The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Administrative divisions Iran, in 36 editions.
The entry for Iran published Administrative divisions in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 17 editions. Each is shown as published. Administrative divisions in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 17
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Administrative divisions” (1990 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024The same text in 1990 and 1991.
24 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan);
- Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
- Azarbayjan-e Khavari,
- Bakhtaran,
- Bushehr,
- Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
- Esfahan,
- Fars,
- Gilan,
- Hamadan,
- Hormozgan,
- Ilam,
- Kerman,
- Khorasan,
- Khuzestan,
- Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi,
- Kordestan,
- Lorestan,
- Markazi,
- Mazandaran,
- Semnan,
- Sistan va Baluchestan,
- Tehran,
- Yazd,
- Zanjan
24 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Machall va Bakhtiari, Ecsfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Achmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
24 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan); singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall Machall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan,
Ecsfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan,
Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Achmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Machall Mahall va Bakhtiari,Ecsfahan, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan,
Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Achmadi, Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan), Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be a new province named Ardabil formed from a part of Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan) which may have been renamed Azarbayjan-e Markazi (Central Azerbaijan); the name Bakhtaran may have been changed to Kermanshahan
24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtari (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East
Azerbaijan), Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan,
Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be a new province named Ardabil formed from a part of
Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan) which may have been renamed
Azarbayjan-e Markazi (Central Azerbaijan); the name Bakhtaran may have
been changed to Kermanshahan
- 25 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
24 25 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari (West Azerbaijan), Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Sharqi, Bushehr,
Azerbaijan), Bakhtaran,
Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan,
Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be a new province named Ardabil formed from a part of
Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan) which may have been renamed
Azarbayjan-e Markazi (Central Azerbaijan); the name Bakhtaran may have
been changed to Kermanshahan
- 25 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be two new provinces named Qom and Qazvin
25 provinces (ostanha, singular -
Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr,
Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan,
Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be two new provinces named Qom and Qazvin
25 provinces (ostanha, singular-ostan);
- Ardabil,
- Azarbayjan-e Gharbi,
- Azarbayjan-e Sharqi,
- Bushehr,
- Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
- Esfahan,
- Fars,
- Gilan,
- Hamadan,
- Hormozgan,
- Ilam,
- Kerman,
- Kermanshahan,
- Khorasan,
- Khuzestan,
- Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi,
- Kordestan,
- Lorestan,
- Markazi,
- Mazandaran,
- Semnan,
- Sistan va Baluchestan,
- Tehran,
- Yazd,
- Zanjan
note: there may be three new provinces named Gorgan, Qom, and Qazvin
25 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); singular-ostan);
Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar
Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi,
Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va
Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be two three new provinces named Qom Gorgan, Qom, and Qazvin
25 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan);
- Ardabil,
- Azarbayjan-e Gharbi,
- Azarbayjan-e Sharqi,
- Bushehr,
- Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
- Esfahan,
- Fars,
- Gilan,
- Hamadan,
- Hormozgan,
- