Khamenei outlines 14-point plan to increase population

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has outlined the policy the country should take to reverse its declining birth rate. His 14-point plan was shared on his website as well as all the news agencies in Iran.

According to Article 110 of Iran’s constitution, after consultation with the Expediency Council, it is up to the supreme leader to decide the general policy of the Islamic Republic. Iran’s declining birth rate has long concerned Khamenei, who has addressed the issue in several speeches over the past few years. The plan was shared with the judiciary, the executive and parliament, which recently passed a bill that eliminated the program that had offered Iranians free vasectomies.

“In taking into consideration the positive role of population in the progress of the country, it is necessary to have comprehensive planning for economic, social and cultural growth to be in proportion to the population policies,” read the introduction. It called for the different institutions of the country to implement the plans with “precision, speed and strength.”

The first point emphasizes “increasing the fertility rate to above replacement levels.” On a global average, the replacement fertility level is 2.3 births per woman. For industrialized countries, this rate is slightly lower, while for developing countries, it can reach as high as 3.3 births. Iran’s rate is currently below two.