The Bakhtiari (also spelled Bakhtiyari ; Persian :بختیاری) are a Lur tribe from Iran . They speak the Bakhtiari dialect of the Luri language .
97-456: The majority of the population of Iran (approximately 80%) consists of Iranic peoples . The largest groups in this category include Persians (who form between 60-65% of the Iranian population) and Kurds , with smaller communities including Gilakis , Mazandaranis , Lurs , Tats , Talysh , and Baloch . Turkic peoples constitute a substantial minority of about 15–24%, the largest group being
194-685: A Semitic people who speak modern Assyrian , a neo-Aramaic language , and are Eastern Rite Christians belonging mostly to the Assyrian Church of the East and, to a lesser extent, to the Chaldean Catholic Church , Syriac Orthodox Church and Ancient Church of the East . They claim descent from the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia . They share a common identity, rooted in shared linguistic and religious traditions, with Assyrians in Iraq and elsewhere in
291-776: A Gentleman in Persia, whose Mother is not a Georgian, or a Circassian Woman; to begin with the King, who commonly is a Georgian, or a Circassian by the Mother's side. Circassians alongside the Georgians were imported en masse by the Shahs to fulfil roles in the civil administration, the military, and the royal Harem, but also as craftsmen, farmers, amongst other professions. Circassian women were both in Ottoman Turkey and Persia desired for their beauty , while
388-543: A clear Georgian identity. Once a very large minority in Iran mainly due to mass deportations by the various early modern age and modern age Iranian empires ( Safavids , Afsharids , and Qajars ), of their Georgian subjects, nowadays, due to intermarrying and assimilating the number of Georgians in Iran is estimated to be over 100,000. The Georgian language is still used by many of the Georgians in Iran . The centre of Georgians in Iran
485-448: A group of northwestern Iranian dialects closely related to the Talysh language . Persian and Azeri are also spoken. Tats of Iran are mainly Shia Muslims and about 300,000 population. Balochs are an Iranian people. The Balochis of Iran live in southern and central parts of Sistan and Baluchestan province, one of the most remote and isolated areas of Iran, especially from the majority of
582-509: A hardworking tribe, facing numerous obstacles every day, and yet fortunate enough to overcome each of these challenges as a solid unit. Nevertheless, the origins of Bakhtiaris are ancient, and it may have very well been the case that the tribe underwent a series of name changes throughout its history. However it is mostly claimed that the designation "Bakhtiari" came largely into use some time in antiquity. In The Ascent of Man , Jacob Bronowski states that "The Bakhtiari take their name from
679-454: A large portion of modern-day northern Iran, most significantly on the western shores of Lake Urmia. Armenians and Iranians shared many cultural and religious characteristics. Before the 3rd century AD, no other country had as much influence over Armenia as Parthia. Intermarriage between the Parthian and Armenian nobility was very common, and for a large portion of Armenian history, much of Armenia
776-526: A legendary herdsman of Mongol times, Bakhtyar," who according to a Bakhtiari origin myth is "the father of [their] people". Bronowski points out similarities between Bakhtyar and the Israelite Jacob , who was also the ancestral patriarch of his nomadic people and a herdsman who had two wives. In c. 913 , Lorestan was split up into realms; Lur-i Buzurg (Greater Lur) and Lur-i Kuchak (Lesser Lur). The Bakhtiyaris are first attested in history in
873-583: A long time, and that they named themselves after the ancient Persian word Bakhtar ("the West") due to their geographical position. Another theory supported by some historians is that the Bakhtiyaris are descended from Izz al-Dawla Bakhtiyar ( r. 967–978 ), the Buyid ruler of Iraq . The name of the latter is first attestation of the word Bakhtiyar. The Bakhtiyaris themselves consider their name to be derived from
970-522: A nomadic warrior tribe that lived around the Caspian coast of northern Iran. Due to the close resemblance to the names Bakhtiyari and Bakhtari ( Bactrian ), some historians have suggested that the Bakhtiyaris are descended from the Greeks who ruled over Bactria. The resemblance between Bakhtiyari and Greek dance has been used as further proof. Other historians consider the Bakhtiyaris to have resided in their area for
1067-547: A population around 300,000, is not officially recognised (and therefore not included in the census results), and has been persecuted since its inception in Iran. Since the 1979 revolution the persecution of Baháʼís has increased with executions, the denial of civil rights and liberties, and the denial of access to higher education and employment. Unofficial estimates for the Assyrian Christian population range between 20,000, and 70,000. The number of Iranian Mandaeans
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#17328589583811164-682: A region shared between Republic of Azerbaijan and Iran which spans the South Caucasus and the southwestern shore of the Caspian Sea . Another significant amount of Talysh live therefore also in the Republic of Azerbaijan . The Tats are an Iranian people. The Tats of Iran are centralised near the Alborz Mountains , especially in the south of Qazvin province . They speak the Tati language , consisting of
1261-595: A result, saved the revolution. These events eventually led to the abdication of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1907–1909) in 1909, and his exile to Russia. This incident secured Saad ad-Daula the position of Prime Minister in the period that followed the abdication of the Qajar Shah. Nonetheless, with Russian backing, the Shah would soon return in 1911 by landing with a coalition of forces at Astarabad . However, his efforts to reclaim his throne would bear no fruit. In this sense,
1358-661: A study through the Australian National University , there are both micro and macro factors affecting the fertility rate in Iran, including education, economics, and culture. Micro-factors can include family income levels and individual choices, while macro-factors can include the country's economy, education, and shifting cultural values. The cross-sectional cohort study examined four provinces in Iran ( Gilan , Sistan & Baluchistan , West Azerbaijan , and Yazd ) and found that trends show that women in all four provinces are choosing to have fewer children compared to
1455-662: Is Fereydunshahr , a small city 150 km to the west of Isfahan . The western part of Isfahan province is historically called Fereydan . In this area there are 10 Georgian towns and villages around Fereydunshahr . In this region the old Georgian identity is retained the best compared to other places in Iran. In many major Iranian cities, such as Tehran , Isfahan , Karaj and Shiraz , and Rasht live Georgians too. In many other places such as Najafabad , Rahmatabad , Yazdanshahr and Amir Abad (near Isfahan) there are also Georgian pockets and villages. In Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, there are ethnic Georgians too. They live in
1552-656: Is a matter of dispute. In 2009, there were an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Mandaeans in Iran, according to the Associated Press. Whereas Alarabiya has put the number of Iranian Mandaeans as high as 60,000 in 2011. The term "Iranian citizens abroad" or " Iranian/Persian diaspora " refers to the Iranian people and their children born in Iran but living outside of Iran. Migrant Iranian workers abroad remitted less than two billion dollars home in 2006. As of 2010, there are about four to five million Iranians living abroad, mostly in
1649-494: Is estimated to be $ 1.3 trillion. Note that this differs from the other Iranian peoples living in other areas of Greater Iran , who are of related ethnolinguistical family, speaking languages belonging to the Iranian languages which is a branch of Indo-European languages . Iran hosts one of the largest refugee population in the world, with more than one million refugees, mostly from Afghanistan (80%) and Iraq (10%). Since 2006, Iranian officials have been working with
1746-403: Is home to ten Jewish families, six of them related by marriage, however some estimate the number is much higher. Historically, Jews maintained a presence in many more Iranian cities. Iran contains the largest Jewish population of any Muslim majority country except Turkey. A number of groups of Jews of Iran have split off since ancient times. They are now recognized as separate communities, such as
1843-620: Is home to the majority of Iranian Assyrians; however, approximately 15,000 Assyrians reside in northern Iran, in Urmia and various Assyrian villages in the surrounding area. Judaism is one of the oldest religions practiced in Iran and dates back to late biblical times. The biblical books of Isaiah, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, and Esther contain references to the life and experiences of Jews in Iran. By various estimates, 10,800 Jews remain in Iran, mostly in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. BBC reported Yazd
1940-663: Is inhabited by Kurdish Lak people . Kurdish people also make up the plurality of the North Khorasan province and a minority in Razavi Khorasan and are scattered throughout many other provinces of Iran. It is estimated that up to 1 million kurmanj live in Razavi Khorasan. Lur people speak the Luri language and inhabit parts of west – south western Iran . Most Lur are Shi’a. They are the fourth largest ethnic group in Iran after
2037-486: Is inhabited predominantly by Sistani Persians. The town of Jask in neighbouring Hormozgan Province is also inhabited by Baloch people. Baloch people also make up a minority in Razavi Khorasan and South Khorasan ( Khorasani Baloch ) and scattered throughout other provinces of Iran. According to Victoria Arakelova, Turkic peoples in Iran can be differentiated between "proper Turkic groups (the Turkmens par excellence) and
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#17328589583812134-623: Is made of the Lurs as a Kurdish tribe living in the mountains between Khuzestan and Isfahan . The term Kurd according to Richard Frye was used for all Iranian nomads (including the population of Luristan as well as tribes in Kuhistan and Baluchis in Kerman) for all nomads, whether they were linguistically connected to the Kurds or not. The Mazanderani people or Tabari people are an Iranian people whose homeland
2231-666: Is the North of Iran (Tabaristan). Like the closely related Gilaks , the Mazanderanis are a Caspian people who inhabit the south coast of the Caspian Sea, part of the historical region that used to be called Tabaristan and are currently one of the main ethnic groups residing in the northern parts of Iran. They speak the Mazandarani language , a language native to around 4 million people, but all of them can speak Persian. The Alborz mountains mark
2328-548: Is the result of two smaller words bakht and yar complied together. Bakht is the Persian word for "fortune" and yar , iar , iari literally means "companion". The latter designation largely relates to the nature of the tribe's annual "migration". This has to do with the harsh nature of Bakhtiari life, and overcoming of countless difficulties that Bakhtiaris have faced in the Zagros ranges. In this sense, Bakhtiaris view themselves as
