More than two-thirds of the population (74 million people) are under the age of 30.
Net primary school enrollment is almost 100%, suggesting a secondary "demographic boom".

Iran's national science budget in 2005 was about $900 million, roughly equivalent to the 1990 figure.
By early 2000, Iran allocated around 0.4% of its GDP to research and development, ranking the country behind the world average of 1.4%.
In 2009 the ratio of research to GDP was 0.87% against the government's medium-term target of 2.5%.
Iran ranked first in scientific growth in the world in 2011 and 17th in science production in 2012.

Iran has a broad and diversified industrial base.
According to The Economist, Iran ranked 39th in a list of industrialized nations, producing $23 billion of industrial products in 2008.
Between 2008 and 2009 Iran moved to 28th from 69th place in annual industrial production growth because of its relative isolation from the 2008 international financial crisis.

In the early 21st century, the service sector was the country's largest, followed by industry (mining and manufacturing) and agriculture.
In 2008 GDP was estimated at $382.3 billion ($842 billion PPP), or $5,470 per capita ($12,800 PPP).

Nominal GDP is projected to double in the next five years.
However, real GDP growth is expected to average 2.2% a year in 2012–16, insufficient to reduce the unemployment rate.
Furthermore, international sanctions have damaged the economy by reducing oil exports by half before recovering in 2016.
The Iranian rial lost more than half of its value in 2012, directing Iran at an import substitution industrialization and a resistive economy.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Iran is a "transition economy", i.e., changing from a planned to a market economy.

The United Nations classifies Iran's economy as semi-developed.
In 2014, Iran ranked 83rd in the World Economic Forum's analysis of the global competitiveness of 144 countries.
Political, policy and currency stability are regarded as the most problematic factors in doing business in Iran.
Difficulty in accessing financing is also a major concern, especially for small and medium enterprises.
Most of Iran's financial resources are directed at trading, smuggling and speculation instead of production and manufacturing.
According to Goldman Sachs, Iran has the potential to become one of the world's largest economies in the 21st century.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated, in 2014, that the country has the potential to become one of the ten largest economies within the next 30 years.

 
  GDP, PPP, million (current international $)
  GDP per capita, PPP (current international $)
More than two-thirds of the population (74 million people) are under the age of 30. Net primary school enrollment is almost 100%, suggesting a secondary "demographic boom".
Iran's national science budget in 2005 was about $900 million, roughly equivalent to the 1990 figure. By early 2000, Iran allocated around 0.4% of its GDP to research and development, ranking the country behind the world average of 1.4%. In 2009 the ratio of research to GDP was 0.87% against the government's medium-term target of 2.5%. Iran ranked first in scientific growth in the world in 2011 and 17th in science production in 2012.
Iran has a broad and diversified industrial base. According to The Economist, Iran ranked 39th in a list of industrialized nations, producing $23 billion of industrial products in 2008. Between 2008 and 2009 Iran moved to 28th from 69th place in annual industrial production growth because of its relative isolation from the 2008 international financial crisis.
In the early 21st century, the service sector was the country's largest, followed by industry (mining and manufacturing) and agriculture. In 2008 GDP was estimated at $382.3 billion ($842 billion PPP), or $5,470 per capita ($12,800 PPP).
Nominal GDP is projected to double in the next five years. However, real GDP growth is expected to average 2.2% a year in 2012–16, insufficient to reduce the unemployment rate. Furthermore, international sanctions have damaged the economy by reducing oil exports by half before recovering in 2016. The Iranian rial lost more than half of its value in 2012, directing Iran at an import substitution industrialization and a resistive economy. According to the International Monetary Fund, Iran is a "transition economy", i.e., changing from a planned to a market economy.
The United Nations classifies Iran's economy as semi-developed. In 2014, Iran ranked 83rd in the World Economic Forum's analysis of the global competitiveness of 144 countries. Political, policy and currency stability are regarded as the most problematic factors in doing business in Iran. Difficulty in accessing financing is also a major concern, especially for small and medium enterprises. Most of Iran's financial resources are directed at trading, smuggling and speculation instead of production and manufacturing. According to Goldman Sachs, Iran has the potential to become one of the world's largest economies in the 21st century. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated, in 2014, that the country has the potential to become one of the ten largest economies within the next 30 years.
 
  GDP, PPP, million (current international $)
  GDP per capita, PPP (current international $)
Economy of Iran