Education in Iran
The education system in Iran is classified into two main categories: primary and high school education. In Iran, primary education is compulsory between the ages of 6 to 11. After primary school, they attend high school from age 12 to age 18. Schools in Iran provide quality for both females and males in humanities and sciences. Students can attend universities or technical institutes to further their education after secondary school. However, depending on each person’s circumstances, young adults may take a break from school or work or seek other possibilities before finishing their official education at a different age. Young adults in Iran complete post-secondary education at 27 /28, when they choose to study doctor of philosophy.
Marriage in Iran
The legal age for marriage in Iran is 13 years for girls and 15 years for boys. However, according to the Civil Code, younger children may get married with their parent’s permission. In the past, the parents and older family members arranged almost all marriages. This is still the case in rural areas and with families embracing their culture. Modern couples, however, choose their mates, but their parents’ consent is still essential and is considered by both sides. Iran’s marriage age has been rising recently, especially among urban populations. The marriage age has risen twofold in Iran in recent years, and the data shows that the average marriage age for females is 15-29 years, and for males is 20-30 years(Tehran Times,2018). The average age for men in rural and urban areas is 26.2 and 27.9 years, respectively, while the figure for rural and urban females is 21.4 and 23.5 years.
Age of first childbirth
Iranian females were the oldest when they had their first child within the largest non-Western groups. In 2008, they averaged 31.3 years of age when they had their first child. The most recent statistics from the Iranian Statistical Center show that men and women in Iran give birth on average at 31 and 28, respectively. This, however, can change based on personal circumstances and societal considerations.
In 1925, the total fertility rate of Iran was more than seven children per female. The fertility rate in Iran has significantly changed with modernization. By 2020, the total fertility rate in Iran was approximated to have slightly increased to 2.15 children per woman (Statista, 2022). This decrease in fertility rate results from high employment rates, and education among women, besides government policies such as family planning strategies. Consequently, several Iranians prefer having smaller families due to economic stresses and the desire to have a quality life.
Divorce rates in Iran
While Iran saw a 4.4% increase in marriages between 2019 and 2020, totaling 556,731 instances, divorce rates grew by 3.6%, totaling 183,193 cases. In 2020, there were 32.9 divorces for every 100 legally recognized marriages. Between March 2017 and March 2018, the highest divorce rate was witnessed among males aged 20-24(23.5%) and females aged between 21-30 (40%) (Farda, 2019). Several factors lead to increased divorce in Iran. For instance, changing social attitudes towards marriage, education, irreconcilable differences, and domestic abuse.
Retirement age in Iran
There is no specific legal retirement age in Iran. However, the retirement age for females and males working in state-owned organizations or public institutions is 55 and 60 for females and males, respectively. In Iran, 38.4% of males older than retirement age got a pension as of 2020. In contrast, only 2.6% of Iranian women of pensionable age receive it (Statista, 2022c). Additionally, insured individuals above 55 may obtain unemployment benefits until they reach the normal retirement age. Iran’s average retirement age is rising for both men and women due to several causes, including shifts in the job market, advancements in medical care and living conditions, and the requirement that people work longer hours to support their families.
Life expectancy rate in Iran
The latest WHO data shows that the life expectancy rate in Iran is female 79.1 and male 75.7. The current life expectancy in Iran is 77.33 years, which represents a 0.25% rise from 2022 (Iran Life Expectancy 1950-2023, n.d.). Iran’s life expectancy has been rising over the past few years, mainly due to advancements in healthcare and living conditions. Iran still has significant health disparities across its various regions and inhabitants. Rural residents and those from lower socioeconomic status often have worse health results than their urban and affluent counterparts. Furthermore, compared to many other nations in the region, Iran’s infant death rates are relatively low, partly because of advancements in healthcare and public health initiatives.
Typical day activities of individuals in the age group 21-25 in Iran
At age 25, one is still energetic and tries to create time to spend their free time besides their busy daily schedules. Their activities on a typical day may vary depending on their preferences and circumstances, such as whether they are employed, students, or unemployed. In Iran, individuals of my age attend post-secondary school classes besides doing their assignments. In this era, students prefer working part-time; hence individuals of my age in Iran spend their days working part-time. Covid-19 significantly affected daily routine in Iran; hence many activities currently run online. Therefore, individuals within my age group spend a lot of their time on social media platforms by carrying out activities that can be done remotely.
References
Average marriage age in Iran increased by 3 years. (2018, June 11). Tehran Times. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/424338/Average-marriage-age-in-Iran-increased-by-3-years
Farda, R. (2019, November 6). Marriages Decrease, Divorces Increase At Alarming Rate In Iran. RFE/RL. https://en.radiofarda.com/a/marriages-decrease-divorces-increase-at-alarming-rate-in-iran/30256544.html
Iran Life Expectancy 1950-2023. (n.d.). MacroTrends. https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/IRN/iran/life-expectancy
Statista. (2022, June 21). Total fertility rate of Iran 1925-2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1069654/fertility-rate-iran-historical/tatista. (2022c, December 6). Share of population above retirement age receiving a pension in Iran 2020 by gender. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1349973/iran-share-of-population-above-retirement-age-receiving-a-pension-by-gender/
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