Iran pressed to avert demographic decline with stronger social policies
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni on Tuesday warned that Iran’s population could shrink to under 40mn within decades if present trends continue, urging officials and civil groups to take swift action to avert what he called a “major” threat to the nation’s future.
The minister said low birth rates and changing lifestyles had left the country in a precarious demographic position, IRNA reported.
He argued that social issues should be tackled with “social” rather than security-driven approaches and pressed for stronger grassroots involvement to strengthen cohesion.
Officials say the government must throw its weight behind family support measures and economic relief to encourage higher birth rates.
Momeni insisted that the state’s role should be to “clear obstacles” and create space for civic organizations rather than subsume them.
The warning comes as Iran faces other pressing social challenges. Rapid ageing means that by mid-century almost one in three Iranians will be over 60. At the same time, drought and water scarcity are driving people from rural areas into already strained cities, a trend that risks leaving swathes of villages abandoned.
Economic pressures remain at the forefront. Inflation, youth unemployment and the rising cost of housing and education weigh heavily on households, while many young couples delay or avoid having children.