Iran Facing Population Decline: The Implications of the Islamic Republic’s Changing Demographics
Thursday, June 30, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home World

Iran Facing Population Decline: The Implications of the Islamic Republic’s Changing Demographics

From a high of six children per woman to an average of 1.7 birth per woman, the rate has declined sharply. Because of poor economic condition, people are also finding it difficult to raise more children.

WEB DESK by WEB DESK
Jun 4, 2022, 02:03 pm IST
in World
Representative Image

Representative Image

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

Sharp decline in the Iranian population has posed a new challenge for the Islamic Republic: aging population and a severe shortage of labour. The declining population has created a severe shortage of labour and working population who is supposed to take care of the elderly.

In the 1980s, Iran had six children per woman, which has now come down to 1.7 children per woman. Before Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was thrown out in the Iranian Revolution in 1979, he had promoted a US-backed population control policy, but it had little impact on the reproductive behaviour of people.

Pahlavi’s programmes were such a failure that by the time his reign ended in 1979, Iran had six children per woman. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led a faction of the Revolution and established new Republic, had a very different opinion about population growth.

He wished for massive growth in the population of Shias to balance the power structure in the Middle East. The new regime believed that having more Shias will give them an upper hand in the region.

The new government started promoting the birth of more children. Incentives were provided to women for producing more children.

Even before the new regime could get shape, war with neighbouring Iraq started. Although it furthered the belief that Iran needs more Shias, the economy was in bad shape because of the war. It became difficult for Iran to sustain the incentives.

The more war elongated, the more difficult it became. President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who assumed office in 1989, changed course and started promoting the two-child norm. The next president, Mohammad Khatami, continued the policy of promoting two children per family.

It helped President Hashemi that the Supreme Court ruled in 1988 that contraceptive measures were fully compatible with Islamic beliefs. After the Iranian Revolution, the government in Iran started promoting that the contraceptive measures were un-Islamic.

The policy was dramatically overturned when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad assumed office in 2005. For the next eight years, till 2013, Iran continued the policy of incentivising more children.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been criticising the population control measures, saying it’ll put Iran in big trouble. Taking a cue, the government has started incentivising more children.

Iran, which is perennially in conflict with Saudi Arabia for dominance in the region, believes that a fewer number of Shias in the Islamic Republic means a weaker Iran. Ali Khamenei, who is the Supreme Leader of Iran, has appealed to the people to produce more children.

Topics: IranSaudi ArabiaAyatollah Ali KhomeiniShah Mohammad Reza PahlaviIranian RevolutionMohammad KhatamiAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Share4TweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Telangana BJP chief demands CBI probe into Hyderabad gang-rape case

Next News

Amit Shah to lay foundation stones for various development projects in Panchkula

Related News

Zakir Hussain Shaikh, who was arrested for plotting terror attacks, received calls from Pakistan: Maharashtra ATS

Iranian national arrested for posing as intelligence agent, robbing foreigners

Islamic State Khurasan Province threatens India of suicide bombings for the alleged ‘blasphemy’ by Nupur Sharma

Islamic State Khurasan Province threatens India of suicide bombings for the alleged ‘blasphemy’ by Nupur Sharma

Iranian media spreads fake news to fuel kafirophobia in India

Iranian media spreads fake news to fuel kafirophobia in India

Fiscal Balancing : A Sea Change in the Offing

Not Saudi Arabia now Russia is India’s Second Biggest Oil Exporter: Report

India denies having any discussion on ‘derogatory’ remarks against Mohammad during meeting with Iran’s FM

India denies having any discussion on ‘derogatory’ remarks against Mohammad during meeting with Iran’s FM

Developing countries need much longer beyond 2050 to reach Net-Zero emissions: India

Developing countries need much longer beyond 2050 to reach Net-Zero emissions: India

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Uddhav Thackeray announces resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister ahead of floor test

Uddhav Thackeray announces resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister ahead of floor test

Election Commission announces schedule of Vice-Presidential election, voting on August 6

Election Commission announces schedule of Vice-Presidential election, voting on August 6

When Islam Imposes an Emergency on India! 10 Key Takeaways from Sita Ram Goel’s writings

When Islam Imposes an Emergency on India! 10 Key Takeaways from Sita Ram Goel’s writings

Rajasthan: Islamists beheaded Kanhaiya Lal after his son made social media posts supporting Nupur Sharma

#JusticeForKanhaiyaLal NIA takes over Udaipur beheading case, files FIR under UAPA

“Modi, listen, this knife will reach your neck as well,” shout Islamists after beheading Hindu man in Udaipur

Kanhaiya Lal Beheading: Both the terrorists Riyaz & Ghous have links with Dawat-e-Islami in Karachi

Assam Floods: State minister Jayanta Mallabaruah reviews Silchar flood situation

Assam Floods: State minister Jayanta Mallabaruah reviews Silchar flood situation

India slams UN for comments on action against Teesta Setalvad, calls it ‘completely unwarranted’

India slams UN for comments on action against Teesta Setalvad, calls it ‘completely unwarranted’

Unsung Heroes: Chempil Arayan

Unsung Heroes: Chempil Arayan

‘Rape, pregnant or love affair? Mamata Banerjee on Nadia rape case; BJP lashes out at CM’s ‘shameful’ remark

‘Centre wants to give jobs to BJP workers’: CM Mamata Banerjee on Agnipath Scheme

Agnipath scheme set to make Armed Force younger

Agnipath scheme set to make Armed Force younger

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies