Provinces of Iran

Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces (Persian: استان Ostān), each governed from a local centre, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: مرکز, markaz) of that province. The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-general[1] (Persian: استاندار Ostāndār), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to approval of the cabinet.

Provinces of Iran
استان‌های ایران (in Persian)
Also known as:
Ostān
استان
CategoryUnitary state
LocationIran
Number31
Populations580,158 (Ilam Province) – 13,267,637 (Tehran)
Areas5,833 km2 (2,252 sq mi) (Alborz) – 183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi) (Kerman Province)
GovernmentProvincial government (National government)
SubdivisionsCounty
Provinces of Iran by population in 2014
Provinces of Iran by population density in 2013
Map of the Iranian provinces by Human Development Index in 2017.
Legend:
  0.800 – 1.000 (Very high)
  0.700 – 0.799 (High)
  0.600 – 0.699 (Medium)
Provinces of Iran by contribution to national GDP in 2014
Provinces of Iran by GDP per capita in 2012

Modern history

Iran has held its modern territory since the Treaty of Paris in 1857. From 1906 until 1950, Iran was divided into twelve provinces: Ardalan, Azerbaijan, Baluchestan, Fars, Gilan, Araq-e Ajam, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kerman, Larestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran.[2]

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.[2]

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 2010 when the new Alborz Province was split from Tehran province, and before that in 2004 when the province of Khorasan was divided into three provinces.[3]

