Despite its volatile history, theIslamic Republic of Iran has performed well on socialindicators, especially in providing basic services such ashealth care and education. Iran's fertility decline mayhave proceeded in two stages, the first beginning in thelate 1960s. The Iranian government introduced a familyplanning program during the 1960s with explicit health anddemographic objectives. Between 1967 and 1977, fertilitydeclined-mainly in urban areas-to an average of 4 childrenper woman. Although the family planning program continuedafter the 1979 Islamic revolution, it was suspended afterwar broke out with Iraq in 1980. During the war, thegovernment pursued a pronatalist population policy,including incentives for childbearing. The fertility declinecoincided with improvements in primary and secondaryeducation, possibly affecting the rapid decline inadolescent fertility during 1997-2006, especially whencompared to other Middle East and North Africa regioncountries. Today regional disparities in fertility existwith higher fertility in less developed districts. YetIran's example shows how good public policyinterventions in health (including family planning) andeducation can reduce fertility and contribute to human development.
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