About 1.2 million foreign patients came to Iran for treatment in 1401 (2022/23), according to the Ministry of Health. More than 90% of them came from ten neighbouring countries.
Sources: Iran Ministry of Health officials, reported by Iranian news agencies · Namafar data team
Iran's Ministry of Health counts the foreign patients who travel to Iran for treatment, but it does not publish a yearly series. This page brings together the figures that its officials have announced, with the source and status of each.
Patients came from 164 countries in 1401 (2022/23), most of them from Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials put the annual revenue from medical tourism at about one billion dollars.
About 169 hospitals and clinics held a licence to treat foreign patients in July 2019. By July 2024 the number had reached 290.
| Year | Foreign patients | Status | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1397 (2018/19) | 500,000–550,000 | Single source | Donya-e-Eqtesad |
| 1401 (2022/23) | 1,200,000 | Confirmed by two sources | ILNA, Mehr, Kayhan |
| 1402 (2023/24) | 1,500,000 / 1,800,000 | Sources differ | Kayhan, Mizan |
For 1402 (2023/24) two officials gave different figures, and both are shown. No figure was announced for the other years.
| Announced | Centres | Status | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2019 | 169 | Sources differ | Eghtesad News, Donya-e-Eqtesad |
| Apr 2022 | 200 | Single source | Mehr |
| Nov 2022 | 220 | Single source | Mehr |
| Apr 2023 | 233 | Single source | Kojaro |
| Jul 2023 | 247 | Confirmed by two sources | ILNA, Fars, Tehran Times |
| Feb 2024 | 280 | Single source | Mehr |
| Jul 2024 | 290 | Confirmed by two sources | Kayhan, Mizan |
A foreign patient is a non-resident who travels to Iran for treatment. Foreign residents and students in Iran are not included.
The tourism ministry has published much larger figures for “health tourists” with a broader definition. They are not comparable and are left out.
No official figures by country or by city have been published.
About 1.2 million foreign patients came to Iran for treatment in 1401 (2022/23), according to the Ministry of Health.
More than 90% come from ten neighbouring countries, led by Iraq and Afghanistan. Patients came from 164 countries in 1401 (2022/23).
290 hospitals and clinics held a licence to treat foreign patients in July 2024, according to the Ministry of Health.