Iran Fast Facts
Iran is a republic in Asia, sharing a border with seven countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey and Turkmenistan. It has been officially known as the Islamic Republic of Iran since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979.
About Iran
Area: 1,648,195 sq km, slightly smaller than Alaska
Population: 85,888,910 (July 2021 est.)
Median Age: 31.7 years
Ethnic Groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes
Religion:Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)
Unemployment: 11.8% (2017 est.)
Timeline
1925 – Khan has himself crowned Reza Shah Pahlavi.
1939 – During World War II, Reza Shah aligns Iran with Nazi Germany.