Women’s Situation in Iran

In general the situation of women in Iran has improved in recent years. There are some indications about women in Iran as follows:

1. Population: half of the Iranian population is composed of women. In 2001 the population of women was 32 million.

2. Education: the percentage of women over 6 years old was 80.5 percent in the year 2002 this shows 6.3 percent increase in comparison with the year 1995.

3. Technical education: the number of technical education units around the country for the women was about 300 units in 2002. Such units about men was 350, this shows that there significant increase with regard to the women institutions in recent years.

4. Higher education: in 2002 61.5 percent of the students who entered the University were women.

5. Political and Social Activities: the number of women who were nominated for Congress during the past elections increased 44 % and as a total 12 women were elected as representatives. At the moment women constitute 7.3 percent of the total members of Congress. With regard to the city counsels 11% of the members are women. Thirty eight percent of women in cities are members of these counsels. In the rural areas the number is over 60 %.

6. Executive Administration: the number of women administrators around the country is 3.029. 5.2 percent of the total high-ranking administrative posts belong to the women. 1.4 percent of Vice Ministry posts also belong to women. Fifty four percent of the women who are connected to public administration have higher education.

7. In 2002 30.3 % of the total public administration belonged to women.

8. Cultural participation: the total number of women who are active in publishing were 539 in the year 2000. Nine hundred women are involved with press and chief editors. Women constitute 48% of the work force of the libraries.

9. Sports: until the end of the year 2000 the number of sport centers for women were 1.359 in nine units. In general there are three million five hundred thousand women who are actively involved in sports. There are one million seven hundred thousand women who are professional in sports, also there are twenty six thousand women who are involved in sport teaching.