🇮🇷Iran Political Stability: 4.9/100

Iran is the sixth-largest country in Asia, covering an area of 1,648,195 km². It features a diverse landscape dominated by rugged mountain ranges, including the Alborz and Zagros mountains, and vast desert basins. The climate varies from arid and semi-arid to subtropical along the Caspian coast, with significant seasonal temperature variations.

As of February 2023, Iran's population is approximately 85 million, with a significant urban growth rate and a concentration in the western half of the country. The official language is Persian, and the majority of the population adheres to Twelver Shi'a Islam, with various ethnic groups present, including Persians and Azerbaijanis.

World Bank governance: rule of law 8th percentile, corruption control 4th percentile, political stability 5th percentile.

Iran's strongest governance dimension is Rule of Law at 8/100, placing it in the bottom quartile globally. This reflects relatively strong confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, police, and courts.

The weakest dimension is Regulatory Quality at 1/100. Regulatory challenges may create an unpredictable environment for economic activity and daily life.

The narrow spread across all six indicators points to consistent governance performance. Countries with even governance profiles tend to offer predictable environments for travelers and businesses alike.

Iran's fragile governance environment presents real challenges for travelers. Institutional capacity is severely limited across most dimensions. Visitors should expect minimal government services, potential interactions with corruption, and limited recourse through legal systems. Travel to Iran requires extensive preparation and risk awareness.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Iran as Level 4 (Do Not Travel). Elevated advisory levels combined with governance data paint a fuller picture of conditions on the ground that travelers should consider.