Population Growth in Iran Approaches Zero Amid Declining Quality of Life

The newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad, in examining economic conditions and their relation to population growth and fertility rates, reported that the decline in quality of life has brought Iran's population growth to 0.6 percent. In its issue on Thursday, February 15, it noted that the population growth rate in Iran in the year 1401 (2022) reached 0.6 percent and the fertility rate dropped to 1.66. The newspaper emphasized that the fertility rate in 1359 (1980) was over 6.4 percent, and the average annual population growth between 1355 and 1365 (1976-1986) was 3.91 percent. The report stressed that government initiatives such as childbearing loans, car lotteries, subsidies, and increased marriage loan amounts have not improved the situation regarding childbearing. According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the 'Quality of Life Index,' which measures the qualitative status of life in various areas, ranked Iran 80th out of 84 countries surveyed in 2023, indicating that under such conditions, households are unlikely to have multiple children. The economic situation has also negatively impacted marriage and divorce statistics. In this regard, the newspaper Etemad reported in Ordibehesht (May) of this year that an analysis of aggregated statistics on 'divorce, marriage, and birth' over the past 14 years highlighted the economic factors' significant role in statistical fluctuations in these areas. The Etemad report showed that according to statistics published in 1387 (2008), there were over 110,000 divorces, more than 881,000 marriages, and over 1.3 million births recorded, which decreased in autumn 1401 (2022) to 146,000 divorces, 391,000 marriages, and 810,000 births. A review of economic statistics indicates that during the period mentioned by Etemad, in 1387, the misery index was over 35 percent, the unemployment rate was 10.5 percent, and the inflation rate was 25.4 percent, which rose to 44 percent inflation, 8 percent unemployment, and a 52 percent misery index by autumn 1401. Some experts believe that the misery index has now exceeded 60 percent, and the decrease in the unemployment rate is not due to job creation by the government but rather a decline in participation rates stemming from despair in finding jobs and unattractive wages. An academic official stated that the fertility rate in Iran is falling to the lowest level in West Asia. The consequences of implementing the 'Population Youth Law' have led to over 100 cases of 'illegal abortion' being sent to judicial authorities. The implications of mandated population growth include the potential 'increase in thalassemia infants' due to new restrictions on fetal screening. The Iranian Minister of Health reiterated the importance of childbearing, stating that all advertising tools should be utilized.