Currency
The Iranian currency is Rial (pronounced ‘reeyaal’. When talking money in Iran, you will hear the term “Toman”. Though Toman is an old term and is no longer an official currency but it is still being used on a daily basis in Iranian markets standing for ten Rials. In Tehran banks are open from 07:30 to 15:30 Saturday to Wednesday and 07:30 to 13:30 Thursday. Friday is a public holiday.from 07:30 to 15:30 Saturday to Wednesday and 07:30 to 13:30 Thursday. Friday is a public holiday.
In other cities banks are open from 07:30 to 13:30 Saturday to Wednesday and 07:30 to 12:30 Thursday. Friday is a public holiday. Only selected shops accept Master Card and Visa credit cards.

Exchange rates
Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar -
10,800 (2011 est.)
10,339 (2010 est.)
9,864.3 (2009)
9,142.8 (2008)
9,407.5 (2007)

GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.003 trillion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
$983.5 billion (2010 est.)
$928.7 billion (2009 est.)
note: data in US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)
$482.4 billion (2011 est.)

GDP - real growth rate
2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
5.9% (2010 est.)
4% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)
$13,200 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$13,200 (2010 est.)
$12,600 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 10.4%
industry: 37.7%
services: 51.8% (2011 est.)

Gini index
44.5 (2006)

Labor force
26.37 million
country comparison to the world: 24
note: shortage of skilled labor (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 45% (June 2007)

Unemployment rate
15.3% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
14.6% (2010 est.)
note: data are according to the Iranian Government

Population below poverty line
18.7% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index
44.5 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45

Investment (gross fixed)
27.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Budget
revenues: $131.2 billion
expenditures: $92.63 billion (2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues
27.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
8% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Public debt
12% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
13.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
note: includes publicly guaranteed debt

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
22.5% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
12.4% (2010 est.)
note: official Iranian estimate

Central bank discount rate
NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
12.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of narrow money
$54.88 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$50.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of broad money
$367.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$310.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit
$138.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$135 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares
$107.2 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 44
$86.62 billion (31 December 2010)
$63.3 billion (31 December 2009)

Agriculture - products
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, sugarcane, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Industries
petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Industrial production growth rate
-2.7% excluding oil (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - production
212.8 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - consumption
206.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Electricity - exports
6.15 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports
2.06 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil - production
4.252 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

Oil - consumption
1.845 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Oil - exports
2.523 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Oil - imports
297,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Oil - proved reserves
137 billion bbl based on Iranian claims
country comparison to the world: 4
note: Iran has about 10% of world reserves (1 January 2011 est.)

Natural gas - production
138.5 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Natural gas - consumption
137.5 billion cu m
country comparison to the world: 4
note: excludes injection and flaring (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports
7.87 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas - imports
6.9 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Natural gas - proved reserves
29.61 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Current account balance
$42 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$25.46 billion (2010 est.)

Exports
$131.8 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$108.6 billion (2010 est.)

Exports - commodities
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets

Exports - partners
China 21%, India 9.3%, Japan 8.9%, Turkey 8.7%, South Korea 7.9%, Italy 5.2% (2011)

Imports
$76.1 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$68.45 billion (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities
industrial supplies, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services

Imports - partners
UAE 30.6%, China 17.2%, South Korea 8.4%, Germany 4.8%, Turkey 4.2% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$109.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$78.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Debt - external
$17.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$22.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$20.15 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$18.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$2.521 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$2.171 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Fiscal year
21 March - 20 March