TEHRAN – National Population Day is May 19, commemorating the day when Islamic revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced the general population policy based on the constitution.
Emphasizing the important role of population in state power, a general population policy was announced to compensate for the population growth and declining birth rate of the past few years.
Bearing in mind the active role of the population in the country's development, there is a need to develop a comprehensive plan for the country's economic, social and cultural growth in accordance with the population policy, the leaders said.
It is also necessary for related organizations and government agencies to share their roles, take necessary measures accurately and forcefully, continuously monitor the status of policy implementation, and report on the results.
Ten years after announcing these policies, the current government has successfully implemented them through the approval and implementation of the Family and Youth Support Act.
Statistics show that this law has been successfully implemented in the past 30 months by establishing a national population headquarters, holding continuous meetings, and following up on actions.
The law seeks to stem population decline by considering a series of incentives for families.
The incentives include free land for families, free insurance, loans for home construction and childbirth, and the creation of more fertility centers.
Land is available free of charge
Free land is provided to families with three children. According to the latest statistics, around 80,000 families have so far received land using this legal incentive. He will also receive a 50% discount on the allocation of water, electricity branch lines and house construction services.
Free insurance coverage for rural women
According to the Iranian Statistics Center, the birth rate in urban areas is generally higher than in rural areas.
Therefore, free insurance coverage and social support for rural mothers with three or more children were on the agenda.
Loans based on economic conditions
Until now, it was customary for young couples to obtain marriage loans, but in the past two years, the loan amount has been adjusted according to the economic situation of the society. Additionally, based on the Youth Law, subsidies for loans for childbirth have begun.
Other incentives
Thanks to current government initiatives, all educational institutions will have to provide nine months of maternity leave to women.
Preventing illegal abortions and promoting easy marriage are also measures.
Increase in infertility treatment facilities
The number of fertility treatment centers in the country has increased significantly.
In government centers and facilities covered by Salamat Health Insurance, insurance covers 90 percent of the cost of infertility treatment based on subsidized rates.
Currently, insurance covers 66 pharmaceutical items, 29 medical devices, 72 tests, raising the target age for treatment from 45 to 49, 45 items related to pregnancy preparation, and 33 medical surgical procedures. About infertility.
Improving birth rate
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, since the law went into effect, the number of births to mothers aged 20 to 24 has increased significantly.
The proportion of mothers giving birth to three children increased from 16% in Iran 1398 (March 2019 to March 2020) to 18.97% in 1402 (March 2023 to March 2024). , even fourth births increased from 5% to about 7%. .
The Ministry of Health's responsibilities in the field of health and education are clearly defined and it has successfully implemented more than 95 percent of its tasks in youth law.
Population is one of the key and important points in the Seventh National Development Plan (2023-2027).
The Seventh National Development Plan (2023-2027) is expected to implement several measures to strengthen the pillar of the family and remove obstacles to women's growth and prosperity.
The plan also aims to increase the birth rate to at least 2.5 within five years by providing comprehensive maternity support and incentives.
All government agencies are obliged to develop plans and programs within the framework of population growth policy and seriously follow up their implementation.
