Family

This post will briefly enlighten on regional differences in Iran at issues of marriage and divorce rate, with aim to promote regional approach. Graphs are in email aex.

According to statistics provided by National Organization for Civil Registration, marriage rate (later MR) in Iran is quite stable with increase of 0,04% between year 1383/1394. But, when population growth will be taken to consideration, which was 6,6% from 2006 to 2011 recorded by National Housing and Population Census, stabilization of MR means it's decrease. For this crisis, some people blame housing situation especially in Tehran. Others as the head of the Deputy for Youth Affairs of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mr. Mahmoud Golzari claim that cause is bad attitude of society towards marriage, so state should more adequately promotes institution of marriage. In addition to, increase of divorce rate (later DR) need to be considered as well. Between years '83/'94 rate was increased by 121%.

As reaction on these claims, I made brief study to analyses differences in MR and DR in various provinces, between time period of 10 years in case of MR and 11 in case of DR. Firstly to check differences in trends between cosmopolitan “westernized” Tehran and more religious Qom. Secondly, I will compare most urbanized province with least urbanized Sistan wa Baluchistan and Hormozgan for enlightening, if urbanization is significant factor or not. I chose Hormozgan in addition to Sistan wa Baluchistan (later Sistan), which is least urbanized 49%, due to fact that majority of population of Sistan have Sui religion so it could cause disinformation based on religious factor.

(Graphs)

Tehran vs Qom

MR in Tehran between '83 and '93 was decreased by 23,44%. However, it’s important to note that until year '88 rate was slowly increasing, but between years '88 and '89 marriage rate was decreased by 7,42% aually. In Qom marriage rate decreased in same 10 year period just by 5,89% and it is important to note that rate in Qom has fluctuations for example between years '89/'90 we had increase by 8.34%, but on another hand, between '91/'92 decrease by 18,63% occurred.

DR in Tehran between years '83/'94 increased by 53,86%. Despite that, between years '89/'90 increased by 13,97% or between '91/'92 decrease by 10,58%. So, fluctuations are presented here as well. In case of Qom divorce rate grew in same 11 year period by 100,75%. The game changer was year '89 when divorce rate increased by 58,36%, but year after that dropped by 28,65% later on other less significant fluctuations occurred as well.

Cases of Hormozgan and Sistan wa Baluchistan

In Hormozgan province MR between '83/'93 increased by 19,57% and in Sistan by 60,57%. DR was in Hormozgan between '83/'94 increased by 187% and in Sistan by 154,21%. However, as our former classmate Valentine once cited someone who told her” The best way to lie people is to showing them statistics.” So, we need to understand that even, when we have trend of rising divorces rate in these provinces situation is totally different from that in Tehran, due to fact that in '85 in Sistan for example were just 889 cases of divorce within population of 2405742 in comparison with Tehran with 114900 cases within 11345375 residents.

Conclusion

So according to statistics we have significant differences between provinces. Unpopularity of marriage and increase of DR and is transnational phenomenon, but to claim that is alarming problem for Iran society as whole has no solid ground. In Tehran, we could speak about that for sure. In Qom, we have similar trend but in less extend. But It is no case in Hormozgan and Sistan. Those who claim that foreign influence is cause don’t realize that in same time they indirectly claim that Iranian Islamic culture is not able to adequately react, by fact that religious Qom is affected in similar maer that Tehran. So, if one don’t want to agree on that, causes need to be found elsewhere. In same time, rural areas had increased rate of marriage and divorce does not have such strong presents as in cities. So, it's seems that economic hardships coected to urbanization has major role. In addition to fluctuations deserves more attention. In their case is important to find out if they occurred on national level or regional in pursuit for finding their causes. Because understanding of them is key for understanding dynamism of MR/DR in positive or negative sense.

With these brief study, I just wanted to highlight regional differences with aim to remind that research on national level is insufficient for finding solution on rise of crisis of family institution in some parts of Iran.

Sources:

ALMONITOR (2015, June 2). Why are young Iranians losing interest in marriage? Retrieved December 7, 2016, from http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/06/iran-birth-rate-marriage-decline-divorce.html

AMAR (2016). Selected Findings of National Population and Housing Census, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2016, from https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/1/Iran/90.pdf

NOCR (2016). Vital event statistics. Retrieved December 7, 2016, from https://www.sabteahval.ir/en