Iran

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Provinces of Iran

استان‌های ایران (in Persian)

Also known as Province استان
 
Category Unitary state
Location Iran
Number 31 Provinces
Populations 557,599 (Ilam Province) – 12,183,391 (Tehran)
Areas 5,830 km2 (2,252 sq mi) (Alborz) – 181,790 km2 (70,188 sq mi) (Sistan and Baluchestan)
Government Provincal Government, National Government
Subdivisions Counties

نقشه استانها بر حسب جمعیت

 

Provinces of Iran by population in 2014

 

Provinces of Iran by population density in 2013

 

Provinces of Iran by area (km2)

 

Provinces of Iran by contribution to national GDP in 2014

 

Provinces of Iran by GDP per capita in 2012

Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces (Persian: استان‎ Ostān, plural استان‌ها Ostānhā), each governed from a local center, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: مرکزMarkaz) of that province. The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-General (Persian: استاندار Ostāndār), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to the approval of the cabinet.

Modern history

Iran has held its modern territory since the second half of the 19th century (Treaty of Paris (1857)). From 1906 until 1950, Iran was divided into twelve provinces: ArdalanAzerbaijanBaluchestanFarsGilanAraq-e AjamKhorasanKhuzestanKermanLarestanLorestan, and Mazandaran.

In 1950, Iran was reorganized to form ten numbered provinces with subordinate governorates: Gilan; Mazandaran; East Azerbaijan; West Azerbaijan; Kermanshah; Khuzestan; Fars; Kerman; Khorasan; Isfahan.

From 1960 to 1981 the governorates were raised to provincial status one by one. Since then several new provinces have been created, most recently in 2004 when the province of Khorasan was split into three new provinces as well as splitting of the new Alborz Province from Teheran province in 2010.

 

A map of the 31 provinces of Iran.

Information

Iran population broken down by province
Iran's GDP contribution broken down by province