2425-513: The Azerbaijani . They are the second largest ethnicity in Iran. Other Turkic groups include the Turkmen , Qashqai and Kazakhs peoples. Arabs account for about 1-2% of the Iranian population. The remainder, amounting to about 1% of Iranian population, consists of a variety of minor groups, mainly comprising Assyrians , Armenians , Georgians , Circassians , and Mandaeans . At the beginning of
2522-570: The CIA World Factbook makes a distinction between the Persian language and the Mazandarani and Gilaki language , respectively. Kurds are an Iranian people , who make up the majority of the population of Kurdistan , Ilam , Kermanshah provinces and together with the Azeris , they are one of the two main ethnic groups in West Azerbaijan province. The northern part of Lorestan province
2619-592: The CIA World Factbook , unless otherwise indicated. Age structure Median age Population growth rate Birth rate Death rate Urbanization Sex ratio Life expectancy at birth Total fertility rate Literacy Y-Chromosome DNA Y-DNA represents the male lineage, the Iranian Y-chromosome pool is as follows where haplogroups, R1 (25%), J2 (23%) G (14%), J1 (8%) E1b1b (5%), L (4%), Q (4%), comprise more than 85% of
2716-616: The Kartvelian language family) is spoken in a large pocket only by those Iranian Georgians that live in Fereydan , Fereydunshahr . Most of those Georgians who live in the north Iranian provinces of Gilan , Mazandaran , Isfahan , Tehran Province and the rest of Iran no longer speak the language. The Circassians in Iran , a very large minority in the past and speakers of the Circassian language , have been strongly assimilated and absorbed within
2813-620: The Library of Congress , and the Encyclopedia of Islam (Leiden) give Iran's ethnic groups as following: Persians 65%, Azerbaijanis 16%, Kurds 7%, Lurs 6%, Arabs 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmens 1%, Turkic tribal groups (e.g. Qashqai ) 1%, and non-Persian, non-Turkic groups (e.g. Armenians , Georgians , Assyrians , Circassians ) less than 1%. For sources prior to and after 2000, see Languages and ethnicities in Iran . In addition to its international migration pattern, Iran also exhibits one of
2910-895: The Parsi minority) showed the highest affinity with Iranians, inline with their ethnic history. Overall, the study results suggest that the genetic makeup of the Iranian gene pool formed already about 5,000 years ago and shows high continuity since then, suggesting that they were largely unaffected by migration events from outside groups. On a global scale, Iranians display their highest affinity with other "West Eurasian" populations (such as Europeans or South Asians, but also Latin Americans ), while Sub-Saharan Africans and East Asians showed large degrees of differentiation with Iranians. The "Tats" are an Iranian people, presently living within Azerbaijan and Russia (mainly Southern Dagestan ). The Tats are part of
3007-561: The Persians , Azeri , and Kurds . They occupy Lorestan , Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari , Khuzestan,Hamadan , markazi , ilam Isfahan , Fars , Bushehr and Kuh-Gilu-Boir Ahmed provinces. The authority of tribal elders remains a strong influence among the nomadic population. It is not as dominant among the settled urban population. As is true in Bakhtiari and Kurdish societies, Lur women have much greater freedom than women in other groups within
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3104-1184: The Qajar era, when persecution of Iranian Zoroastrians was rampant. They are culturally and linguistically closer to the Zoroastrians of Iran . Unlike the Parsis , they speak a Dari dialect, the language spoken by the Iranian Zoroastrians in Yazd and Kerman . Their last names often resemble modern Iranian names, however Irani is a common surname among them. In India they are mostly located in modern-day Mumbai while in Pakistan they are mostly located in modern-day Karachi . In both Pakistan and India, they are famous for their restaurants and tea-houses. Some, such as Ardeshir Irani , have also become very famous in cinema. Bakhtiari people Bakhtiaris primarily inhabit Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and eastern Khuzestan , Lorestan , Bushehr , and Isfahan provinces. Bakhtiari tribes have an especially large population concentration in
3201-631: The Qashqai or the Khorasani Turks . According to an estimation presented by the anthropologist Sekandar Amanolahi in peer-reviewed journal Iran and the Caucasus , the number of Iranian Turkophones "does not exceed 9 millions". Many sources assert that Iranian Azerbaijanis are a Turkic - speaking people of Iranian origin. Estimated numbers or percentages vary significantly and many estimates cited appear to be politically motivated. They are often considered
3298-579: The Russian Revolution , but their number has dwindled following the Iran crisis of 1946 and the Iranian Revolution . In the 20th to 21st centuries, there has been limited immigration to Iran from Turkey, Iraqis (especially huge numbers during the 1970s known as Moaveds ), Afghanistan (mostly arriving as refugees in 1978), Lebanese (especially in Qom , though a Lebanese community has been present in
3395-655: The UNHCR and Afghan officials for their repatriation . Between 1979 and 1997, UNHCR spent more than US$ 1 billion on Afghan refugees in Pakistan but only $ 150 million on those in Iran. In 1999, the Iranian government estimated the cost of maintaining its refugee population at US$ 10 million per day, compared with the US$ 18 ;million UNHCR allocated for all of its operations in Iran in 1999. As of 2016, some 300,000 work permits have been issued for foreign nationals in Iran. The following demographic statistics are from
