Transforming Communities: Nine Provinces Embrace Age-Friendly Initiatives
In a significant step towards enhancing the quality of life for seniors, Iran has initiated a national project aimed at creating age-friendly environments across nine provinces. These communities are designed to ensure that aging individuals can thrive, regardless of their age, by providing supportive environments, activities, and services that promote well-being.
The provinces participating in this groundbreaking initiative include Tehran, Gilan, Isfahan, East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan, Lorestan, Hamedan, and Bushehr. According to Mojgan Rezazadeh, the head of the secretariat of the National Council of the Elderly, these areas will serve as pilot locations for the project, as reported by IRNA.
This age-friendly city initiative is part of an international collaboration involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various global funds. The establishment of the age-friendly city secretariat in these provinces marks a crucial milestone in the project.
According to Rezazadeh, the concept of an age-friendly environment encompasses eight key domains that guide the overall approach:
- Transportation
- Social Participation
- Civic Participation and Employment
- Respect and Social Inclusion
- Housing
- Communication and Information
- Health Services
- Community Support and Safety
In October 2024, the national document for establishing age-friendly environments throughout Iran will come into effect. Rezazadeh emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating, “The world’s population, especially in developing countries, is growing old, and Iran is no exception. The percentage of the elderly population in the country has increased from five percent in 1976 to about 10.5 percent, reaching around 9 million people,” as quoted by IRNA.
The document is structured into three main components:
- Principles, indicators, and criteria for the strategic plan of an age-friendly city
- Workshops focused on developing strategic documents for age-friendly cities
- Planning and establishing indicators for an age-friendly city
Furthermore, plans are underway to include travel and tourism opportunities specifically tailored for the elderly in the overall strategy. Each participating province is tasked with creating a strategic provincial document that reflects its unique environment and needs.
Implementation of this program will rely heavily on collaboration among member institutions, municipalities, and governor-general offices in each city. Rezazadeh highlighted the importance of comprehensive training, stating that it will be carried out gradually with the assistance of both domestic experts and international consultants to ensure effective monitoring.
Provinces with larger elderly populations, such as Gilan, Mazandaran, Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, and Kerman, will be prioritized in this initiative.
Iran’s Inevitable Transition to an Aging Society
As the fertility rate in Iran stabilizes at approximately 1.6 children per woman—significantly lower than the replacement level—the shift towards an aging population has become unavoidable. This demographic transition is underscored by the findings of the first five-year national development plan (1989-1993), which aimed to reduce the total fertility rate from 6.4 children in 1986 to four children by 2011.
However, the measures implemented during that period resulted in profound changes in population dynamics, leading to a notable decline in both population growth and fertility rates, surpassing the original objectives of the development plan.
Data from the 2011 and 2016 censuses reveal that the country’s demographic trends deviated significantly from the initial goals. The population growth rates recorded were 1.29 and 1.24, respectively, with a further decline to 0.7 in the recent Iranian year (March 2023 – March 2024).
Current statistics indicate that the number of elderly citizens in Iran is increasing at a rate of 3.62 percent, which is five times higher than the overall population growth rate of 1.24 percent. In the Iranian year 1385 (2006-2007), there were over 5 million individuals aged 60 and above. By 2015, seniors accounted for 10 percent of the total population, as reported by ISNA.
Looking ahead, projections suggest that by 2050, individuals aged 60 and older will represent 32 percent of the total population, meaning that one-third of Iran’s population will be elderly. Currently, seniors aged 60 and above make up approximately 11.5 percent of Iran’s populace, with women constituting the majority at 52.3 percent compared to men at 47.7 percent, as stated by Saber Jabbari from the health ministry.
As Iran embarks on this essential journey towards creating age-friendly communities, it reflects the broader global challenge of adapting to an aging population. The success of this initiative will rely on collaborative efforts, sustainable planning, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the elderly.
