Iran’s National Organization for Civil Registration has released statistical data revealing a 2.5% increase in the death rate during the initial nine months of Persian calendar year 1402 (March 2023-March 2024) compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
According to information from the civil registry website, the total number of deaths in Iran reached 312,793 in the first nine months of 2022. In the same period this year, the figure rose slightly to 313,817. In 2023, 56.4% of the deceased were men and 43.6% were women, a marginal shift from the previous year’s percentages of 56.9% for men and 43.1% for women.
The National Organization for Civil Registration’s statistical table indicates a ratio of 100 women per 129 men in overall mortality. Comparing the first nine months of 2023 with the corresponding period in the previous year, there is a 0.5% increase in male deaths and a 0.5% decrease in female deaths.
A report by Iran’s Statistics Center highlights that 47% of deceased Iranians die prematurely. However, regime authorities refrain from providing organized statistical details regarding the causes of death. Despite this, reports suggest that factors such as poverty, inadequate medical services, and air pollution contribute to the escalating death rate.
Ministry of Health reports reveal cardiovascular diseases as the primary cause of death in Iranians, claiming approximately 140,000 lives annually. Cardiovascular diseases are closely linked to air pollution and improper nutrition. Notably, deaths due to air pollution in Iran have surged by 30%.
Between 2019 and 2020, deaths attributed to air pollution rose from 11,000 to over 20,000, marking a 90% increase. In 2021, more than 26,000 deaths occurred in various Iranian cities due to air pollution, emphasizing a concerning trend.
Analyzing these statistics reveals a consistent rise in deaths linked to air pollution, coinciding with increased usage of mazut fuel and heightened air pollutant concentrations. In Tehran, specific areas and stations witnessed a six to seven percent rise in air pollution compared to the previous year.
The insufficient access to proper medical services further exacerbates the escalating death toll. The initiation of the 12th government and the implementation of the ‘Darouyar’ project led to the removal of the preferred currency for medicine, resulting in a drastic increase in treatment costs. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health, under the guise of supporting domestic production, hindered the import of crucial medicines, disrupting the treatment processes of many patients.
Consequently, numerous patients from the lower-income brackets were compelled to abandon their treatment due to financial constraints, resorting to self-treatment. The statistics center’s report on treatment costs in 2022 underscores the transformation of healthcare into a commodity in Iran, jeopardizing the health of low-income family members while wealthier families can afford medical expenses.
