Provinces of Iran

Iran

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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: Markaz) of that province. The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-General^[1] (Persian: Ostāndār), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to approval of the cabinet.

Modern history

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica,^[2] in 1908 there were thirty five administrative divisions in Persia, as follows:

• Provinces: 1. Arabistan and Bakhtiari, 2. Astarabad and Gurgan, 3. Azerbaijan, 4. Fars, 5. Gerrus, 6. Gilan and Talish, 7. Hamada[n], 8. Irak, Gulpaigan, Khunsar, [Kezzaz, Ferakan, and Tusirkhan], 9. Isfahan, 10. Kashan, 11. Kazvin, 12. Kerman and Baluchistan, 13. Kermanshah, 14. Kamseh, 15. Khar, 16. Khorasan, 17. Kum, 18. Kurdistan, 19. Luristan and Burujird, 20. Mazandaran, 21. Nehavend, Malayir and Kamereh, 22. Savah, 23. Samnan and Damghan, 24. Shahrud and Bostam, 25. Teheran, 26. Zerend and Bagdadi Shahsevens.
• Dependencies: 1. Asadabad, 2. Demavend, 3. Firuzkuh, 4. Josehekan, 5. Kangaver, 6. Natanz, 7. [], 8. Tarom Ulia, 9. Kharakan.

Until 1950, Iran was divided into twelve provinces: Ardalan, Azerbaijan, Baluchestan, Fars, Gilan, Araq-e Ajam, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kerman, Larestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran.^[3]

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.^[3]

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^[4] as well as splitting of the new Alborz province from Teheran province in 2010.

• 

  1814 Thomson Map of the administrative divisions of Persia

Current provinces

Provinces of Iran

Alborz Ardabil Bushehr Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Isfahan Fars Gilan Golestan Hamadan Hormozgan Ilam Kerman Kermanshah Khuzestan Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Kurdistan Loristan Markazi Mazandaran Qazvin Qom Razavi Khorasan Semnan Sistan and Baluchestan Tehran Yazd Zanjan North Khorasan South Khorasan West Azerbaijan East Azerbaijan Caspian Sea Persian Gulf Turkmenistan Afghanistan Pakistan Azerbaijan Armenia T u r k e y Iraq Kuwait Saudi Arabia

Information

• 

  Pie chart of Iran population by province^[5]

• 

  Pie chart of province's contribution to GDP

List

Province	Capital	Area[6]	Population[7]	Density (population/km²)	Shahrestans (counties)	Notes	Map
Alborz	Karaj	5,833 km2 (2,252 sq mi)	1,375,450	235.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (611 /sq mi)	4	Until 23/06/2010, Alborz was part of Tehran province.
Ardabil	Ardabil	17,800 km2 (6,900 sq mi)	1,257,624	70.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (183 /sq mi)	9	Until 1993, Ardabil was part of East Azerbaijan province.[8]
Azerbaijan, East	Tabriz	45,650 km2 (17,630 sq mi)	3,620,183	76.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (199 /sq mi)	19
Azerbaijan, West	Urmia	37,437 km2 (14,455 sq mi)	2,949,426	78.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (204 /sq mi)	14	During the Pahlavi Dynasty Urmia was known as Rezaiyeh.[9]
Bushehr	Bushehr	22,743 km2 (8,781 sq mi)	887,115	35.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (93 /sq mi)	9	Originally part of Fars province. Until 1977, the province was known as Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf).[10]
Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari	Shahrekord	16,332 km2 (6,306 sq mi)	842,002	51.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (134 /sq mi)	6	Until 1973 was part of Isfahan province.[11]
Fars	Shiraz	122,608 km2 (47,339 sq mi)	4,385,869	35.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (93 /sq mi)	23
Gilan	Rasht	14,042 km2 (5,422 sq mi)	2,410,523	171.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (445 /sq mi)	16
Golestan	Gorgan	20,195 km2 (7,797 sq mi)	1,637,063	81.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (210 /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.[10]
Hamadan	Hamadan	19,368 km2 (7,478 sq mi)	1,790,770	91 inhabitants per square kilometre (240 /sq mi)	8	Originally part of Kermanshah province.[10]
Hormozgān	Bandar Abbas	70,669 km2 (27,285 sq mi)	1,410,667	18.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (48 /sq mi)	11	Originally part of Kerman province.[10] Until 1977, the province was known as Banader va Jazayer-e Bahr-e Oman (Ports and Islands of the Sea of Oman).[10]
Ilam	Ilam	20,133 km2 (7,773 sq mi)	545,093	27.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (70 /sq mi)	7	Originally part of Kermanshah province.[10]
Isfahan	Isfahan	107,029 km2 (41,324 sq mi)	4,590,595	41.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (108 /sq mi)	21	In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[10]
Kerman	Kerman	180,836 km2 (69,821 sq mi)	2,660,927	13.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (35 /sq mi)	14
Kermanshah	Kermanshah	24,998 km2 (9,652 sq mi)	1,938,060	77.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (201 /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.[10]
Khorasan, North	Bojnourd	28,434 km2 (10,978 sq mi)	820,918	27.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (72 /sq mi)	6	On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[4]
Khorasan, Razavi	Mashhad	144,681 km2 (55,862 sq mi)	5,620,770	36.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (93 /sq mi)	19	On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[4]
Khorasan, South	Birjand	69,555 km2 (26,855 sq mi)	640,218	7.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (19 /sq mi)	8	On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.[4]
Khuzestan	Ahvaz	64,055 km2 (24,732 sq mi)	4,345,607	67.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (176 /sq mi)	18
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad	Yasuj	15,504 km2 (5,986 sq mi)	695,099	44.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (116 /sq mi)	5	Originally part of Khuzestan province. Until 1990, the province was known as Bovir Ahmadi and Kohkiluyeh.[10]
Kurdistan	Sanandaj	29,137 km2 (11,250 sq mi)	1,574,118	54.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (140 /sq mi)	9	Originally part of Gilan province.[10]
Lorestan	Khorramabad	28,294 km2 (10,924 sq mi)	1,758,628	62.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (161 /sq mi)	9	Originally part of Khuzestan province.[10]
Markazi	Arak	29,130 km2 (11,250 sq mi)	1,361,394	46.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (121 /sq mi)	10	Originally part of Mazandaran province.[10] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[10]
Mazandaran	Sari	23,701 km2 (9,151 sq mi)	2,940,831	118.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (308 /sq mi)	15
Qazvin	Qazvin	15,549 km2 (6,004 sq mi)	1,166,861	75.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (194 /sq mi)	5	On 31 December 1996, the shahrestans of Qazvin and Takestan were separated from Zanjan province to form the province of Qazvin.[10]
Qom	Qom	11,526 km2 (4,450 sq mi)	1,064,456	92.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (239 /sq mi)	1	Until 1995, Qom was a shahrestan of Tehran province.[10]
Semnan	Semnan	97,491 km2 (37,641 sq mi)	590,512	6.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (16 /sq mi)	4	Originally part of Mazandaran province.[10] In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[10]
Sistan and Baluchistan	Zahedan	181,785 km2 (70,188 sq mi)	2,410,076	12.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (33 /sq mi)	8	Until 1986, the province was known as Baluchestan and Sistan.[10]
Tehran	Tehran	18,814 km2 (7,264 sq mi)	13,530,742	645.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,673 /sq mi)	13	Until 1986, Tehran was part of Markazi province.
Yazd	Yazd	129,285 km2 (49,917 sq mi)	992,318	7.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (19 /sq mi)	10	Originally part of Isfahan province.[11] 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.[10]
Zanjan	Zanjan	21,773 km2 (8,407 sq mi)	970,946	44.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (116 /sq mi)	7	Originally part of Gilan province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.[10]
Iran (Total)	Tehran	1,628,554 km2 (628,788 sq mi)	71,767,413	44.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (114 /sq mi)	324

