Iran faces deepening poverty and economic crisis

Iran is experiencing a severe livelihood crisis, with reports indicating that the poverty rate has risen from approximately 20 percent before 2018 to 40 percent in 2024. An estimated 34 million people are currently living in extreme poverty.

While external sanctions, trade restrictions, and military tensions have constrained the economy by increasing import costs and limiting investment, the crisis is also attributed to internal factors. These include the structure of economic and political decision-making, limited transparency, and a lack of public accountability regarding the distribution of national wealth. The situation has resulted in a widening gap between an ultra-rich ruling class and a population facing deteriorating living standards despite the country's extensive oil and gas resources.