Country profile

Iran, Islamic Rep.

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & PakistanUpper middle income91.57M inhabitants

Last updated April 1, 2026

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Composite GEFRI Score

Emerging readiness

Iran, Islamic Rep. demonstrates early-stage readiness (49th percentile worldwide). Investments are generating initial gains, yet substantial gaps persist in several dimensions. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.

50.45Composite score
Global percentile
49th
Global rank
#92
Regional rank
#11
Viewing data for
Infrastructure
72.49
71st percentileGlobal avg. 59.93
Human Capital
47.46
42nd percentileGlobal avg. 47.03
Innovation
50.72
73rd percentileGlobal avg. 42.53
Governance
20.28
10th percentileGlobal avg. 47.71
Access & Parity
61.31
62nd percentileGlobal avg. 43.89

Country profile

Iran, Islamic Rep. trails global peers in Governance (20, 10th percentile). A coordinated reform effort is needed to strengthen education futures readiness.

Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. Adult literacy gaps reduce the diffusion of knowledge needed for future-ready skills.

R&D investment remains modest, affecting long-term innovation potential. Policy execution and regulatory capacity remain weak, leaving reforms fragmented and hard to sustain. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.

Regionally, Iran, Islamic Rep. leads most clearly in School Access and Gender Parity, sitting well above the peer average.

Note: Several indicators use imputed values. Policymakers and planners should validate results further before committing to major initiatives.

Key insights

  • Places 92nd worldwide.
  • Holds a regional position of 11th within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan.
  • Scores range from Infrastructure (72.5) to Governance (20.3), reflecting variation across dimensions.
  • Leads regional peers most clearly in Access & Parity.

Regional peers: Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Composite GEFRI score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
131Israel73.92
262United Arab Emirates70.36
393Saudi Arabia65.52
404Malta64.28
575Kuwait59.77
596Qatar58.36
607Jordan58.06
648Bahrain57.37
769Oman54.61
7810Morocco53.83
9211Iran, Islamic Rep.50.45
9512Egypt, Arab Rep.49.67
9713Tunisia49.07
9914West Bank and GazaFCS47.12
11415Algeria38.86
12216Djibouti36.23
12417LebanonFCS35.78
12818IraqFCS34.68
12919LibyaFCS34.45
14120Pakistan29.51
14921Syrian Arab RepublicFCS27.28
15822Yemen, Rep.FCS23.14
17023AfghanistanFCS18.18