Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 25
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran's population growth rate reached 1.3 percent during the Iranian calendar year, which ended on March 21, 2012, head of the country's Statistical Research Centre, Alirza Zahedian said, IRNA news agency reported on Nov.25.
If the current tendency continues, the population of Iran can face zero or negative growth rate by 2041, he added.
Zahedian went on to note that, currently, the annual birth rate is some 1.4 million, with some 400,000 people dying annually in the country.
Later in April, deputy Health Minister of Iran, Fatima Rakhshani said that the population in the country is getting older, and it can reduce drastically by 2101.
She noted that in 10 years or so, in every 10 Iranian families there will be 7 people of 60 years or older.
"If the current tendency continues further and does not improve, the population of Iran can decrease to 62 million by 2101," she said.
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 2.2-2.3 million annual birth rate.
However, Iran's birth rate has recently dropped significantly.