pronounced in the west, as there is more rain here than in other parts of the country.
Few shrubs and bushes grow in the desert areas.
Animals
Bears, falcons, pheasants, leopards, gulls and snakes still live in the higher regions and in the country’s green spaces.