Current provinces

 
Province Capital Area Population Density Shahrestans(counties) Notes Map
Alborz Karaj 5,833 km2(2,252 sq mi) 2,712,400 413.6/km2(1,071/sq mi) 4 Until 23 June 2010, Alborz was part of Tehran province. IranAlborz-SVG.svg
Ardabil Ardabil 17,800 km2(6,900 sq mi) 1,270,420 70.1/km2(182/sq mi) 9 Until 1993, Ardabil was part of East Azerbaijan province.[6] IranArdabil-SVG.svg
Azerbaijan, East Tabriz 45,650 km2(17,630 sq mi) 3,909,652 82.3/km2(213/sq mi) 19   IranEastAzerbaijan-SVG.svg
Azerbaijan, West Urmia 37,437 km2(14,455 sq mi) 3,265,219 78.8/km2(204/sq mi) 14 During the Pahlavi Dynasty Urmia was known as Rezaiyeh.[7] IranWestAzerbaijan-SVG.svg
Bushehr Bushehr 22,743 km2(8,781 sq mi) 1,163,400 45.4/km2(118/sq mi) 9 Originally part of Fars province. Until 1977, the province was known as Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf).[2] IranBushehr-SVG.svg
Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Shahrekord 16,332 km2(6,306 sq mi) 947,763 54.8/km2(142/sq mi) 6 Until 1973 was part of Isfahan province.[8] IranChaharMahaalBakhtiari-SVG.svg
Fars Shiraz 122,608 km2(47,339 sq mi) 4,851,274 37.5/km2(97/sq mi) 23   IranFars-SVG.svg
Gilan Rasht 14,042 km2(5,422 sq mi) 2,530,696 176.7/km2(458/sq mi) 16   IranGilan-SVG.svg
Golestan Gorgan 20,195 km2(7,797 sq mi) 1,868,819 88.0/km2(228/sq mi) 11 On the 31 May 1997, the shahrestans of Aliabad, Gonbad-e-kavus, Gorgan, Kordkuy, Minudasht, and Torkaman were separated from Mazandaran province to form Golestan province. Gorgan was called Esteraba or Astarabad until 1937.[2] IranGolestan-SVG.svg
Hamadan Hamadan 19,368 km2(7,478 sq mi) 1,738,234 90.8/km2(235/sq mi) 8 Originally part of Kermanshah province.[2] IranHamadan-SVG.svg
Hormozgān Bandar Abbas 70,669 km2(27,285 sq mi) 1,776,415 22.3/km2(58/sq mi) 11 Originally part of Kerman province.[2] Until 1977, the province was known as Banader va Jazayer-e Bahr-e Oman (Ports and Islands of the Sea of Oman).[2] IranHormozgan-SVG.svg
Ilam Ilam 20,133 km2(7,773 sq mi) 580,158 27.7/km2(72/sq mi) 7 Originally part of Kermanshah province.[2] IranIlam-SVG.svg
Isfahan Isfahan 107,029 km2(41,324 sq mi) 5,120,850 45.6/km2(118/sq mi) 21 In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2] IranEsfahan-SVG.svg
Kerman Kerman 180,836 km2(69,821 sq mi) 3,164,718 16.3/km2(42/sq mi) 14   IranKerman-SVG.svg
Kermanshah Kermanshah 24,998 km2(9,652 sq mi) 1,952,434 77.8/km2(202/sq mi) 13 Between 1950 and 1979, both Kermanshah province and city were known as Kermanshahan and between 1979 and 1995 were known as Bakhtaran.[2] IranKermanshah-SVG.svg
Khorasan, North Bojnourd 28,434 km2(10,978 sq mi) 863,092 30.5/km2(79/sq mi) 6 On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[3] IranNorthKhorasan-SVG.svg
Khorasan, Razavi Mashhad 118,884 km2(45,901 sq mi) 6,434,501 41.4/km2(107/sq mi) 29 On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[3] IranRazaviKhorasan-SVG.svg
Khorasan, South Birjand 151,913 km2(58,654 sq mi) 768,898 9.5/km2(25/sq mi) 8 On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[3] IranSouthKhorasan-SVG.svg
Khuzestan Ahvaz 64,055 km2(24,732 sq mi) 4,710,509 67.8/km2(176/sq mi) 18   IranKhuzestan-SVG.svg
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Yasuj 15,504 km2(5,986 sq mi) 713,052 42.5/km2(110/sq mi) 5 Originally part of Khuzestan province. Until 1990, the province was known as Bovir Ahmadi and Kohkiluyeh.[2] IranKohkiluyehBuyerAhmad-SVG.svg
Kurdistan Sanandaj 29,137 km2(11,250 sq mi) 1,603,011 51.3/km2(133/sq mi) 9 Originally part of Gilan province.[2] IranKurdistan-SVG.svg
Lorestan Khorramabad 28,294 km2(10,924 sq mi) 1,760,649 62.0/km2(161/sq mi) 9 Originally part of Khuzestan province.[2] IranLorestan-SVG.svg
Markazi Arak 29,130 km2(11,250 sq mi) 1,429,475 48.5/km2(126/sq mi) 10 Originally part of Mazandaran province.[2] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2] IranMarkazi-SVG.svg
Mazandaran Sari 23,701 km2(9,151 sq mi) 3,283,582 129.7/km2(336/sq mi) 15   IranMazandaran-SVG.svg
Qazvin Qazvin 15,549 km2(6,004 sq mi) 1,273,761 77.3/km2(200/sq mi) 5 On 31 December 1996, the shahrestans of Qazvin and Takestan were separated from Zanjan province to form the province of Qazvin.[2] IranQazvin-SVG.svg
Qom Qom 11,526 km2(4,450 sq mi) 1,292,283 99.9/km2(259/sq mi) 1 Until 1995, Qom was a shahrestan of Tehran province.[2] IranQom-SVG.svg
Semnan Semnan 97,491 km2(37,641 sq mi) 702,360 6.5/km2(17/sq mi) 4 Originally part of Mazandaran province.[2] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2] IranSemnan-SVG.svg
Sistan and Baluchestan Zahedan 181,785 km2(70,188 sq mi) 2,775,014 13.9/km2(36/sq mi) 8 Until 1986, the province was known as Baluchestan and Sistan.[2] IranSistanBaluchistan-SVG.svg
Tehran Tehran 18,814 km2(7,264 sq mi) 13,267,637 647.6/km2(1,677/sq mi) 13 Until 1986, Tehran was part of Markazi province. IranTehran-SVG.svg
Yazd Yazd 129,285 km2(49,917 sq mi) 1,138,533 8.3/km2(21/sq mi) 10 Originally part of Isfahan province.[8] In 1986, part of Kerman province was transferred to Yazd province. In 2002, Tabas shahrestan (area: 55,344 km²) was transferred from Khorasan province to Yazd.[2] IranYazd-SVG.svg
Zanjan Zanjan 21,773 km2(8,407 sq mi) 1,057,461 46.6/km2(121/sq mi) 7 Originally part of Gilan province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2] IranZanjan-SVG.svg
Iran (Total) Tehran 1,628,554 km2(628,788 sq mi) 79,926,270 46.1/km2(119/sq mi) 342   Iran location map.svg