3492-848: The United States , Canada , Europe , Persian Gulf States , Turkey , Australia and the broader Middle East . According to the 2000 Census and other independent surveys, there are an estimated 1 million Iranian-Americans living in the U.S., in particular, the Los Angeles area is estimated to be host to approximately 72,000 Iranians, earning the Westwood area of LA the nickname Tehrangeles . Other metropolises that have large Iranian populations include Dubai with 300,000 Iranians, Vancouver , London , Toronto , San Francisco Bay Area , Washington D.C. , Buenos Aires , Mexico City , Stockholm , Berlin , Hamburg and Frankfurt . Their combined net worth
3589-650: The Uxian tribe , who clashed with the Macedonian king Alexander the Great ( r. 336–323 BC ) in Khuzestan 330 BC. A second theory suggests that the Bakhtiyaris were originally from Fars , but were settled to the north of Isfahan and Khuzestan after the legendary king Kay Khosrow conquered Media . A third theory suggests that the Bakhtiyaris were descended from the Mardi,
3686-680: The provinces of Golestān and North Khorasan . The largest Turkmen city in Iran is Gonbad-e Kavoos , followed by Bandar Torkaman . Iranian Turkmens are mostly Sunni Muslims with some shia. The Qashqai people mainly live in the provinces of Fars , Khuzestan and southern Isfahan , especially around the city of Shiraz in Fars. They speak the Qashqai language which is a member of the Turkic family of languages . The Qashqai were originally nomadic pastoralists and some remain so today. The traditional nomadic Qashqai travelled with their flocks each year from
3783-414: The 2016 population census the population of Iran was 79.9 million, a fourfold increase since 1956. Between 1976 and 1986, an average annual population growth of almost 4% was reached, but due to decreasing fertility levels the growth decreased to 1.2% between 2011 and 2016. In 1960, Iran's fertility rate was 7.3 children per woman. In 2021, the rate had fallen to 1.7 children per woman. According to
3880-424: The 20th century, Iran had a total population of just below 10 million, with an approximate ethnic composition of: 6 million Persians (60%), 2.5 million Azeris (25%), 0.2 million Mazandaranis and Gilakis each (2% each). Due to its highly ethnically-heterogeneous population, Iran lacks a titular ethnic group and enjoys a cultural and linguistic diversity which has been unified under a single national identity based on
3977-569: The Armenians are Iran's largest Christian religious minority, followed by Assyrians. Iranian Georgians are Twelver Shia Muslims, whereas the vast majority of Georgians elsewhere in the world are Christian . The Georgian language is the only Caucasian language fully functioning in Iran and it's spoken only by those that live in Fereydan and Fereydunshahr , and in smaller pockets all over Iran. Almost all other communities of Iranian Georgians in Iran have already lost their language, but retain
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4074-629: The Astarki chieftain Tajmir as ilkhan of the Bakhtiyari. He was, however, later killed and succeeded by Jahangir Khan Bakhtiyari, who is responsible for splitting the Bakhtiyaris into two groups, the Haft Lang and Chahar Lang. By the time of the reign of Shah Abbas I ( r. 1588–1629 ), the northern part of Lur-i Buzurg became known as Bakhtiyari. Constitutional Revolution: In Iran's contemporary history,
4171-578: The Bakhtiari have played a significant role; particularly during the advent of the country's Constitutional Revolution (1905–1907). This event was largely secured through the Bakhtari campaign, which eventually deposed Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1907–1909). The Bakhtiari tribesmen, under the leadership of the Haft Lang khans Sardar Assad and his brother Najaf Qoli Khan Bakhtiari- Saad ad-Daula (also referred to as Samsam-os Saltane), captured Tehran and, as
4268-450: The Bakhtiari include rectangular tents or brush or wood shelters. These types of dwellings are used when moving their herds around. Recently, some Bakhtiari have urbanized and began to settle in large villages and even in cities. Shia Islam is the main religion followed by both the nomadic and sedentary Bakhtiaris. However, according to a Shia cleric in Iran some Bakhtiari Lurs have converted to Zoroastrianism in recent years. Despite
4365-587: The Bakhtiaris played a critical role in saving the revolution from the Qajar forces. Pahlavi Period: With the expansion of Bakhtiari influence, urban elites (particularly in Tehran) began to worry in regards to a potential Bakhtiari takeover of Persia's affairs. Prior to this point, the Bakhtiari had largely remained within their own territorial boundaries. The Bakhtiari influence would continue to play an important role within
4462-453: The Bukharan Jews and Mountain Jews. In addition, there are several thousand in Iran who are, or who are the direct descendants of, Jews who have converted to Islam and the Bahá'í Faith. Iranian Mandaeans live mainly in the Khuzestan Province in southern Iran. Mandeans are a Mandaic -speaking ethno-religious group who follow their own distinctive Gnostic , monotheistic religion called Mandaeism , sometimes also known as Sabianism (after
4559-439: The Caspian people, who inhabit the southern and southwestern coastal regions of the Caspian Sea . They speak the Gilaki language and their population is estimated to be between three and four million (4% of the population). Gilaki people live both alongside the Alborz mountains, and in the surrounding plains. Consequentially, those living along the northern side of the Alborz mountains tend to raise livestock, while those living in
4656-405: The Georgians, once a very large minority in Iran all the way from the Safavid to the Qajar era, the vast majority of the Circassians have been assimilated into the population nowadays. However, significant numbers remain present, and they are the second-largest Caucasian ethnic group in the nation after the Georgians. From Sir John Chardin's "Travels in Persia, 1673–1677": There is scarce
