Iran Map

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Description: This map shows governmental boundaries of countries, neighboring countries, seas, islands, provinces, province capitals, and major cities in Iran.

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Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, occupies 1,648,195 square kilometers (636,372 square miles) in Western Asia. The country borders seven nations: Iraq and Turkey to the west, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkmenistan to the north, and Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east. Iran also features coastlines along the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman, giving it strategic maritime access.

Iran's population reaches approximately 86 million residents (2024 estimate), making it the 17th most populous country globally. Tehran serves as the capital and largest city with about 9 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 15 million in the greater metropolitan area. Other major urban centers include Mashhad, Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz, and Shiraz, each with distinct historical and economic significance.

The Iranian economy relies heavily on petroleum exports, controlling approximately 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its natural gas reserves. Agriculture contributes significantly to the economy, with Iran producing wheat, rice, fruits, nuts, and saffron. Despite international sanctions, Iran maintains domestic industries in automobile manufacturing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. The Iranian Rial functions as the national currency, though high inflation has challenged its stability. The services sector, particularly retail, telecommunications, and finance, continues to grow despite economic challenges.

Persian (Farsi) functions as the official language, with several regional languages including Azeri, Kurdish, and Arabic spoken throughout the country. Shia Islam constitutes the predominant religion, practiced by approximately 90% of the population. The Islamic Republic operates under a theocratic system established after the 1979 revolution, with both elected officials and appointed religious authorities sharing governance responsibilities.

Iran attracts tourists with its remarkable historical sites spanning multiple civilizations. Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire dating back to 518 BCE, represents one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Middle East. UNESCO World Heritage sites include Isfahan's magnificent Naqsh-e Jahan Square with its intricate Islamic architecture, the ancient desert city of Yazd, and the Persian Gardens. The Alborz mountain range north of Tehran offers winter skiing, while the Persian Gulf coastline provides beach resorts. Museums in Tehran display artifacts from the country's 7,000-year civilization history, including the National Jewels Treasury housing the imperial crown jewels.

Iran possesses a diverse climate ranging from arid and semi-arid in the central plateau to subtropical along the Caspian Sea coast and cold mountainous regions in the northwest. This environmental variety supports distinctive ecosystems and agricultural zones throughout the country. The Iranian calendar follows a solar system predating the Islamic conquest, with the new year (Nowruz) beginning on the spring equinox, reflecting the country's pre-Islamic Persian heritage that continues to influence contemporary society.

The Facts:

Flag:
Capital:	Tehran
Area:	636,372 sq mi (1,648,195 sq km)
Population:	~ 85,961,000 (2024 estimate)[1]
Official language:	Persian
Religion:	99.4% - Muslim 0.2% - Christian 0.03% - Zoroastrian
Ethnic groups:	61% - Persians 16% - Azerbaijanis 10% - Kurds 6% - Lurs 2% - Balochs 2% - Arabs 2% - Turkmens 1% - others
Currency:	Iranian Rial
Driving side:	right
Calling code:	+98
Internet TLD:	.ir
Time zone:	UTC+3:30 (IRST)
Gross domestic product (PPP) (2024 estimate):	$1.698 trillion (Total) $19,607 (Per capita)
Gross domestic product (nominal) (2024 estimate):	$434.243 billion (Total) $5,013 (Per capita)
The Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran:	www.leader.ir
President of Iran:	president.ir
Visit Iran - Official Travel Guide of Iran:	visitiran.ir

INFOGRAPHIC: ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN


Google Map of Iran

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List of Largest Cities in Iran

• Tehran
• Mashhad
• Isfahan
• Karaj
• Shiraz
• Tabriz
• Qom
• Ahvaz
• Kermanshah
• Urmia
• Rasht
• Zahedan
• Hamadan
• Kerman
• Yazd

• Ardabil
• Bandar Abbas
• Arak
• Eslamshahr
• Zanjan
• Sanandaj
• Qazvin
• Khorramabad
• Gorgan
• Sari
• Shahriar
• Qods
• Kashan
• Malard
• Dezful

