Provinces of Iran


Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces, each governed from a local center, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital of that province. The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-general, who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to approval of the cabinet.

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

Information

Current provinces

ProvinceCapitalAreaPopulationDensityShahrestans NotesMap
AlborzKaraj2,712,4004Until 23 June 2010, Alborz was part of Tehran province.
ArdabilArdabil1,270,4209Until 1993, Ardabil was part of East Azerbaijan province.
Azerbaijan, EastTabriz3,909,65219
Azerbaijan, WestUrmia3,265,21914During the Pahlavi Dynasty Urmia was known as Rezaiyeh.
BushehrBushehr1,163,4009Originally part of Fars province. Until 1977, the province was known as Khalij-e Fars.
Chahar Mahaal and BakhtiariShahrekord947,7636Until 1973 was part of Isfahan province.
FarsShiraz4,851,27423
GilanRasht2,530,69616
GolestanGorgan1,868,81911On 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.
HamadanHamadan1,738,2348Originally part of Kermanshah province.
HormozgānBandar Abbas1,776,41511Originally part of Kerman province. Until 1977, the province was known as Banader va Jazayer-e Bahr-e Oman.
IlamIlam580,1587Originally part of Kermanshah province.
IsfahanIsfahan5,120,85021In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.
KermanKerman3,164,71814
KermanshahKermanshah1,952,43413Between 1950 and 1979, both Kermanshah province and city were known as Kermanshahan and between 1979 and 1995 were known as Bakhtaran.
Khorasan, NorthBojnourd863,0926On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.
Khorasan, RazaviMashhad6,434,50129On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.
Khorasan, SouthBirjand768,8988On 29 September 2004, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.
KhuzestanAhvaz4,710,50918
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-AhmadYasuj713,0525Originally part of Khuzestan province. Until 1990, the province was known as Bovir Ahmadi and Kohkiluyeh.
KurdistanSanandaj1,603,0119Originally part of Gilan province.
LorestanKhorramabad1,760,6499Originally part of Khuzestan province.
MarkaziArak1,429,47510Originally part of Mazandaran province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.
MazandaranSari3,283,58215
QazvinQazvin1,273,7615On 31 December 1996, the shahrestans of Qazvin and Takestan were separated from Zanjan province to form the province of Qazvin.
QomQom1,292,2831Until 1995, Qom was a shahrestan of Tehran province.
SemnanSemnan702,3604Originally part of Mazandaran province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.
Sistan and BaluchestanZahedan2,775,0148Until 1986, the province was known as Baluchestan and Sistan.
TehranTehran13,267,63713Until 1986, Tehran was part of Markazi province.
YazdYazd1,138,53310Originally part of Isfahan province. In 1986, part of Kerman province was transferred to Yazd province. In 2002, Tabas shahrestan was transferred from Khorasan province to Yazd.
ZanjanZanjan1,057,4617Originally part of Gilan province. In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.
Iran Tehran'79,926,270'342