4753-423: The Jewish population of Iran was (more recently) estimated at 25,000 to 35,000, of which approximately 15,000 are in Tehran with the rest residing in Hamadan, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Yazd, Kerman, Rafsanjan, Borujerd, Sanandaj, Tabriz and Urmia. However, the official 2011 state census recorded only 8,756 Jews in Iran. The CIA World Factbook (which is based on 2013 statistics) gives the following numbers for
4850-661: The Lur, Bakhtiari or Persian ethnic groups. The historically large and oil-rich cities of Mahshahr, Behbahan, Masjed Soleyman, Izeh, Dezful, Shushtar, Andimeshk, Shush, Ramhormoz, Baghemalak, Gotvand, Lali, Omidieh, Aghajari, Hendijan, Ramshir, Haftkel, Bavi are inhabited by people who speak either Luri, Bakhtiari and Persian languages. There are smaller communities in Qom where there are a significant number of Arabs being of Lebanese descent, as well as Razavi Khorasan and Fars provinces. Iranian Arab communities are also found in Bahrain , Iraq , Lebanon , Kuwait , United Arab Emirates , and Qatar . The Assyrian people of Iran are
4947-461: The Lurs are descended from a group of youngsters who survived and fled from the demon Zahhak , a demonic figure who is mentioned in Zoroastrian mythology, as well as the Shahnameh . They took shelter in Zardkuh and Kuhrang , where they named themselves Lur ("nomadic"). Due to their luck of escaping danger throughout their history, they called themselves bakhtiyar ("fortunate"). In scholarship, it has been suggested Bakhtiyaris are descended from
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#17328589583815044-480: The Middle East such as Syria and Turkey , as well as with the Assyrian diaspora . The Assyrian community in Iran numbered approximately 200,000 prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979. However, after the revolution many Assyrians left the country, primarily for the United States, and the 1996 census counted only 32,000 Assyrians. Current estimates of the Assyrian population in Iran range from 32,000 (as of 2005) to 50,000 (as of 2007). The Iranian capital, Tehran ,
5141-472: The Philippines, India, Venice, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Russia. Thus, all these led to creating a new age for Iran where Iranian goods traveled the world and were consumed by Europeans and Indians. The current Iranian-Armenian population is somewhere around 500,000. They mostly live in Tehran and Jolfa district . After the Iranian Revolution , many Armenians immigrated to Armenian diasporic communities in North America and western Europe . Today
5238-443: The Turkic-speaking ethnic Iranians, predominantly the Azaris ". The largest Turkic-speaking group in Iran are the Iranian Azerbaijanis , forming the second largest ethnicity in the nation after the majority Persian population. Smaller Turkic groups account for about 2% of Iranian population between them, about half of this number is accounted for by the Iranian Turkmen , the other half comprises various tribal confederacies such as
5335-436: The border; an unknown number of these has since returned to Iraq. Over the same period, there has also been substantial emigration from Iran, especially since the Iranian revolution (see Iranian diaspora , Human capital flight from Iran , Jewish exodus from Iran ), especially to the United States , Canada , Germany , Israel , and Sweden . Demographics of Iran Iran 's population increased dramatically during
5432-503: The center of the wider West Eurasian cluster, close to Europeans, Middle Easterners, and South-Central Asians. Iranian Arabs and Turkic-speaking Azeris genetically overlap with Iranian-speaking peoples such as Persians. The genetic substructure of Iranians was found to be low, compared with other "1000G" populations. Iranians display their highest genetic affinity with other Southwest and West Asian populations, followed by Europeans and Central Asian groups. Certain South Asians (specifically
5529-451: The cities of Masjed Soleyman , Izeh , Shahr-e Kord , and Andika , and the surrounding villages. A small percentage of Bakhtiari are still nomadic pastoralists , migrating between summer quarters ( sardsīr or yaylāq ) and winter quarters ( garmsīr or qishlāq ). Although there have been several suggested theories for the origin of the Bakhtiyaris, historians and researchers generally agree that they are Lurs. According to folklore,
5626-403: The close-knit Zoroastrian community based primarily in India but also found in Pakistan . Parsis are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to the Indian subcontinent over 1,000 years ago. Indian census data (2001) records 69,601 Parsis in India, with a concentration in and around the city of Mumbai (previously known as Bombay). There are approximately 8,000 Parsis elsewhere on
5723-432: The country's economy. In response, Iranian policymakers have attempted to limit these factors by restricting access to contraceptives and surgeries that reduce fertility. (2022 estimates). per 1000; TFR = number of children per woman; per 1000 births (2001 statistics) Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Data refer to the Iranian Year which begins on 21 March and ends on 20 March of
5820-440: The country, even after centuries of absorbing and assimilating, such as in Fars , Rasht , Aspas , Gilan , Mazandaran , and the capital Tehran (due to contemporary internal migration). Their total number nowadays is unknown due to heavy assimilation and lack of censuses based on ethnicity, but are known to be significant. Due to the same assimilation however, no sizeable number speaks the Circassian language anymore. Most of
