Provinces in western Iran, particularly those in Rojhelat (Eastern Kurdistan, located within the borders of Iran), are facing some of the country’s highest levels of economic hardship, according to newly circulated data attributed to the Statistical Center of Iran.
The figures, presented in a widely shared chart on Iran’s provincial “misery index,” show Kurdistan Province topping the list with a reported rate of 77 percent. Kermanshah followed at 75 percent, while Lorestan recorded 74.4 percent. Ilam was also ranked among the provinces under the most severe economic pressure.
The misery index is commonly calculated by combining inflation and unemployment rates to measure the economic strain experienced by ordinary citizens.
The chart also indicates that Iran’s national misery index has climbed to 61.3 percent, reflecting worsening living conditions amid persistent inflation, declining purchasing power, and stagnant employment opportunities.
Although independent verification of the exact provincial figures remains difficult, multiple studies and datasets based on official Iranian statistics have consistently shown western provinces ranking among the country’s most economically vulnerable regions. Research published by the Iran Open Data Center and other analysts has repeatedly identified Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, and neighboring provinces as areas suffering from high unemployment and long-term structural inequality.
Economists say the situation has been aggravated by years of sanctions, currency depreciation, weak investment, and uneven regional development. Border provinces with significant Kurdish populations have also long complained of political marginalization and lack of industrial infrastructure.
In recent years, rising prices for food, housing, fuel, and basic goods have sharply reduced purchasing power across Iran. While official unemployment figures remain disputed, labor activists and researchers argue that underemployment and informal labor are far more widespread than government statistics suggest.
The worsening economic situation has fueled growing frustration in several western provinces, where poverty rates and outward migration have increased significantly over the past decade.
