Zahra Kaviani, a member of the academic staff at the Iranian Parliament’s Research Center, recently acknowledged the growing poverty rate in Iran, a trend that has persisted since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. According to her, the poverty threshold for a family of three in Tehran is now estimated to be 20 million tomans (approximately $336 USD at the current exchange rate).
Historical Overview of Poverty Growth
Kaviani noted that in the early 2000s, the poverty rate in Iran stood at 20%, reflecting a 10% increase since previous decades. Over the next three years, this figure rose further to 22%. By the early 2010s, the poverty rate had surged to 30%, where it has reportedly remained stable for the past four years. However, she admitted that while the official poverty rate may appear static, the severity of poverty has worsened, making it increasingly difficult for people to escape its grip.
Regional Disparities and Educational Consequences
Kaviani highlighted the stark regional disparities in poverty, with eastern and southern areas of Iran facing particularly dire conditions. Among the consequences of widespread poverty, she cited the increasing rates of educational deprivation. In the second secondary education period, the national dropout rate stands at 15.7%, but this figure skyrockets to 40% in the underdeveloped province of Sistan and Baluchistan.
A Growing Crisis: 26 Million Iranians Unable to Meet Basic Needs
Hadi Mousavinik, another academic at the Parliament Research Center, echoed Kaviani’s concerns. He reiterated that approximately 30% of Iran’s population—around 26 million people—are unable to meet their basic needs. Mousavinik also mentioned that the country’s budget deficit contributes to these socioeconomic challenges, emphasizing that any improvement in the current situation hinges on the “optimal allocation” of available resources.
Extreme Poverty: A Hidden Crisis
Mousavinik went on to discuss the issue of “extreme poverty,” defined as the inability to afford even basic food needs. He estimated that around 5% of the population, or roughly 4 million people, fall into this category. However, he admitted that reliable data on those suffering from extreme poverty is scarce.
Earlier, Ahmad Meydari, the regime’s Minister of Cooperation, Labor, and Social Welfare, provided a similar estimate. He claimed that around 6% of the population, or 5 million people, live in extreme poverty. Strikingly, the Minister also revealed that 25.4 million Iranians—despite being employed—are living in absolute poverty, unable to sustain their basic living conditions.
Contradictory Statistics and a Lack of Transparency
Despite these alarming figures, the official statistics on poverty are often inconsistent and lack transparency. Government officials frequently cite the 30% poverty rate, but independent reports and social realities suggest a much graver situation. The deepening poverty, coupled with declining purchasing power, paints a bleak picture for a significant portion of the population. Reports of widespread food insecurity and insufficient calorie intake further confirm this growing crisis.
Food Insecurity and Health Impacts
In a recent speech, Mousavinik cited statistics showing that half of Iran’s population is currently unable to meet the daily recommended intake of 2,100 calories. This points to a worrying level of food insecurity across the country.
Moreover, a report published on September 9 by the state-run newspaper Payam-e Ma titled “Pain of Poverty,” revealed that more than 500,000 children under the age of five in Sistan and Baluchistan suffer from malnutrition, thinness, and underweight conditions due to food poverty.
Decline of the Middle Class
The economic downturn has not spared Iran’s middle class either. Vahid Shaghaghi, an economist, noted that over 15% of Iran’s middle-class population has fallen below the poverty line during the current administration. According to Shaghaghi, government-reported statistics do not align with the economic realities experienced by the general public.
In the early 2010s, Iran’s middle class comprised about 70% of the population. However, recent estimates suggest that this figure has now dropped to less than 55%, reflecting a sharp decline in economic stability for the once-thriving middle class.
Conclusion
The growing poverty crisis in Iran, exacerbated by regional disparities and food insecurity, is a cause for serious concern. While officials continue to report a stable 30% poverty rate, the deepening economic struggles faced by millions of Iranians tell a different story. With a significant portion of the population unable to meet basic nutritional needs and an increasing number of families falling below the poverty line.
