According to a Majlis Research Center report, 16% of Iran's population were below the poverty
line during the Persian calendar year 1396 (2017-2018), but that figure has increased between
23% to 40% in the year 1397 (2018-2019) and continues to rise.4 The report also predicted that
57 million (out of 81 million) Iranians would fall below the poverty line in the year 1398 (20192020).5
Iran’s economy faces challenges, which may be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The
World Bank found that Iran could not sustain positive growth in per capita expenditure for the
bottom 40% of the population (negative growth rate of 0.13%) during 2014-2017 despite positive
economic growth.6 Domestic sources also found that Iran’s inflation rate increased to 48% and
economic growth was negative by the end of the year 1397 (2018-2019).7
Despite claims made in Iranian Parliament regarding efforts on social welfare and poverty
alleviation measures, the poverty rate has remained high.8 In Iran, there are stark urban/rural
divides in terms of wealth, with much higher rural poverty headcount rates of about 30%,
compared to about 7% in urban areas. Inequality, measured by the Gini index in per capita
expenditure, fell sharply between 2009- 2013 from 42.0 points to 37.4 points, but increased
afterwards to 40.8 points in 2017.9
According to the five-year development plans of Iran, which is currently running its sixth
program (approved in 2017 to cover the period 2017-2021), councils have been set up under the
State Budget and Planning Organization in each province to identify needs, programs and
proposals related to regional development.10 These councils, known as the Provincial Planning
and Development Council,11 have a mix of twenty-nine members without any dedicated seats for
civil and non-governmental organizations, which often results in overlooking the needs of the
population, particularly disadvantaged groups such as ethnic minorities.
Additionally, ethnic minorities are widely underrepresented in public affairs. For instance, no
province governor belongs to an ethnic minority. None of Iran’s provinces with predominantly
4
Research Center of the Iranian Majlis: https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report/show/1139714
Iranian Mjlis, https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report/show/1139714; Iran Wire, https://iranwire.com/fa/features/31099; and Radio Farda,
https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-poverty-line/29938182.html
6
https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/poverty/987B9C90-CB9F-4D93-AE8C750588BF00QA/AM2020/Global_POVEQ_IRN.pdf
7
Research Center of the Iranian Majlis: https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report/show/1139714
8
Radio Farda: https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-poverty-line/29938182.html
9
https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/poverty/987B9C90-CB9F-4D93-AE8C750588BF00QA/AM2020/Global_POVEQ_IRN.pdf
10
https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/121060
11
https://www.mporg.ir/home/wid/slider/id/101317/
5
2