Main sights in Iran

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Provinces of Iran

List of Provinces of Iran

Province	Capital	Area (sq mi)	Area (sq km)	Population	Abbreviation
Alborz	Karaj	2,252	5,833	2,730,000	AL
Ardabil	Ardabil	6,873	17,800	1,284,000	AR
Bushehr	Bushehr	8,781	22,743	1,174,000	BU
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari	Shahr-e Kord	6,308	16,332	973,000	CB
East Azerbaijan	Tabriz	17,626	45,650	3,925,000	EA
Pars	Shiraz	47,338	122,608	4,904,000	FA
Gilan	Rasht	5,422	14,042	2,546,000	GN
Golestan	Gorgan	7,797	20,195	1,893,000	GO
Hamadan	Hamadan	7,479	19,368	1,756,000	HA
Hormozgan	Bandar Abbas	27,285	70,669	1,806,000	HO
Ilam	Ilam	7,773	20,133	591,000	IL
Isfahan	Isfahan	41,324	107,029	5,136,000	IS
Kerman	Kerman	70,767	183,285	3,184,000	KN
Kermanshah	Kermanshah	9,652	24,998	2,003,000	KE
Khuzestan	Ahvaz	24,732	64,055	4,725,000	KH
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad	Yasuj	5,986	15,504	728,000	KB
Kurdistan	Sanandaj	11,251	29,137	1,614,000	KU
Lorestan	Khorramabad	10,924	28,294	1,784,000	LO
Markazi	Arak	11,248	29,130	1,436,000	MA
Mazandaran	Sari	9,150	23,701	3,302,000	MN
North Khorasan	Bojnord	10,978	28,434	868,000	NK
Qazvin	Qazvin	6,003	15,549	1,284,000	QA
Qom	Qom	4,450	11,526	1,300,000	QM
Razavi Khorasan	Mashhad	45,901	118,884	6,444,000	RK
Semnan	Semnan	37,642	97,491	715,000	SE
Sistan and Baluchestan	Zahedan	69,778	180,726	2,777,000	SB
South Khorasan	Birjand	58,653	151,913	786,000	SK
Tehran	Tehran	7,264	18,814	13,323,000	TE
West Azerbaijan	Urmia	14,454	37,437	3,278,000	WA
Yazd	Yazd	29,525	76,469	1,156,000	YA
Zanjan	Zanjan	8,407	21,773	1,103,000	ZA

