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Iran’s Government Gave Millions to School Run by Controversial Cleric
Budget and Government Spending

Iran’s Government Gave Millions to School Run by Controversial Cleric

Iran’s government has spent billions of Tomans in recent years on the Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, one of the most hardline religious schools in Iran, Iran Open Data has found. The institution is known as the Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi School.The Imam Khomeini Educational and R

Iran Lags Behind in Global Green Energy Development
Energy

Iran Lags Behind in Global Green Energy Development

The global energy scene is changing at a rapid pace and Iran is falling behind, with no signs of a potential recovery. Most of the new investments in the energy sector around the world need to demonstrate compliance with the International Energy Agency’s principles for implementing net zero carbon e

Iran Ranks Among World's Top Polluting Nations
Environment

Iran Ranks Among World's Top Polluting Nations

Iran’s recent ranking by international watchdog groups as the sixth-largest carbon-emitting country in the world is striking, as the country is relatively small compared to the other nine developing or industrialized nations that also appear in the top ten. In fact, in terms of carbon emission inten

Iran’s Current Crisis Dwarves Previous Currency Shocks
Banking and Finance

Iran’s Current Crisis Dwarves Previous Currency Shocks

Iran’s national currency lost more than half its value during the March 2022 to March 2023 period. The value of the U.S. dollar in Iran’s currency market was around 26,000 Tomans in March of 2022, but increased to around 60,000 Tomans in March 2023. Iran has weathered several currency shocks in the

School Dropouts in Iran: 1 of Every 11 Female Students
Education

School Dropouts in Iran: 1 of Every 11 Female Students

Recently released official statistics show that 6% of students, or one in every 16, drop out of school. This number reaches 20% (1 of every 5 students) in the second half of secondary school. Iran Open Data’s estimates show that this ratio rises to nearly 9% in female students, and it reaches to mor

Poll: 63% Hear Swearing and Profanity Daily
Art and Culture and Tourism

Poll: 63% Hear Swearing and Profanity Daily

In Iran Open Data’s recent poll about profanity, 63% of respondents said they hear “a lot” of curse words daily. About 43% stated they themselves use “a lot” of profanity daily. About 77% stated they were on the receiving end of obscene and sexual insults, while 59% stated that they use obscene and

Poll: 80% of Iranians Have Been Harassed in Public
Population

Poll: 80% of Iranians Have Been Harassed in Public

Iran Open Data’s poll shows 8 out of 10 respondents experienced catcalling and physical harassment. The highest number of catcalling incidents occurred in commercial, recreational, and administrative locations. The highest number of physical harassment incidents occurred aboard public transport, and

A Fifth of Iran’s New Budget Goes to “Maintaining Public Order and Security”
Budget and Government Spending

A Fifth of Iran’s New Budget Goes to “Maintaining Public Order and Security”

In the 2023 fiscal budget, the Islamic Republic allocates about a fifth of the total of its monetary resources to defense and maintaining “public order and security”. These resources are funded by oil exports, auctioning off government assets, levying taxes, and borrowing money. Iran Open Data inves

Economic Cost of Internet Disruptions Estimated at Up To $4.8 Billion
Communications

Economic Cost of Internet Disruptions Estimated at Up To $4.8 Billion

The damage caused to the Iranian economy by the Internet disruptions of the last four months is estimated at tens of trillions of Tomans. The directors of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce announced, at the end of October last year, that the direct loss of income has been about 35 trillion Tomans (abou

How Iran Lost its Clout on World Energy Markets
Energy

How Iran Lost its Clout on World Energy Markets

Despite Iran’s record levels of oil and gas reserves, the country is losing its strategic position in the global energy security scene due to its poor performance as an exporter, comparative data shows.In terms of hydrocarbon reserves, Iran has the fourth-largest oil reserves and second-largest gas

What’s in the Toxic Mix of Iran’s Polluted Air?
Environment

What’s in the Toxic Mix of Iran’s Polluted Air?

Chronic air pollution has smothered Iranian cities for decades, portending potentially fatal health effects for its residents and an unresolved conundrum for the government. Experts generally assess air pollution as a complex issue caused by multiple factors. However, Iran’s particular problem is ca