TEHRAN – Men and women aged above 60 constitute some 11.5 percent of Iran’s population, an official with the health ministry has said.

For the time being, elderly women account for 52.3 percent of the total population, outnumbering men (47.7 percent), ISNA quoted Saber Jabbari as saying.

The aging of individuals signifies increased life expectancy. However, population aging demonstrates a shift in the distribution of a country's population towards older ages which is not a favorable indicator. In other words, the number of young people in society declines in comparison to the elderly population.

It is one of the most important challenges facing the country.

Despite offering incentives to encourage childbearing in line with youth population law, the desired growth in the youth population has not been accomplished yet.

“At best, Iran's population with a total fertility rate of 2.5 will reach 102,890,000 by the next seven years,” IRIB quoted Mohammad-Javad Mahmoudi, an official with the Civil Registration Organization, as saying.

In the last two years, the fertility rate has stabilized around 1.6 which has intensified concerns over the decreasing trend in population growth in the coming years, and the probability of turning Iran into one of the oldest countries in the world, the official highlighted.

Increased life expectancy for women

In the past four decades, women’s life expectancy has increased from 54 years to 78 years, Malihe Kianfar, an official with the health ministry, has announced.

According to a survey conducted in the calendar year 1399 (2020 - 2021), ischaemic heart diseases (caused by narrowed heart arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle), heart attack, stroke, and diseases associated with high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as breast cancer are among the top 20 leading causes of death among women, Mehr news agency quoted Kianfar as saying.

Despite the increase in women’s life expectancy, there are still significant challenges regarding chronic disease and lack of self-care. Raising awareness and promoting social support are essential steps to further boost women’s health, she added.

Aging with dignity

Commemorated on October 1st each year, the International Day of Older Persons recognizes the contributions of senior citizens, raises public awareness about the challenges associated with aging populations, and highlights the needs to be met.

Iran observes the day as part of National Elderly Week which is held from September 28 to October 4.

To address the issue of aging population, a national plan was designed with the aim of changing health-related behaviors in middle-aged people and focusing on preventing disabilities caused by common problems in the elderly.

This year, the national week’s theme was ‘active aging for everyone’s tomorrow’.

Thanks to improved healthcare systems’ services, life expectancy has noticeably increased globally. It is forecast that old individuals outnumber the youth population, particularly in developing countries, in seven years. Hence population aging, as a global trend, is reshaping societies worldwide.

The number of older people (defined as those aged 65 years or older) tripled from around 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021. Between 2021 and 2050, the global share of the older population is projected to increase from less than 10 percent to around 17 percent.

Consequently, the demand for comprehensive healthcare, care, and social support services has grown substantially, particularly for older persons with conditions such as dementia.

The trend also highlights the significance of promoting health, as well as preventing, and treating illnesses throughout the entire course of life.

In recognition of these challenges and opportunities, the International Day of Older Persons focused on ‘Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide’.

The theme encourages governments, policymakers, and social services across the world to take needed actions to address the physical, social, psychological, and health needs of older persons.

MT/MG