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.