Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Iran
Iran: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 1.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fuel imports in Iran, 1963–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Iran recorded 1.7% for fuel imports in 2023.
That represents a change of down 14.2% on the previous year and up 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in Iran peaked at 9.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1975.
That places Iran 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.6% | — |
| 1964 | 0.3% | -43.0% |
| 1965 | 0.2% | -33.4% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | -22.2% |
| 1967 | 0.3% | +77.7% |
| 1968 | 0.5% | +52.5% |
| 1969 | 0.3% | -32.8% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | -39.9% |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +28.4% |
| 1972 | 0.4% | +71.2% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | -12.1% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | -45.7% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | -27.4% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +76.2% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | +12.7% |
| 1997 | 1.8% | +503.6% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | -33.9% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | +36.0% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | +41.3% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +52.1% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -22.8% |
| 2003 | 5.7% | +113.8% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | +35.2% |
| 2005 | 9.7% | +25.2% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | -58.8% |
| 2010 | 2.7% | -32.6% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -47.0% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | -16.9% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -33.4% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | -43.1% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | +43.7% |
| 2018 | 1.0% | +54.4% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | +21.0% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +31.4% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | +29.9% |
| 2023 | 1.7% | -14.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.9%, 13% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.9%, 16% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +503.6% | 0.3% | 1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 7 |
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 3 |
| 2000s | 5.1% | 2.3% | 9.7% | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.4% | 2.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 183 Equatorial Guinea 2.7% compare
- 184 Bahrain 2.6% compare
- 185 Switzerland 2.5% compare
- 187 Hong Kong 1.6% compare
- 188 Algeria 1.2% compare
- 189 Sierra Leone 1.1% compare
More energy & mining data for Iran
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.9% (2023)
- Fuel exports 68.0% (2023)
- Ores and metals exports 4.7% (2023)
- Gas production 2,648 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 28,655 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,648 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 28,655 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in Iran?
- Fuel imports in Iran was 1.7% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1975.
- How does Iran rank for fuel imports?
- Iran ranks 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.