Iranian Population Policy and Aging: New Health Concerns

Iran’s population policy underwent a bizarre fluctuation in recent decades. During the Iran–Iraq war (1979–1987), the total fertility rate was about 6.53%. Following this period and owing to economic problems, the government reversed the population policy in 1988. A new population plan was officially proposed to reduce the rate of population growth.¹ In the 2011 census, the birth rate was reported to have declined to 1.29%.² Moreover, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the life expectancy in Iran increased dramatically from 54.67 years in 1980 to 75.5 years in 2015. Both these factors increased the rate of population aging (or the double-aging process). The migration of young adults to other countries has also accelerated this phenomenon.
The 2011 census observed a significant demographic change in the elderly population of Iran (the percentage of the elderly population increased from 7.27% to 8.20% from 2006 to 2011, and to 8.65% in 2016). The aging population is predicted to rise to 10.5% in 2025 and to 21.7% in 2050. Recently, considering the predictions relating to population aging, the government policy has changed. It is now pushing for an increase in the rate of population growth.²
As a result of population aging, the fluctuating population policy in Iran, and the lack of an evidence-based approach in making population policy decisions, the country may encounter a lack of capable human resources keeping in mind the increased old age dependency ratio (a greater elderly population with much fewer young people to support them).³
Ezeh et al show that a country with a low or negative growth faces rapid population aging, unsustainable loads on public pensions and healthcare systems, and slow economic growth.⁴ Aging will have a negative influence on Iran’s economy, health, and social welfare. There will also be an increasing need for hospital beds, sanatoriums, healthcare workers, and specialists in geriatric medicine (which is lacking in the current health system).⁵
It is clear that serious action should be taken keeping in mind this dilemma. Improving the health and population policy by following a reasonable, evidence-based scientific approach—such as extending hospital beds, establishing geriatric medicine departments and more sanatoriums, and educating more healthcare workers—can be a solution to counter population aging. In this regard, the experience of western countries after the industrial revolution could be an excellent model for Iranian policy-makers.