Analysis of Demographic and Socio-economic Characteristics of Old Adults in Iran

Increasing of absolute number and percentage of old adults and its growing trend in Iran has attracted much attention. This article focuses on the different characteristics of old men and women in urban and rural areas, based on the results of 1390 (2011) census. Looking at the age and sex distribution of elders, it appears that the percentage of elders in rural areas is more than urban areas about 1 unit, showing more ageing of age structure in rural areas. The median age also reveals that more than 50 percent of old people are below 70 year old. With attention to marriage status and while about 90 percent of old men (60 year and more) had their spouse alive, this situation was true just about half of old women, namely about 50 percent of them were widow. Illiteracy is prevalence within old adults, but situation of women is worse. Employment of older adults in private sector is remarkable, so that nearly one quarter of the total workers in this section are old women. From disability perspective, the share of old people in most disabilities such as Blindness and disorders related to body is remarkable, showing old proses accompany with increase in disorders and disabilities.