Key features of human rights in Iran
Iran: Key features of human rights was 0.248 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Key features of human rights in Iran, 1837–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, key features of human rights in Iran stood at 0.248.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of human rights in Iran peaked at 0.459 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 0.1, in 1934.
Iran ranks 158th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 189 years of available data.
Key features of human rights in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1837 | 0.14 | — |
| 1838 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.14 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.145 | +3.6% |
| 1841 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.145 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.148 | +2.1% |
| 1849 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.148 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.117 | -20.9% |
| 1861 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.143 | +22.2% |
| 1893 | 0.15 | +4.9% |
| 1894 | 0.149 | -0.7% |
| 1895 | 0.124 | -16.8% |
| 1896 | 0.124 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.124 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.124 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.124 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.121 | -2.4% |
| 1901 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.125 | +3.3% |
| 1906 | 0.182 | +45.6% |
| 1907 | 0.193 | +6.0% |
| 1908 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.196 | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 0.212 | +8.2% |
| 1911 | 0.212 | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 0.212 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.212 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.206 | -2.8% |
| 1915 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1919 | 0.206 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.211 | +2.4% |
| 1921 | 0.175 | -17.1% |
| 1922 | 0.17 | -2.9% |
| 1923 | 0.166 | -2.4% |
| 1924 | 0.167 | +0.6% |
| 1925 | 0.107 | -35.9% |
| 1926 | 0.117 | +9.3% |
| 1927 | 0.111 | -5.1% |
| 1928 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.117 | +5.4% |
| 1931 | 0.117 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.115 | -1.7% |
| 1933 | 0.113 | -1.7% |
| 1934 | 0.1 | -11.5% |
| 1935 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.102 | +2.0% |
| 1941 | 0.149 | +46.1% |
| 1942 | 0.309 | +107.4% |
| 1943 | 0.315 | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 0.315 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.325 | +3.2% |
| 1946 | 0.323 | -0.6% |
| 1947 | 0.323 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.326 | +0.9% |
| 1949 | 0.326 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.436 | +33.7% |
| 1951 | 0.459 | +5.3% |
| 1952 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.291 | -36.6% |
| 1954 | 0.192 | -34.0% |
| 1955 | 0.176 | -8.3% |
| 1956 | 0.178 | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 0.178 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.178 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.183 | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 0.181 | -1.1% |
| 1961 | 0.188 | +3.9% |
| 1962 | 0.206 | +9.6% |
| 1963 | 0.204 | -1.0% |
| 1964 | 0.193 | -5.4% |
| 1965 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.194 | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 0.194 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.205 | +5.7% |
| 1971 | 0.205 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.205 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.202 | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 0.202 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.184 | -8.9% |
| 1976 | 0.174 | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 0.174 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.183 | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 0.26 | +42.1% |
| 1980 | 0.162 | -37.7% |
| 1981 | 0.119 | -26.5% |
| 1982 | 0.108 | -9.2% |
| 1983 | 0.11 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 0.121 | +10.0% |
| 1985 | 0.121 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.12 | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 0.122 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 0.124 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 0.155 | +25.0% |
| 1990 | 0.177 | +14.2% |
| 1991 | 0.181 | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 0.181 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.182 | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 0.186 | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 0.19 | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 0.196 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 0.279 | +42.3% |
| 1998 | 0.312 | +11.8% |
| 1999 | 0.319 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.376 | +17.9% |
| 2001 | 0.373 | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 0.373 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.373 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.354 | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 0.265 | -25.1% |
| 2006 | 0.247 | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 0.243 | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 0.242 | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 0.225 | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 0.194 | -13.8% |
| 2011 | 0.193 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 0.193 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.239 | +23.8% |
| 2014 | 0.241 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 0.268 | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 0.272 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 0.272 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.259 | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 0.26 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.237 | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 0.232 | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 0.183 | -21.1% |
| 2023 | 0.198 | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 0.252 | +27.3% |
| 2025 | 0.248 | -1.6% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 0.248 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.7345, 34% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 0.248 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.404, 61% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 3 |
| 1840s | 0.1456 | 0.145 | 0.148 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.148 | 0.148 | 0.148 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.117 | 0.117 | 0.117 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.117 | 0.117 | 0.117 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.117 | 0.117 | 0.117 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.1296 | 0.117 | 0.15 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.1494 | 0.121 | 0.196 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.2084 | 0.206 | 0.212 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1446 | 0.107 | 0.211 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1062 | 0.1 | 0.117 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.2813 | 0.102 | 0.326 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.273 | 0.176 | 0.459 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1939 | 0.181 | 0.206 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.1994 | 0.174 | 0.26 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1262 | 0.108 | 0.162 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2203 | 0.177 | 0.319 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3071 | 0.225 | 0.376 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2391 | 0.193 | 0.272 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.225 | 0.183 | 0.252 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More social development data for Iran
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 770,514 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0017 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 157,912 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0083 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of human rights in Iran?
- Key features of human rights in Iran was 0.248 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of human rights recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 0.459 in 1951.
- What is the lowest key features of human rights recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 in 1934.
- How does Iran rank for key features of human rights?
- Iran ranks 158th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of human rights rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of human rights. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 189 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture, political killings, and forced labor, they have property rights, and enjoy the freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association.