5917-670: The data of 2011. The largest linguistic group comprises speakers of Iranian languages, like modern Persian , Kurdish , Gilaki , Mazandarani , Luri , Talysh , and Balochi . Speakers of Turkic languages , most notably Azerbaijanis , which is by far the second-most spoken language in the country, but also the Turkmen , and the Qashqai peoples, comprise a substantial minority. The remainder are primarily speakers of Semitic languages such as Arabic and Assyrian . A small number of Mandaeans in Khuzestan speak Mandaic . There are small groups using other Indo-European languages such as Armenian and Russian ; also, Georgian (a member of
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#17328589583816014-441: The early 15th-century. In 1413, the arrival of several Bakhtiyari clans such as the Astarki, Kutwand, Raki, Janaki and Zallaki are mentioned by the Timurid -era historian Mu'in al-Din Natanzi. Under the Safavids , Lur-i Kuchak became known as Luristan-i Fili, while Lur-i Buzurg (extending from Isfahan to Kohgiluyeh and from Shushtar to Behbahan ) became Bakhtiyari land. In 1566, Shah Tahmasp I ( r. 1524–1576 ) selected
6111-469: The early 20th century politics of Iran. Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925–1941) made the destruction of the Bakhtiari influence his mission. The existence of oil on Bakhtiari territory further motivated the Pahlavi monarch to undermine the autonomy of the tribe, and force its population to adhere to the commands of the central government. Reza Shah Pahlavi would eventually execute a few noteworthy tribal leaders to crush Bakhtiari autonomy and maintain control over
6208-477: The following year.): Table 9 – Population and Average Annual Growth by Provinces: 2006 and 2011 1 The population of the provinces of Alborz and Tehran for 2006 and their average annual growth have been calculated based on the data of 2011. Unofficial Translation 17 Table 10 – Population Percentages by Province: 2006 and 2011 (Percentage) 1 The population of the provinces of Alborz and Tehran for 2006 and their average annual growth have been calculated based on
6305-503: The globe. Additionally, Armenians were also known for their honesty regarding trade. Furthermore, the policies of Shah Abbas proved to be very successful for the Iranian economy, where after a brief period of time, the Iranian economy was booming. After the success of the Armenian community in New Julfa, the Armenians of New Julfa migrated to other major countries. They formed other settlements connecting many of these newly formed Armenian settlements to Isfahan, Iran. These settlements were in
6402-510: The indigenous peoples of Iranian origin in the Caucasus. Tats use the Tat language , a southwestern Iranian language and a variety of Persian Azerbaijani and Russian are also spoken. Tats are mainly Shia Muslims, with a significant Sunni Muslim minority. Likely the ancestors of modern Tats settled in South Caucasus when the Sassanid Empire from the 3rd to 7th centuries built cities and founded military garrisons to strengthen their positions in this region. The Parsis are
6499-429: The languages spoken in Iran today: Persian , Luri , Gilaki and Mazandarani 66%; Azerbaijani and other Turkic languages 18%; Kurdish 10%; Arabic 2%; Balochi 2%; others 2% ( Armenian , Georgian , Circassian , Assyrian , etc.). According to anthropologist Brian Spooner , around half of Iran's population uses a language other than Persian at home and in informal public situations. Other sources, such as
6596-410: The large Circassian migrational waves towards mainland Iran stem from the Safavid and Qajar era, however a certain amount also stem from the relatively recent arrivals that migrated as the Circassians were displaced from the Caucasus in the 19th century. A Black African population exists due to historical slavery . A substantial number of Russians arrived in the early 20th century as refugees from
6693-410: The later half of the 20th century, reaching about 80 million by 2016. As of November 2024 , Iran's population is around 91.5 million. In recent years, however, Iran's birth rate has dropped significantly. Studies project that Iran's rate of population growth will continue to slow until it stabilises above 100 million by 2050. Half of Iran's population was under 35 years old in 2012. In 2009,
6790-442: The men were known as fearsome warriors. Notable Iranians of Circassian descent of the past include Teresia Sampsonia , Shah Abbas II , Shah Suleiman I , Pari Khan Khanum (daughter of Shah Tahmasp , involved in many court intrigues), Shamkhal Sultan , Jamshid Beg (the assassinator of Shah Ismail II ), and Anna Khanum . Traces of Circassian settlements have lasted into the 20th century, and small pockets still exist scattered over
6887-547: The mountains in their summer quarters (sardsīr or yaylāq), and in autumn to valleys and the plains in their winter quarters (garmsīr or qishlāq). The livestock the Bakhtiari mainly raise are goats, sheep, horses, and cattle. However, some Bakhtiari also engage in agricultural occupations, and mostly cultivate wheat and other cereal grains. Nomadic Baktiari rely on trading and bartering with nearby villages and populations to obtain products they don't have or are unable to create themselves (like agricultural goods). Temporary dwellings for
6984-646: The mysterious Sabians mentioned in the Quran , a name historically claimed by several religious groups). They venerate John the Baptist ( Yaḥyā ibn Zakarīyā ) as their greatest prophet. They number some 10,000 people in Iran, though Alarabiya has put their number as high as 60,000 in 2011. Armenian settlements in Iran dates back millennia. Ever since antiquity, Armenians and Iranians have always had significant interactions with each other. These interactions include cultural, linguistic, economic, and more. Armenians used to inhabit
7081-483: The nation for centuries), Indians (mostly arriving temporarily during the 1950s to 1970s), Koreans (mostly in the 1970s as labour migrants), China (mostly since the 2000s working in engineering or business projects), and Pakistan , partly due to labour migrants and partly to Balochi ties across the Iranian-Pakistani border. About 200,000 Iraqis arrived as refugees in 2003, mostly living in refugee camps near
7178-520: The neighbouring regions of Turkmenistan up to beyond the Amu Darya River . They speak the Khorasani Turkic and live in North Khorasan , Razavi Khorasan , and Golestan provinces alongside Turkmens. 2% of Iran's citizens are Arabs. A 1998 report by UNCHR reported 1 million of them live in border cities of Khuzestan Province , they are believed to constitute 20% to 25% of the population in
7275-674: The north Iranian ethnicities, such as the Gilaks and Mazandarani's , whose genetic build up including chromosomal DNA are nearly identical to the major South Caucasian ethnicities, namely the Georgians , Armenians and Azerbaijani's . Other outliers are made by the Baloch people , representing a mere 1–2% of the total Iranian population, who have more patrilinial and mitochondrial DNA lines leaning towards northwest South Asian ethnic groups. Levels of genetic variation in Iranian populations are comparable to
7372-502: The number of households stood at 15.3 million (4.8 persons per household). Families earn some 11.8 million rials (about $ 960) per month on average (2012). According to the OECD/World Bank statistics population growth in Iran from 1990 to 2008 was 17.6 million and 32%. The literacy rate was 80% in 2002, and 85% in 2016. The fertility rate has fallen to 1.6, below the natural replacement rate of 2.1. According to
7469-641: The official state religion, and about 9% belong to the Sunni branch, which predominates in neighbouring Muslim countries. Less than 1% non-Muslim minorities include Christians , Zoroastrians , Jews , Baháʼís , Mandaeans , and Yarsan . By far the largest group of Christians in Iran are Armenians under the Armenian Apostolic Church which has between 110,000, 250,000, and 300,000, adherents. There are hundreds of Christian churches in Iran. The Baháʼí Faith , Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority with
7566-511: The other groups from the Caucasus , Anatolia and Europe . A large-scale genetic analyses on various ethnic groups of Iran , published in 2019, found that genetically speaking different Iranian ethnic groups, such as Persians , Kurds , Azeris , Lurs , Mazanderanis , Gilaks and Arabs , cluster tightly together, forming a single cluster known as the "CIC" (Central Iranian cluster). Compared with worldwide populations, Iranians (CIC) cluster in
7663-477: The patriarchal nature of Bakhtiari society, women enjoy a rather high degree of freedom. This was because of their importance in the Bakhtiari economy as weavers, in which colorful and stylish designs on carpets made them very popular among buyers. However, after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Bakhtiari (along with Iranian society in general) underwent rapid changes so presently, Bakhtiari women do not have
7760-527: The people. The northern part of the province is called Sistan and 63% of the population are ethnic Baloch while the rest are Persian Sistani. The Baloch are Sunni Muslims with a minority who are Shia, in contrast to the Sistani Persians who are adherents of Shia Islam. The capital of Sistan and Baluchestan is Zahedan and is inhabited by Baloch people, the next largest city of the province is Zabol in Sistan and
7857-429: The plains farm. Gilaks play an important role in provincial and national economy, supplying a large portion of the region's agricultural staples, such as rice, grains, tobacco and tea. Other major industries include fishing and caviar exports, and the production of silk. The Talysh are an Iranian people. The Talysh of Iran are about 430,000 and live mostly in the province of Gilan in north of Iran. They are indigenous to
7954-548: The population in the past few centuries. However, significant pockets do exist spread over the country, and they are the second-largest Caucasus -derived group in the nation after the Georgians. Jews have had a continuous presence in Iran since the time of Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire . In 1948, there were approximately 140,000–150,000 Jews living in Iran. According to the Tehran Jewish Committee,
8051-682: The province, most of whom being Sunni Muslims. In Khuzestan , Arabs are a majority in the province. They are the dominant ethnic group in Shadegan , Hoveyzeh and Susangerd , a significant group in the rural areas of Abadan (The city of Abadan is inhabited by Iranians who speak the Abadani dialect of Persian as well as Arabs), and together with Persians, Arabs are one of the two main ethnic groups in Ahvaz . Most other cities in Khuzestan province are either inhabited by
8148-464: The region. The Luri language is Indo-European . The Lur people may be related to the Kurds from whom they "apparently began to be distinguished from... 1,000 years ago." The Sharafnama of Sharaf Khan Bidlisi "mentioned two Lur dynasties among the five Kurdish dynasties that had in the past enjoyed royalty or the highest form of sovereignty or independence." In the Mu'jam Al-Buldan of Yaqut al-Hamawi mention
8245-1219: The region. The majority of Azeris are followers of Shi'a Islam. Iranian Azerbaijanis mainly reside in the northwest provinces, including the Iranian Azerbaijan provinces ( East Azerbaijan , West Azerbaijan , Ardabil , and Zanjan ), as well as regions of the North to Hamadan County and Shara District in the East Hamadan Province , and some regions of Qazvin Province . Some Azerbaijani minorities also live in Markazi , Kordestan , Gilan and Kermanshah provinces. Azerbaijanis also make up significant minorities in various parts of central Iran, especially Tehran , Azerbaijanis have also emigrated and resettled in large numbers in Khorasan and Qom . Immigrant Azerbaijani communities have been represented by people prominent not only among urban and industrial working classes but also in commercial, administrative, political, religious, and intellectual circles. Iranian Turkmens are primarily concentrated in
8342-556: The second largest ethnic group in Iran and the largest ethnic minority. The main estimations are stated below: In the historic Azerbaijan region, the population consists mainly of Azerbaijanis . Azeris form the largest ethnic group in Iranian Azerbaijan, while Kurds are the second largest group and a majority in many cities of West Azerbaijan Province . Iranian Azerbaijan is one of the most densely populated regions of Iran. Many of these various linguistic, religious, and tribal minority groups, and Azeris themselves have settled widely outside
8439-443: The southern boundary of Mazanderani settlement. The Mazanderani peoples number differs between three million and four million (2006 estimate) and many of them are farmers and fishermen. The Gilaki people or Gilaks are an Iranian people native to the northern Iran province of Gilan and are one of the main ethnic groups residing in the northern part of Iran. Gilaks, along with the closely related Mazandarani people , comprise part of
8536-557: The standard Persian language and culture (Zana). A CIA World Factbook estimate from 2007 put Persians at 51% of the population of the country. Another source, the United States Library of Congress states Iran's Persians compose 65% of the country's population. However, other sources mention that Persians only comprise 50.5%, or 55.3%. Some of these numbers include the Mazandaranis and Gilakis as Persian people, though
8633-563: The steepest urban growth rates in the world according to the UN humanitarian information unit. According to 2015 population estimates, approximately 73.4 per cent of Iran's population lives in urban areas, up from 27 per cent in 1950. The following is a list of the eight most populous cities in the country: Religion in Iran by CIA About 99% of the Iranians are Muslims; 90% belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam,
8730-547: The subcontinent, with an estimated 2,500 Parsis in the city of Karachi and approximately 50 Parsi families in Sri Lanka. The number of Parsis worldwide is estimated to be fewer than 100,000. In Pakistan and India, the term "Irani" has come to denote Iranian Zoroastrians who have migrated to Pakistan and India within the last two centuries, as opposed to most Parsis who arrived in India over 1000 years ago. Many of them moved during
8827-490: The summer highland pastures north of Shiraz roughly 480 km or 300 mi south to the winter pastures on lower (and warmer) lands near the Persian Gulf , to the southwest of Shiraz. The majority, however, have now become partially or wholly sedentary. The trend towards settlement has been increasing markedly since the 1960s. The Khorasani Turks are Turkic -speaking people inhabiting parts of north-eastern Iran , and in
8924-482: The total chromosomes. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) represents the female lineage. West Eurasian mtDNA makes up over 90% of the Iranian population on average. (2013). Among them, U3b3 lineages appear to be restricted to populations of Iran and the Caucasus , while the sub-cluster U3b1a is common in the whole Near East region. In Iran outliers in the Y-chromosomes and Mitochondrial DNA gene pool are consisted of
9021-564: The town of Behshahr , and also in Behshahr county, in Farah Abad, and many other places, which are usually called "Gorji Mahalle" (Georgian Neighbourhood). Most of these Georgians no longer speak the Georgian language , but retain aspects of Georgian culture and a Georgian identity. Some argue that Iranian Georgians retain remnants of Christian traditions, but there is no evidence for this. Like with
9118-510: The tribe. Amongst the executed Khans was Mohammad Reza Khan (Sardar-e-Fateh), whose son later became the Pahlavi Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar . The latter event was a turning point for Bakhtiari and their rise within Iranian politics. The Bakhtiari are noted in Iran for their music which inspired Russian composer Alexander Borodin . Bakhtiari nomads migrate twice a year with their herds for pasture: in spring to
9215-518: The women born in the earlier cohorts. The majority of women agreed with statements such as “having many children is an obstacle for the parents’ interests” and “having many children creates financial pressure for the family” (among others). Other sources also suggest that delayed marriage and a tendency to limit fertility are factors affecting the decline of TFR. A decline in TFR can lead to population decrease, and an ageing population, which can negatively impact
9312-731: The word Bakhtiyarwand, the name of the offspring of Bakhtiyar, a distinguished figure of Lur-i Buzurg (Greater Lur). According to research into NRY markers, the Bakhtiari, as with many other groups in Iran, show very elevated frequencies for Y-DNA haplogroup J2 — a trait common for Eurasian populations, likely originating in Anatolia and the Caucasus The Southwest Eurasian haplogroups F , G , and T1a also reach substantial frequency among Bakhtiaris. The term bakhtiari can be best translated as "companion of fortune" or "bearer of good luck" The term has deep Persian roots, and
9409-514: Was ruled by the modern-day Iranians. The newly formed Armenian community in Isfahan played a considerable role in Iran's economic and cultural development. Shah Abbas I granted the Armenians monopoly over silk and gave them many other trade incentives. Thus, the Armenian community quickly became very wealthy. The Armenians were given these trade incentives due to the immense trade routes they covered around
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