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[4] Population[5] Density Shahrestans (counties) Life expectancy, male[6] Life expectancy, female[6] Notes Map
AlborzKaraj5,833 km2 (2,252 sq mi)2,712,400413.6/km2 (1,071/sq mi)4 74.4 78Until 23 June 2010, Alborz was part of Tehran province.
ArdabilArdabil17,800 km2 (6,900 sq mi)1,270,42070.1/km2 (182/sq mi)9 71.3 75.6Until 1993, Ardabil was part of East Azerbaijan province.[7]
Azerbaijan, EastTabriz45,650 km2 (17,630 sq mi)3,909,65282.3/km2 (213/sq mi)19 72.5 75.9
Azerbaijan, WestUrmia37,437 km2 (14,455 sq mi)3,265,21978.8/km2 (204/sq mi)14 71.6 76.3During the Pahlavi Dynasty Urmia was known as Rezaiyeh.[8]
BushehrBushehr22,743 km2 (8,781 sq mi)1,163,40045.4/km2 (118/sq mi)9 71 73.5Originally part of Fars province. Until 1977, the province was known as Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf).[2]
Chahar Mahaal and BakhtiariShahrekord16,332 km2 (6,306 sq mi)947,76354.8/km2 (142/sq mi)6 70.2 75Until 1973 was part of Isfahan province.[9]
FarsShiraz122,608 km2 (47,339 sq mi)4,851,27437.5/km2 (97/sq mi)23 72.1 76.3
GilanRasht14,042 km2 (5,422 sq mi)2,530,696176.7/km2 (458/sq mi)16 72.1 76.5
GolestanGorgan20,195 km2 (7,797 sq mi)1,868,81988.0/km2 (228/sq mi)11 70.8 74.2On 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]
HamadanHamadan19,368 km2 (7,478 sq mi)1,738,23490.8/km2 (235/sq mi)8 71.2 75.6Originally part of Kermanshah province.[2]
HormozgānBandar Abbas70,669 km2 (27,285 sq mi)1,776,41522.3/km2 (58/sq mi)11 69.9 73.7Originally 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]
IlamIlam20,133 km2 (7,773 sq mi)580,15827.7/km2 (72/sq mi)7 70.5 72Originally part of Kermanshah province.[2]
IsfahanIsfahan107,029 km2 (41,324 sq mi)5,120,85045.6/km2 (118/sq mi)21 73 77In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2]
KermanKerman183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi)3,164,71816.3/km2 (42/sq mi)14 71.4 75.5
KermanshahKermanshah24,998 km2 (9,652 sq mi)1,952,43477.8/km2 (202/sq mi)13 70.4 75.3Between 1950 and 1979, both Kermanshah province and city were known as Kermanshahan and between 1979 and 1995 were known as Bakhtaran.[2]
Khorasan, NorthBojnourd28,434 km2 (10,978 sq mi)863,09230.5/km2 (79/sq mi)6 69.8 72.6On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[3]
Khorasan, RazaviMashhad118,884 km2 (45,901 sq mi)6,434,50141.4/km2 (107/sq mi)29 72.1 76.2On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[3]
Khorasan, SouthBirjand151,913 km2 (58,654 sq mi)768,8989.5/km2 (25/sq mi)8 70.8 73.9On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[3]
KhuzestanAhvaz64,055 km2 (24,732 sq mi)4,710,50967.8/km2 (176/sq mi)18 71.3 73.9
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-AhmadYasuj15,504 km2 (5,986 sq mi)713,05242.5/km2 (110/sq mi)5 71.2 73.1Originally part of Khuzestan province. Until 1990, the province was known as Bovir Ahmadi and Kohkiluyeh.[2]
KurdistanSanandaj29,137 km2 (11,250 sq mi)1,603,01151.3/km2 (133/sq mi)9 70.6 74.1Originally part of Gilan province.[2]
LorestanKhorramabad28,294 km2 (10,924 sq mi)1,760,64962.0/km2 (161/sq mi)9 71.1 74.5Originally part of Khuzestan province.[2]
MarkaziArak29,130 km2 (11,250 sq mi)1,429,47548.5/km2 (126/sq mi)10 72.9 76.7Originally part of Mazandaran province.[2] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2]
MazandaranSari23,701 km2 (9,151 sq mi)3,283,582129.7/km2 (336/sq mi)15 73.5 77
QazvinQazvin15,549 km2 (6,004 sq mi)1,273,76177.3/km2 (200/sq mi)5 71.8 75.3On 31 December 1996, the shahrestans of Qazvin and Takestan were separated from Zanjan province to form the province of Qazvin.[2]
QomQom11,526 km2 (4,450 sq mi)1,292,28399.9/km2 (259/sq mi)1 71.5 75.6Until 1995, Qom was a shahrestan of Tehran province.[2]
SemnanSemnan97,491 km2 (37,641 sq mi)702,3606.5/km2 (17/sq mi)4 73.2 76.1Originally part of Mazandaran province.[2] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2]
Sistan and Baluchestan Zahedan180,726 km2 (69,779 sq mi)2,775,01413.9/km2 (36/sq mi)8 65.7 69.2Until 1986, the province was known as Baluchestan and Sistan.[2]
Tehran Tehran18,814 km2 (7,264 sq mi)13,267,637647.6/km2 (1,677/sq mi)13 74.3 77.8Until 1986, Tehran was part of Markazi province.
YazdYazd76,469 km2 (29,525 sq mi)1,138,5338.3/km2 (21/sq mi)10 73.2 76.7Originally part of Isfahan province.[9] 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]
ZanjanZanjan21,773 km2 (8,407 sq mi)1,057,46146.6/km2 (121/sq mi)7 73.2 75.8Originally part of Gilan province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[2]
Iran (Total)Tehran1,628,554 km2 (628,788 sq mi)79,926,27046.1/km2 (119/sq mi)342

See also

References and notes

  1. IRNA, Online Edition. "Paris for further cultural cooperation with Iran". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2007.
  2. Gwillim Law, Statoids website. "Provinces of Iran". Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
  3. Online edition, Al-Jazeera Satellite Network. "Iran breaks up largest province". Archived from the original on 20 May 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
  4. Statistical Centre, Government of Iran. "General Characteristics of Ostans according to their administrative divisions at the end of 1383 (2005 CE)". Retrieved 30 April 2006.
  5. "National census 2016". amar.org.ir. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.[]
  6. 2015-2016 data, Statistical Centre of Iran, Source
  7. Chamber Society, Iranian. "Ardabil Province". Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  8. "Urmia". Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  9. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Ostandarie. "Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province". Retrieved 23 July 2008.
Official provincial websites

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