Over the past decade, Iran’s economy has endured one of the most intense inflation waves in its modern history, driven largely by unchecked government borrowing and money printing, according to newly compiled data from Iran Open Data.
Iran’s parliament is set to vote on removing four zeros from its currency, making 10,000 rials equal to 1 new rial. But with inflation over 40% for five years, experts warn the plan may simplify math, not solve deeper economic problems.
As Iran grapples with soaring summer temperatures and widespread blackouts, the government has shut down public offices in at least 12 provinces and warned of a possible nationwide one-week closure to conserve energy.
Once on track to become an economic powerhouse, Iran’s global standing has steadily eroded over the past 36 years under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a reversal of the rapid growth seen during the Pahlavi era.
Despite producing over 90% of the world’s saffron, Iran is rapidly losing ground in the global saffron value chain. According to official data, the average export price per kilogram of Iranian saffron has plummeted from $3,000 in 2011 to under $900 in 2023.
Over the course of Ali Khamenei’s 36-year rule, Iranians' average income has plunged relative to that of their Turkish neighbors — dropping from near-parity in 1989 to just one-third of Turkey’s per capita GDP in 2024, according to World Bank data.
Doping continues to plague Iranian sports, raising concerns about athlete health, fair competition, and the country's global reputation. From 2013 to 2023, more than 10,800 doping tests were conducted — 341 of which tested positive, a rate of 3.14%.
Iran has spent years tightening security around its nuclear program and personnel — long-standing targets of Israeli sabotage and assassination campaigns.
While the Caspian Sea has emerged as a major hub for hydrocarbon development over the past three decades, Iran—despite being a coastal nation—is largely absent from the regional energy scene.
Iran’s domestic consumption of mazut — one of the dirtiest fossil fuels — has more than tripled in the past six years, according to a classified Oil Ministry report obtained by Iran Open Data.
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