A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has revealed that 92% of Iranians are dissatisfied with the current state of the country and the way it is being governed. The findings, which were reported on September 7 by the state-run Ham Mihan newspaper, shed light on the growing public discontent with the leadership of the Iranian regime.
This data comes from the “fourth wave of the national survey on values and attitudes of Iranians,” conducted by the Office for National Projects of the Research Center for Culture, Arts and Communication, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. In addition to the overwhelming dissatisfaction, approximately one-third of respondents stated that they do not believe the situation is reformable under the current regime.
The Survey: A Snapshot of Public Sentiment
The fourth wave of the survey was conducted in November 2023, with 15,878 participants aged 15 and older from both cities and villages across 15 provinces of Iran. While some of the survey’s findings remain confidential and inaccessible to the media, the portions that have been released provide a clear picture of the increasing anger and resentment among the Iranian population.
In May 2024, parts of the survey results were published, revealing a dramatic shift in public attitudes. These earlier findings indicated a sharp decline in the desire among housewives to have children. Additionally, over half of the respondents expressed approval of premarital relationships between boys and girls—an outlook that starkly contrasts with the regime’s conservative values and policies.
Top Concerns of the Iranian People
When asked, “What do you think is the most important issue facing the country at this time?” respondents voiced a wide range of concerns, with economic woes dominating the list:
- Price and inflation: 81.9%
- Unemployment: 47.9%
- Addiction: 26.9%
- Economic and administrative corruption: 13.1%
- Housing: 12.1%
- Mandatory hijab: 11.9%
Other significant issues included:
- Youth marriage: 10.7%
- Divorce: 7.1%
- Water shortages: 5.7%
- Disregard for the law: 4.7%
- Restrictions on freedom of speech and the press: 4.2%
These concerns reveal the depth of Iran’s socio-economic challenges, as well as the growing frustration with the regime’s inability to address them effectively.
A Long-Building Crisis
Even prior to the widespread protests of 2022, there were clear signs of growing disillusionment with the regime. In August 2021, a year before the nationwide uprising, ISPA (the Iranian Students’ Polling Agency), which is affiliated with the Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research (ACECR), reported that 59% of Iranians had no hope for the country’s future. Given the worsening economic crises over the past three years, as well as the regime’s violent crackdown on protesters in 2022, it is likely that public opposition has only intensified.
The Election Boycott: A Clear Message
Public dissatisfaction with the regime was also evident during recent parliamentary and presidential elections. According to the regime’s own records, approximately 88% of the population boycotted these elections, signaling a clear rejection of the government’s legitimacy. Despite efforts by both of the regime’s political factions to break this nationwide boycott, and even with manipulated voter turnout figures, the regime was eventually forced to admit that more than half of the population did not participate in the elections.
Conclusion
The results of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s survey paint a stark picture of a nation deeply unhappy with its leadership. With 92% of Iranians opposed to the current governance and a significant portion believing that reform is impossible, the regime faces a growing crisis of legitimacy. Economic hardships, widespread corruption, and social restrictions continue to fuel public anger. As discontent rises, the regime’s ability to maintain control over an increasingly dissatisfied populace remains in question. Without meaningful change, both in policy and governance, the simmering unrest could escalate into further protests and instability.
