The legal age for marriage in Iran is 9-13 for girls and 15 for boys, unless there is court order for children 9 or younger with parents or guardian approve.[1][2][3] However, in practice, many marriages involve adults with minors.[4] Polygamy is allowed for men, with certain conditions - eg. legal registration - women, on the other hand, can only marry one man at a time. Divorce is legal and can be initiated by either party. The divorce rate in Iran is relatively high with rates being as many as one divorce in three marriages by 2023.[5]
Marriage is encouraged in Iran, and there are social pressures to marry. The government provides financial incentives for marriage and childbirth such as loans, land and matchmaking services as well as taxes on unmarried invidiuals.[6][7][8][9]
Marriages with foreigners are legal but they must be registered, a foreign man married to an Iranian woman "will not be considered an Iranian legal citizen".[11]
As of 2024 mean age for marriage had become 29.5 for men and 25 for women.[12] According to The 82-page report, issued by Iran's parliamentary research branch, and compiled from interviews with 142,000 students, found 80 percent of females acknowledged having premarital sex.[13]
As of 2024 the marriage loan is around 300 million toman ($5000 USD) for boy and girls under 25 and 23 years.[14]