Iran

Iran, known as Persia until 1935, is the 18th largest country in the world and has a population of over 70 million. Iran has experienced a series of conflicts, most recently the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which has had effects on the lives of women and mothers within the country. After the revolution, early marriage and family formation were promoted, resulting in an increase in the fertility rate. The average number of children per woman (total fertility rate) in Iran was 6.3 in 1990. Between 1979 and 2005, however, the fertility rate decreased from about 7 to 1.8 children born per woman.