Changing from intra-provincial to inter-provincial migration in Iran

Hossein Mirzaei, University of Tabriz
Tavakkol Aghayari Hir, University of Tabriz
Laleh Fathi, University of Tabriz

According to latest Iran Census (2006), the country has 31 provinces and over 70 millions people. Nowadays we can see many issues in population area of Iran. Some of them are common with other under developing countries for example ageing, unemployment, and growth of peripheral settlements. But we can see some of important population problems that are special in Iran. For example gender imbalance in the universities, generation gap, and elites’ emigration. In the latest census in Iran (2006), we can see new population issue; i.e. changing in patterns of internal migration. During 1996 – 2006 about 16.7 percent of Iranians (12 millions) moved inside of political territories of Iran, comparing to 14 percent of 1986-1996. In 1996 about 35 percent of migration was intra-provincial, but in 2006 this rate increased to 41 percent. We think that, this process and change is underway. Although, the main part of historical migratory movements in the country could be classified as “Intra-provincial,” however, recent years’ migratory movements seem mostly "Inter-provincial”. Details of mentioned emerging migration pattern are discussed taking 31 provinces of the country. Different cultural, religious, economical, and political implications of this emerging pattern for internal migration in the country are discussed and policy recommendations are made according to results.