Counties of Iran: Abadan, Abadeh, Abarkuh, Abbasabad, Abdanan, Abhar, Abumusa, Abyek, Aghajri, Ahar, Ahvaz, Ajab Shir, Alborz, Aliabad, Aligudarz, Amlash, Amol, Anar, Anbarabad, Andika, Andimeshk, Aqqala, Aradan, Arak, Aran va Bidgol, Ardabil, Ardakan, Ardal, Ardestan, Arsanjan, Arzuiyeh, Asadabad, Asaluyeh, Ashkezar, Ashtian, Aslan Duz, Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh, Astara, Avaj, Azadshahr, Azarshahr, Azna, Babol, Babolsar, Badreh, Bafq, Baft, Bagh-e Malek, Bahar, Baharestan, Bahmai, Bajestan, Bakharz, Bakhtegan, Bam, Bam and Safiabad, Bampur, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-e Gaz, Baneh, Bardaskan, Bardsir, Baruq, Bashagard, Basht, Bastak, Bavanat, Bavi, Behabad, Behbahan, Behshahr, Ben, Beyza, Bijar, Bileh Savar, Birjand, Bojnord, Bonab, Borkhar, Borujen, Borujerd, Boshruyeh, Bostanabad, Boyer-Ahmad, Buin Miandasht, Buin Zahra, Bukan, Bushehr, Chabahar, Chadegan, Chaharbagh, Chaharborj, Chaldoran, Chalus, Charam, Chardavol, Charuymaq, Chavar, Chaypareh, Chenaran, Dalahu, Dalgan, Damavand, Damghan, Dana, Darab, Dargaz, Dargazin, Darmian, Darreh Shahr, Dasht-e Azadegan, Dashtestan, Dashti, Dashtiari, Davarzan, Dehaqan, Dehgolan, Dehloran, Delfan, Delijan, Deylam, Deyr, Dezful, Dezpart, Divandarreh, Dorud, Dowreh, Eqlid, Esfarayen, Eshtehard, Eslamabad-e Gharb, Eslamshahr, Estahban, Evaz, Eyvan, Fahraj, Falard, Falavarjan, Famenin, Fanuj, Farahan, Farashband, Fardis, Faridan, Fariman, Farrokhshahr, Farsan, Faruj, Faryab, Fasa, Ferdows, Fereydunkenar, Fereydunshahr, Firuzabad, Firuzeh, Firuzkuh, Fuman, Gachsaran, Galikash, Galugah, Ganaveh, Garmeh, Garmsar, Gerash, Germi, Gilan-e Gharb, Golbahar, Golpayegan, Golshan, Gomishan, Gonabad, Gonbad-e Kavus, Gonbaki, Gorgan, Gotvand, Haftkel, Hajjiabad, Hamadan, Hamidiyeh, Hamun, Harand, Harsin, Hashtrud, Hendijan, Heris, Hirmand, Holeylan, Hoveyzeh, Hurand, Ijrud, Ilam, Iranshahr, Isfahan, Izeh, Jafarabad, Jahrom, Jajrom, Jam, Jarqavieh, Jask, Javanrud, Jazmurian, Jiroft, Joghatai, Jolfa, Joveyn, Juybar, Juyom, Kabudarahang, Kahak, Kahnuj, Kalaleh, Kalat, Kaleybar, Kamyaran, Kangan, Kangavar, Karaj, Karkheh, Karun, Kashan, Kashmar, Kavar, Kazerun, Kelardasht, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khaf, Khafr, Khalilabad, Khalkhal, Khamir, Khanmirza, Khansar, Kharameh, Khash, Khatam, Khoda Afarin, Khodabandeh, Khomam, Khomeyn, Khomeyni Shahr, Khondab, Khonj, Khorramabad, Khorrambid, Khorramdarreh, Khorramshahr, Khoshab, Khoy, Khur and Biabanak, Khusf, Kiar, Kohgiluyeh, Komijan, Konarak, Kordkuy, Kowsar, Kuhbanan, Kuhchenar, Kuhdasht, Kuhpayeh, Kuhrang, Kuhsorkh, Lahijan, Lali, Lamerd, Landeh, Langarud, Larestan, Lashar, Lenjan, Lordegan, Mahabad, Mahallat, Mahmudabad, Mahneshan, Mahshahr, Mahvelat, Maku, Malard, Malayer, Malekan, Malekshahi, Mamasani, Maneh, Manujan, Maragheh, Marand, Maraveh Tappeh, Margown, Marivan, Marvast, Marvdasht, Masal, Mashhad, Masjed Soleyman, Mehdishahr, Mehran, Mehrestan, Mehriz, Meshgin Shahr, Meyami, Meybod, Miandoab, Miandorud, Mianeh, Minab, Minudasht, Mirabad, Mirjaveh, Miyan Jolgeh, Mobarakeh, Mohr, Nahavand, Nain, Najafabad, Namin, Naqadeh, Narmashir, Natanz, Nazarabad, Nehbandan, Neka, Neyriz, Nik Shahr, Nimruz, Nir, Nishapur, North Savadkuh, Nowshahr, Nur, Omidiyeh, Oshnavieh, Osku, Pakdasht, Pardis, Parsabad, Parsian, Pasargad, Paveh, Piranshahr, Pishva, Poldasht, Pol-e Dokhtar, Qaem Shahr, Qaen, Qaleh Ganj, Qarchak, Qasr-e Qand, Qasr-e Shirin, Qazvin, Qeshm, Qir and Karzin, Qods, Qom, Qorveh, Quchan, Rabor, Rafsanjan, Ramhormoz, Ramian, Ramsar, Ramshir, Rasht, Rask, Ravansar, Ravar, Ray, Raz and Jargalan, Razan, Rezvanshahr, Rigan, Robat Karim, Roshtkhar, Rostam, Rudan, Rudbar, Rudbar-e Jonubi, Rudsar, Rumeshkan, Sabzevar, Sahneh, Salas-e Babajani, Salehabad, Salmas, Samalqan, Saman, Sanandaj, Saqqez, Sarab, Sarakhs, Saravan, Sarayan, Sarbaz, Sarbisheh, Sarchehan, Sardasht, Sareyn, Sari, Sarpol-e Zahab, Sarvabad, Sarvestan, Savadkuh, Saveh, Savojbolagh, Selseleh, Semirom, Semnan, Sepidan, Seydun, Shabestar, Shadegan, Shaft, Shahin Dezh, Shahin Shahr and Meymeh, Shahr-e Babak, Shahrekord, Shahreza, Shahriar, Shahrud, Shazand, Shemiranat, Sheshtamad, Shiraz, Shirvan, Showt, Shush, Shushtar, Siahkal, Sib and Suran, Simorgh, Sirik, Sirjan, Sirvan, Soltaniyeh, Sonqor, Sorkheh, Sowme'eh Sara, Tabas, Tabriz, Tafresh, Taft, Taftan, Takab, Takestan, Taleqan, Talesh, Tangestan, Tarom, Taybad, Tehran, Tiran and Karvan, Tonekabon, Torbat-e Heydarieh, Torbat-e Jam, Torkaman, Torqabeh and Shandiz, Tuyserkan, Ungut, Urmia, Varamin, Varzaneh, Varzaqan, Yazd, Zabol, Zahedan, Zanjan, Zarabad, Zarach, Zarand, Zarandiyeh, Zarqan, Zarrin Dasht, Zaveh, Zeberkhan, Zehak, Zirkuh.

