War and inflation push young Iranians to postpone marriage
Rising housing, wedding and household costs, compounded by insecurity, are delaying weddings and family formation as marriage loans lose purchasing power.
Young Iranians are postponing weddings and delaying the formation of households as inflation, housing costs, shortages and war-related insecurity make long-term planning increasingly difficult.
Subhan Dashti and Nadia Sabzi postponed their wedding after the price of household goods rose and renewed conflict heightened concerns about safety. Dashti said a television he had budgeted at 70 million tomans later cost nearly 100 million, despite his monthly income of about 100 million tomans.
The pressures are also affecting businesses tied to weddings. A Tehran bridal makeup artist told Al Jazeera Global News that her salon’s work fell from two or three brides a day during the peak season to two or three a week. Clients continue to book services but are choosing cheaper packages and dropping extras.
Housing costs have added to the strain. One Tehran couple reported that the combined cost of their rent and deposit rose by about 71 per cent in a year. A mid-range wedding for about 100 guests is estimated at close to 1.1 billion tomans, compared with roughly 480 million before the 2025 war, although prices vary by provider and neighbourhood.
State-backed marriage loans have increased in nominal terms, but their purchasing power has fallen. One bank employee said the standard loan rose from 180 million tomans per person in 2023 to 300 million, while its value in dollar terms had declined by about 64 per cent.
Economists and researchers cited in the report said Iran’s economic problems predate the current conflict and include sanctions, chronic inflation, currency depreciation, weak investment and domestic policy failures. They described the war as an accelerating shock, warning that a halt in fighting alone would not restore household purchasing power without currency stability, wage growth, productive employment, stronger investment and lower uncertainty.
