Isfahan vs Tehran
Tehran leads Isfahan by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 33 to 32. Isfahan grades better on 3 measures, Tehran on 4; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Isfahan 32, Tehran 33
- OECD: Isfahan 34, Tehran 33
- UN Tourism: Isfahan 41, Tehran 42
- UNDRR: Isfahan 30, Tehran 40
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Isfahan 38, Tehran 0
- Economy and jobs: Isfahan 38, Tehran 63
- Climate and hazards: Isfahan 20, Tehran 25
- Water and environment: Isfahan 50, Tehran 50
- Community and housing: Isfahan 0, Tehran 0
- Access and continuity: Isfahan 33, Tehran 33
Where Isfahan is stronger
- Tropical nights: 81.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
- Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Tehran Times, 2026). Grade 3/4.
Where Tehran is stronger
- Unemployment rate: 4.5 % of the labour force (region figure) (Statistical Center of Iran (reported via Mehr News Agency), Q3 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 52.4 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (UN Statistics Division / WHO / UN-Habitat SDG Country Profile (Iran), 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (WANA News Agency, 2025). Grade 3/4.
Isfahan in full · Tehran in full
The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot