Iran
ایران
Waiting for the first voice
No advice from here yet. Know an elder from this country? Your recording could be the first: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Did you know
Nowruz, the start of the new year and of spring, is celebrated on the vernal equinox, usually 20 or 21 March. (source)
Elders in numbers
- of people are 65 or older
- 8.6%
- people aged 65 or older
- 7.9M
- will be 65 or older in 2050
- 22.4%
- is how long people live after 60, on average
- 21.8 years
- of people 65+ live alone
- 18.1%
- women 29.9%, men 6.4%
- of people 65+ live in collective quarters: care homes, hospitals, hostels and the like
- 0.2%
Sources: World Bank, 2025; World Bank projection for 2050; WHO, 2023; UN, 2011; UN, 2011 census
Languages
79 languages, 48 of them endangered
- Dezfuli-ShushtariCritically endangered
- Alviri-VidariSeverely endangered
- KavirSeverely endangered
- Kho'iniSeverely endangered
- Muslim TatSeverely endangered
- Neo-MandaicSeverely endangered
- Ashurian AramaicDefinitely endangered
- BashkardiDefinitely endangered
- EshtehardiDefinitely endangered
- Fars dialectsDefinitely endangered
- GaziDefinitely endangered
- GozarkhaniDefinitely endangered
Show all 79
- HulauláDefinitely endangered
- Judeo-HamedaniDefinitely endangered
- KabateiDefinitely endangered
- KajaliDefinitely endangered
- KholosiDefinitely endangered
- Khorasan ArabicDefinitely endangered
- Koresh-e RostamDefinitely endangered
- KoroshiDefinitely endangered
- LasgerdiDefinitely endangered
- Lishán DidánDefinitely endangered
- MaragheiDefinitely endangered
- NatanziDefinitely endangered
- NayiniDefinitely endangered
- RazajerdiDefinitely endangered
- RudbariDefinitely endangered
- ShahrudiDefinitely endangered
- SivandiDefinitely endangered
- SoiDefinitely endangered
- Upper TaromiDefinitely endangered
- Zoroastrian DariDefinitely endangered
- AchomiVulnerable
- AshtianiVulnerable
- BajelaniVulnerable
- BrahuiVulnerable
- GoraniVulnerable
- HarzandiVulnerable
- KaringaniVulnerable
- KhalajVulnerable
- Khorasani TurkicVulnerable
- KhunsariVulnerable
- KurmanjiVulnerable
- SangsariVulnerable
- SemnaniVulnerable
- SorkheiVulnerable
- Southern KurdishVulnerable
- VafsiVulnerable
- Aimaq
- Bakhtiari
- Balkan Romani
- Dari
- Eastern Armenian
- Georgian
- Gilaki
- Gilit Mesopotamian Arabic
- Gulf Arabic
- Hazaragi
- Iranian Persian
- Iranian Sign Language
- Jadgali
- Kazakh
- Laki
- Mazanderani
- North Azerbaijani
- Northern Luri
- Qashqai
- Shahmirzadi
- Sorani
- South Azerbaijani
- Southern Balochi
- Southern Luri
- Southern Pashto
- Takestani
- Talysh
- Turkish
- Turkmen
- Western Balochi
- Qahvehkhaneh Sign Language
Languages and their status: Glottolog v5.3, CC BY 4.0. Names: Wikidata.
UNESCO intangible heritage
- Ayeneh-Kari, the art of mirror-work in Persian architecture2025
- Ceremony of Mehregan2024
- Art of crafting and playing rubab/rabab2024
- Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz2024
- Iftar/Eftari/Iftar/Iftor and its socio-cultural traditions2023
- Art of illumination: Təzhib/Tazhib/Zarhalkori/Tezhip/Naqqoshlik2023
- Sadeh/Sada celebration2023
- Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving2022
Show all 27
- Yaldā/Chella2022
- Turkmen-style needlework art2022
- Crafting and playing the Oud2022
- National programme to safeguard the traditional art of calligraphy in Iran2021
- Pilgrimage to the St. Thaddeus Apostle Monastery2020
- Art of miniature2020
- Traditional skills of crafting and playing Dotār2019
- Art of crafting and playing with Kamantcheh/Kamancha, a bowed string musical instrument2017
- Chogān, a horse-riding game accompanied by music and storytelling2017
- Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka2016
- Qālišuyān rituals of Mašhad-e Ardehāl in Kāšān2012
- Naqqāli, Iranian dramatic story-telling2011
- Traditional skills of building and sailing Iranian Lenj boats in the Persian Gulf2011
- Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Kashan2010
- Traditional skills of carpet weaving in Fars2010
- Music of the Bakhshis of Khorasan2010
- Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei rituals2010
- Ritual dramatic art of Ta‘zīye2010
- Radif of Iranian music2009
List and years: ich.unesco.org
Know an elder from this country?
Record their advice in their native language: 2–3 minutes on a phone.
Record your elder