Iran Reins in Family Planning: BBC News

Iran is limiting provision of family planning services at state-run facilities to counter a decline in population growth. Iran’s median age is 32, slightly higher than the world’s median age of 30. The World Bank reports Iran’s fertility rate at 2.1 children per women, which is replacement level. The government also reports that marriage rates dropped by 40 percent in a decade. “Vasectomies will no longer be carried out at state-run medical centres and contraceptives will only be offered to women whose health might be at risk,” reports BBC News. “Marriage and children within marriage are both in decline, Iran's state-run news agency Irna reports, largely because of economic hardship.” In 2012, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei set a goal for Iran’s population to reach 150 million. The population is now about 80 million. – YaleGlobal