According to the last census carried out in 1996, the total population of Iran, that year, was 60,055,488 of which 30,515,159 were male and the rest (29,540,329) were female. The numbers of men and women living in the urban areas were 18,805,023 and 18,012,766 respectively; and in the rural areas 11,604,972 and 11,421,321. The people who live as nomads, without permanent settlement, number 105,164 men and 106,242 women.
Among the provinces of Iran, the most densely populated that year was Tehran Province, which at the time had a total population of 11,176,239. Ilam, with a population of 487,886, was the least densely populated province that year.
Over 50% of the country's population are 19 years old or younger. Consequently, Iran is one of the youngest nations anywhere in the world.
During the years 1991-1996, the rate of growth of the population in Iran was 1.5% while in the earlier years it had been much higher and so the population had grown far too rapidly. Some of the most populated cities of Iran, besides the capital Tehran, are: Mashad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Karaj, Kermanshah, Qom, Ahwaz, Zahedan and Rasht.
In 1996, out of the total population of Iran, 58,954,228 were of Iranian nationality, 804,404 were Afghanis, 179,061 were Iraqis, 8,836 were Pakistanis, 741 were Turkish, 1,017 were the nationals of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 649 of Armenian Republic, 269 of Turkmenistan Republic, and 9,790 were of other nationalities. Also 96,493 people did not declare their nationalities.
In 1999, 27.4% of the population above the age of 10 were engaged in agriculture, 30.6% in the industrial sector, and 42.0% in services.
Migrating or nomad tribes, who travel back and forth between their summer and winter quarters every year, make up an interesting population feature of the country. In the western and central provinces of Iran, migrating nomads who live predominantly as livestock (mainly sheep and goats) breeders follow their animals to the cooler highlands in summer and the warmer lowlands in winter. Each tribe or subtribe has its own lands in the summer and winter quarters. This has been going on for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years and is a fascinating aspect of the country.
Throughout history, Iran has been on the way of the East-West route of trade and cultural exchanges, a bridge linking the East to the West. Therefore, it has had both conflicts and exchanges of civilizations. This is why there are many ethnic groups in Iran all of who consider themselves to be true Iranians. The Azaris are Turkish speaking people that live in the northwestern parts of the country; the Kurds live in the western parts; the Lors in southwestern regions; the Baluchs in the southeast; Taleshis in the north; and the Turkmans in the northeast and in Fars province in central Iran. Each tribe has its own peculiarities, dialect, costumes... but all share certain basic characteristics that bind all Iranians together. The major traditions and celebrations, notably the New Year, are common to all. Their identity is unanimously Iranian.