Changes the Demographic Structure of the Agricultural Labor Force of Rural Iran (1986-2011)

Secondary analysis of data from censuses 1986-2011 show that the share of the population employed in agriculture in rural areas from 58 percent in 1986 to 48 and 51 percent respectively in the years 2006 and 2011 declined. This significant decline, coupled with changes in sex ratio and age structure of the agricultural labor force. In this period, the share of rural women, especially elderly women to participate in the agricultural sector significantly increased, so that the sex ratio in rural agricultural labor force from 1062 in 1986 to 642 in 2011 decreased. Percentage of population aging in the same period has increased from about 7 to 16. The main reasons for these changes may include changes in immigration in rural areas and the major share of international migrants are young men, The unwillingness of rural youth to undertake agricultural activities, The hegemony of the city and urban lifestyle.