Iran Struggling with Low Birthrate... Government Develops Dating App Directly

The 'Grand Bazaar,' the largest traditional market in Tehran, the capital of Iran, is bustling with citizens. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Iran, troubled by low birth rates, has developed a government-led matchmaking application (app) to encourage marriage.

According to local media on the 12th (local time), the Tebyan Cultural Institute, part of Iran's Islamic Propaganda Organization, has developed and released the matchmaking app 'Hamdam.' Hamdam means 'companion' in Persian.

Although many matchmaking apps are popular in Iran, all except Hamdam, which is the only one approved by the government, are illegal platforms. Hamdam uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help users find marriage partners and provides online consulting. Users must register for free and undergo identity verification and psychological tests.

When a couple is matched, the spouse's family and a consultant are introduced. The consultant stays with the couple for four years after marriage. Hamdam stated that it "has an independent revenue model," but did not disclose specific details.

The Iranian government's direct involvement in launching the matchmaking app is attributed to the country's rapid decline in birth rates. Iran's total fertility rate fell below 2, from 2.07 in 2017 to 1.8 in 2019. The number of births also decreased from 1.52 million in 2016 to 1.2 million in 2019.

Komail Kojasteh, director of the Tebyan Cultural Institute that developed Hamdam, said that traditional family values are being threatened by external forces and "the newly released app will help create healthy families."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.