Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
If the current fertility rate of 1.8 per cent continues, the population growth rate of Iran will be zero in the next 20 years, Head of the Statistical Centre of Iran, Adel Azar said, Mehr news agency reported on Nov. 26.
He went on to say that with the current fertility rate, Iran's population would reach 90 million in 2033.
Azar also underlined that six per cent of Iran's population are people of 65 years and over.
By the end of Iranian calendar year which ends on March 21, 2017, the figure will reach up to 10 per cent, he said, adding that it means Iran will be categorised among countries with an older population based on international population standards.
On Nov. 25, IRNA news agency quoted the Head of the country's Statistical Research Centre, Alirza Zahedian as saying Iran's population growth rate reached 1.3 per cent during the Iranian calendar year which ended on March 21, 2012.
Zahedian went on to note that currently the annual birth rate is 1.4 million, with 400,000 people dying annually in the country.
Later in April, deputy Health Minister of Iran, Fatima Rakhshani said the population in the country is getting older and it can reduce drastically by 2101.
Iran's population increased dramatically during the end of the 20th century, reaching about 75 million by 2011.
From 1981-1986, which was a growth peak in Iran, the country had a 2.2-2.3 million annual birth rate. However, Iran's birth rate has recently dropped significantly.