Bees in Iran
Iran had 7.3 million bees in 2024, the 4th largest in the world (7.14% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 3.8%. The record was 7.4 million head in 2015.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 7.3 million head
- World rank
- 4 of 98
- 10-year change
- +3.8%
- Record
- 7.4 million head
- 2015
Bees in Iran, 1961–2024 (head)
Iran compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 7.1%
- 7.9% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +3.8%
- world +15%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | China | 9,362,193 | 9.2% |
| 3 | Turkey | 8,961,975 | 8.8% |
| 4 | Iran | 7,259,700 | 7.1% |
| 5 | Ethiopia | 6,710,019 | 6.6% |
| 6 | Tanzania | 3,115,721 | 3.1% |
Map of bees numbers by country
Share of the world total; Iran is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,259,700 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 7,180,708 | −1.1% |
| 2022 | 7,262,918 | −0.2% |
| 2021 | 7,276,174 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 7,050,295 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 6,990,143 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 6,947,312 | −0.0% |
| 2017 | 6,950,711 | −0.9% |
| 2016 | 7,011,380 | −5.2% |
| 2015 | 7,393,660 | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 6,996,366 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 6,644,114 | +18% |
| 2012 | 5,613,259 | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 5,172,082 | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 5,011,767 | +15% |
| 2009 | 4,373,228 | +16% |
| 2008 | 3,779,044 | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 3,665,147 | +12% |
| 2006 | 3,258,571 | +15% |
| 2005 | 2,825,462 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 2,809,743 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2,733,117 | +11% |
| 2002 | 2,451,876 | +9.2% |
| 2001 | 2,246,192 | −1.1% |
| 2000 | 2,271,446 | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 2,154,116 | −35% |
| 1998 | 3,300,000 | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 3,200,000 | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 3,100,000 | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 3,000,000 | +11% |
| 1994 | 2,700,000 | +17% |
| 1993 | 2,300,000 | +21% |
| 1992 | 1,900,000 | +19% |
| 1991 | 1,600,000 | +19% |
| 1990 | 1,350,000 | +35% |
| 1989 | 1,000,000 | −8.4% |
| 1988 | 1,092,177 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 1,040,000 | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 991,000 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 943,000 | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 899,000 | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 856,000 | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 815,000 | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 776,000 | +5.0% |
| 1980 | 739,000 | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 704,000 | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 671,000 | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 639,000 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 608,000 | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 579,000 | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 552,000 | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 525,000 | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 500,000 | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 481,000 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 462,000 | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 445,000 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 432,000 | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 420,000 | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 407,000 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 395,000 | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 384,000 | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 373,000 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 362,000 | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 350,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many bees are there in Iran?
Iran had 7.3 million bees in 2024, 7.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Iran rank in the world by number of bees?
Iran ranked 4th of 98 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in India with 12.4% of the world total.
How has the number of bees in Iran changed?
It rose by 3.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +15% for the world. The record was 7.4 million head in 2015.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Iran is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.