Iran's population is expected to increase by one million to 67,500,000 in the next Iranian year (to start on March 20) from 66,500,000 this year, said an official in Tehran on Sunday, IRNA reporeted.

Head of the Population Studies Department at Iran's Statistics Center Mohammad Esmaeel Nasehi told IRNA here on Sunday that 28.4 percent or about 19 million of the population are under 15 years of age.

Nasehi said 71.6 percent or about 47,500,000 are hence above the age of 15.

The official put population growth rate in Iran at nearly 1.75 percent in the 1986-1996 period.

He said that about 3 to 3.5 million Iraqis and Afghans flocked to Iran in the 1976-1986 period, while 2.5 million Iranians left the country in the period.

He added that 48 percent of foreign immigrants were under the age of 15, while 11 percent of Iranian immigrants were under 15 years of age.

The official said most of foreigners immigrating to Iran were illiterate but the Iranians leaving the country were educated.

Based on official statistics, the number of Iranians residing abroad stood at about 1.8 million, while based on non-official figures it was 2.6 million in the year 2000, the official concluded.