According to recent studies, more than 35% of Tehrani families have only one child. “The studies also indicate depression and anxiety is higher among parents who have only one child,” said Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh, head of population, family and school health office at the health ministry.
The increasing marriage age, higher divorce rate and “unwillingness to bear children are among the main challenges of fertility” in the country.
At present, there are 11 million unmarried boys and girls “who already have passed the golden age of fertility (which is between 18 and 35 years of age).” The average age of marriage for men is now 27 and for women, 24, a dramatic increase over the past years.
