Demographic transition in Iran: Changes and challenges

Abstract

Iran has experienced remarkable demographic changes over the last three decades. After a major political shift from a monarchy to an Islamic Republic in 1979, the new government took a pronatalist ideology which resulted in the suspension of family planning programs and encouragement of early marriage and high fertility. However, the high fertility regime was short lived, and the government reversed population policies and programs in favor of fertility control in late 1980s. Rural development, advancement of education particularly for girls, and nationwide health network system providing free primary health care and family planning services accelerated fertility decline in all provinces as ..