Culture and demographic behaviour in Iran

Yaghoob Foroutan, Australian National University

This paper attempts to address some influences of culture on population- related issues in Iran where one of the most tremendous demographic changes has taken place over the last decades. The paper is strongly relied on cultural approach in which it is believed that bringing into attention the issue under investigation in the context of culture is a key precondition of comprehensive understanding of the issue. Moreover, this point seems more important in developing and traditional societies where culture plays a more substantial role in both personal and social life. The paper is based on the selected findings of several research and studies on demographic issues in Iran. Based on these studies, implications of cultural factors on a wide range of population-related issues (containing fertility, infertility, mortality, ageing, gender preference, marriage patterns, desired age of marriage, divorce, marital relations, reproductive health and family planning, and ideal family size) are discussed.