Page 20 - IRANRptAug21

Iran’s birth rate at lowest in eight years as economy tanks
Iran sets aside $305mn for unemployed workers hit by COVID-19 turmoil
Iran’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level in eight years, the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) has reported. It dropped by 0.2 to 1.6 per woman in the 2019/2020 Persian calendar year (ended mid-March), with 1,196,135 births recorded.
Iran, a country of nearly 85mn people, recorded 1.38mn births in 2011-2012 with a fertility rate of 1.75 per woman. The fertility rate in Iran has dropped by around 70% over the past 30 years.
The SCI said the 2019/2020 fall in the birth rate was consistent for woman across all fertility age groups, with the decline more visible when it comes to younger couples, who are responsible for the bulk of births.
Observers see Iran’s economic travails of recent years as a major cause of decline in the country’s fertility rate and marriage rate too. Some analysts also point to changes in the role of women in society, saying women still struggle to achieve a balance between work and other life demands.
The SCI also released data forecasting Iran’s population will reach 88.358mn in 2026 and 95.278mn in 2036.
Iran’s parliament recently announced a plan to provide health insurance to infertile couples, health and nutrition support packages to mothers and children, educational opportunities for student mothers, livelihood support to families and improved medical services to pregnant women.
The Iranian government has set aside Iranian rial (IRR) 50 trillion ($305mn at the free market rate, $1.2bn at the government rate) for unemployed workers in the wake of the mass layoffs that have occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, IRNA reported on April 7.
Thousands of casual workers have been laid off in Iran. Annual bonuses have also been scrapped given the crippling financial situation in the country caused by its coronavirus outbreak, the worst in the Middle East.
The announcement of the unemployment benefit comes after significant domestic pressure was put on the Rouhani administration for its handling of the pandemic’s impact on the country. Those classed as sole traders and others with full worker insurance are not eligible for the scheme.
The exact amount of the payment per individual is not known yet, but it is likely to only be awarded to those in the lowest income brackets including factory, retail and delivery workers, to name but a few.
The funding for the unemployment benefit is likely to derive from the country’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF). It has released the equivalent of €1bn in local currency to the government to help it grapple with the coronavirus situation.
20 IRAN Country Report August 2021 www.intellinews.com