The Statistical Center of Iran’s data show the population of elderly women is growing at a faster pace compared with their male peers.
The population of elderly men and women stood at 400,000 each in the fiscal 1956-57. It stood at 500,000 each in the fiscal 1966-67 and 600,000 in 1976-77. In the fiscal 1986-87, the elderly male population stood at 800,000 and that of elderly female hit 700,000.
The population of elderly women stood at 1.2 million in the fiscal 1996-97, while that of elderly male hit 1.4 million. In the fiscal 2006-07, the elderly male population stood at 1.9 million and elderly female population hit 1.7 million. The population for elderly men and women stood at 2.2 million each in the fiscal 2011-12.
The population of elderly women started to outpace men’s since fiscal 2016-17 and stood at 2.5 million, while that of elderly men stood at 2.4 million.
It is estimated that the population of elderly women will reach 10.1 million in the fiscal 2051-52 and that of elderly men will reach 8.9 million.
According to latest data released by the Statistical Center of Iran, in the fiscal 2016-17, Iran's population stood at 79,926,270, which is 9,430,488 more than that of the fiscal 2006-07.
SCI conducts population census every 10 years. It is estimated that over 26% of Iran’s population will be 60 years or older by the fiscal 2051-52, according to SCI.
The population of this age-group accounted for 9.3% of the total population in the fiscal 2016-17.
SCI also estimated that about 19% of Iran’s total population will be 65 years or older by the fiscal 2051-52.
In the fiscal 1956-57, the elderly population of Iran (those of ages 65 years or older) stood at 4% of the total population.
The share of the elderly from the total population started decreasing in the fiscal 1966-67 until 1996-97 from 3.8% to 3.1% and started increasing from 1996-97 until 2016-17 from 4.4% to 6.1%.
Decline in Population Growth
The rise in population from the fiscal 2006-07 to fiscal 2011-12 hit 4,653,887 with an average growth of 1.29%, and the increase from fiscal 2011-12 to fiscal 2016-17 stood at 4,776,601 with an average growth of 1.24%, according to Javad Hosseinzadeh, the head of SCI.
Following a second wave of population growth, the rate was expected to be more than 1.5%, but it seems that the contribution of cultural and social factors such as increase in literacy and education, especially among women, urbanization, industrialization, growth in living costs and the tendency of families for having fewer children have reduced the average annual growth of the country's population.
The population in urban areas increased at an average annual rate of 1.97% during the five-year period under review while it is decreasing in rural areas at a rate of 0.68%.
The country's urbanization ratio stood at 74% and the opposite, ruralization, ratio was 30%.
People born in the 1980s – currently in their youth and adulthood – will be 65 years or older in three or four decades. These people actually form most of the youth population in Iran. Therefore, it is estimated that the young population of Iran will become elderly in 30 years.
“Like many countries, Iran’s population is aging due to factors like low fertility rates and improved healthcare, both of which are achievements of development,” explained Leila Joudane, the United Nations Population Fund Representative in Iran.
“Nonetheless, an aging population comes with challenges as well and we must address it if we are to convert them into opportunities.”
Today, as in several other countries, many of Iran’s older persons are highly vulnerable. Many face financial challenges and some are becoming disabled.
UNFPA is working with its government partners to support research into the phenomenon of Iran’s aging population and promote the adoption of policies that support older people and meet their needs.
