According to data published by the Statistical Center of Iran, the Misery Index experienced an unprecedented surge in the spring of 2026, reaching 91.1 points - the highest level ever recorded in the country.
The Misery Index is calculated by adding the point-to-point inflation rate to the unemployment rate. In the spring of this year, point-to-point inflation reached 82%, while the unemployment rate rose to 9.1%. The simultaneous surge in prices and rise in unemployment have significantly intensified economic pressure on Iranian households.
An examination of the trend indicates a rapid deterioration in economic conditions between the winter of 2025 and the spring of 2026. The Misery Index, which stood at 74.2 points last winter, surged by 16.9 points in a single quarter.
During the same period, point-to-point inflation rose from 66.6% to 82%, marking a 15.4-percentage-point increase. The unemployment rate also climbed by 1.5 percentage points, rising from 7.6% in the winter to 9.1% in the spring.
Data from the past five years reflect the instability of Iran’s economy. The Misery Index stood at 56.8 points in the spring of 2021 before dropping to 51.7 points in 2022. It rebounded to 59.1 points in the spring of 2023, declined to 39 points in 2024, and rose again to 46.3 points in the spring of 2025.
