Today, achieving economic growth through the promotion of economic efficiency is one of the most important objectives. Instances of explicit and implicit productivity in economic development programs have been considered (i.e., 30 percent of productivity growth in the Fifth Development Plan). Given the emphasis in the program identifying and removing barriers to increase productivity is of great importance. In the present study, after presenting an overview of the concepts, definitions and indicators of productivity, the role of productivity in economic growth has been investigated in the Asian Productivity Organization countries. To calculate productivity indicators, the library statistics were used. Then, a brief mention of the status of productivity in Iran economic development, Total Factor Productivity, Labor and capital productivity were estimated. Finally, referring some main obstacles to increase productivity, opportunities and strategies for increasing productivity were presented.