Geography of Iran

Iran occupies 1,648,195 square kilometers in southwestern Asia, sharing borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan to the north, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, and Iraq and Turkey to the west. The Caspian Sea defines its northern boundary while the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman mark its southern limits. This strategic position connects Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

The Iranian landscape consists of four major geographic zones. The Zagros Mountains dominate the western regions, extending from the northwest to the southeast with peaks exceeding 4,000 meters. The Alborz Mountains form a narrower range along the northern edge, containing Iran's highest point, Mount Damavand (5,671 meters). These mountain systems enclose the central Iranian Plateau, a vast expanse of basins filled with sand and gravel. The Khuzestan Plain constitutes the fourth zone, a flat lowland area in southwestern Iran adjacent to the Persian Gulf.

Iran exhibits remarkable climatic diversity due to its varied topography and geographic position. Most regions experience an arid or semiarid climate with low precipitation. Annual rainfall averages less than 250mm across much of the country, though the Caspian coastal region receives significantly higher amounts, often exceeding 1,000mm. Temperature extremes characterize the climate, with summer highs reaching 50°C in the southern deserts and winter lows dropping below -20°C in the northwestern mountains. The central plateau experiences hot, dry summers and cool winters.

Two major deserts occupy the central plateau: the Dasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert) in the north and the Dasht-e Lut in the southeast. The Dasht-e Lut contains one of Earth's hottest surface temperatures ever recorded (70.7°C). These harsh environments limit vegetation and human settlement.

Iran faces significant water resource challenges. Major rivers include the Karun, Atrak, Sefid-Rud, and Zayandeh Rud, though many smaller waterways flow seasonally. The country contains numerous salt lakes, most notably Lake Urmia in the northwest, which has experienced severe shrinkage in recent decades due to climate change and water diversion.

These geographic conditions profoundly influence Iran's settlement patterns, with population centers concentrating along mountain foothills, river valleys, and the Caspian coastal plain where water resources support agriculture and urban development.

Islands of Iran

Major Rivers of Iran

Lakes of Iran

20 Highest Mountains in Iran

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Brief History of Iran

Iran, historically known as Persia until 1935, represents one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations with a documented history spanning over 7,000 years. Archaeological evidence confirms human settlements in the region dating back to 10,000 BCE, with urban development emerging around 4000 BCE in areas like Susa and Sialk.

The Elamite civilization established the first Iranian state around 2800 BCE in southwestern Iran, developing a sophisticated culture with unique language and writing systems. The Medes created the first unified Iranian political entity in the 7th century BCE before Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire in 550 BCE. This first world empire stretched from the Balkans to the Indus Valley, characterized by administrative innovation, infrastructure development, and religious tolerance.

Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BCE. Following his death, the Seleucid dynasty ruled Iran until the Parthians established dominance in 247 BCE. The subsequent Sasanian Empire (224-651 CE) created a centralized state with Zoroastrianism as the official religion.

The Arab conquest in the 7th century CE integrated Iran into the Islamic world. Arab rule gave way to Iranian dynasties including the Samanids, Buyids, and Seljuks. The Mongol invasions of the 13th century devastated Iran's population and infrastructure. Timur and his successors controlled Iran in the 14th-15th centuries.

The Safavid dynasty (1501-1736) established Twelver Shiism as Iran's official religion, distinguishing it from neighboring Sunni powers. The Qajars (1789-1925) faced European imperial pressures, triggering modernization efforts.

Reza Shah Pahlavi founded the Pahlavi dynasty in 1925, implementing nationalistic reforms and westernization policies. His son Mohammad Reza Shah continued this path until the Islamic Revolution of 1979 established a theocratic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran subsequently experienced isolation, an eight-year war with Iraq (1980-1988), internal political struggles, and ongoing tensions with Western powers regarding its nuclear program.

Contemporary Iran maintains significant regional influence despite international sanctions, with a complex political system balancing clerical authority against limited democratic elements.

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References

1. ^ Estimated Population in Iran by Province in 2024

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