Historical provinces of Iran

See also

Iran portal

• List of current Iranian provincial governors-general
• Counties of Iran
• Geography of Iran
• ISO 3166-2:IR

References and notes

1. ^ IRNA, Online Edition. ""Paris for further cultural cooperation with Iran"". http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-203/0710215516003338.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-21. 
2. ^ Persia entry in Encyclopaedia Britannica
3. ^ ^{a b} Gwillim Law, Statoids website. ""Provinces of Iran"". http://www.statoids.com/uir.html. Retrieved 2006-04-30. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Online edition, Al-Jazeera Satellite Network. ""Iran breaks up largest province"". http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2B2C2624-ECBE-473A-AF89-A62AF91E7550.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-30. 
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ Statistical Centre, Government of Iran. ""General Characteristics of Ostans according to their administrative divisions at the end of 1383 (2005 CE)"". http://www.sci.org.ir/Englishold/SEL/F1/S1_4S.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-30. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Statistical Centre, Government of Iran. ""Population estimation by urban and rural areas, 2005"". http://www.sci.org.ir/Englishold/SEL/j-shvro-84.htm. Retrieved 2006-04-30. ^{[dead link]}
8. ^ Chamber Society, Iranian. ""Ardabil Province"". http://www.iranchamber.com/provinces/06_ardabil/06_ardabil.php. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
9. ^ ""Urmia"". http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0850203.html. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 
10. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t} ""Changes in Iranian subdivision"". http://www.statoids.com/uir.html. Retrieved 2008-07-24. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province, Ostandarie. ""Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province"". http://www.ostan-cb.ir/default.aspx?page=185. Retrieved 2008-07-23. 

External links

• Wikimedia Atlas of Iran
• Statistical Centre, Government of Iran
• Iranian Provinces Investment - Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, affiliated to the Ministry of Commerce (Iran)
• Provinces of Iran at statoids.com

Ministry of Interior Official website of Ardabil Governorship Official website of East Azarbaijan Governor’s Office Official website of West Azarbaijan Governor’s Office Official website of Bushehr Governorship Official website of Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Governorship Official website of Fars Governorship Official website of Gilan Governorship Official website of Golestan Governorship Official website of Hamedan Governorship Official website of Hormozgan Governorship Official website of Ilam Governorship Official website of Isfahan Governorship Official website of Kerman Governorship Official website of Kermanshah Governorship

Official website of North Khorasan Governorship Official website of Razavi Khorasan Governorship Official website of South Khorasan Governorship Official website of Khuzestan Governorship Official website of Kohgiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad Governorship Official website of Kurdistan Governorship Lorestān Governor's Office Official website of Markazi Governorship Official website of Mazandaran Governorship Official website of Qazvin Governorship Qom province portal Official website of Semnan Governorship Official website of Sistan and Baluchestan Governorship Official website of Tehran Governorship Official website of Yazd Governorship Official website of Zanjan Governorship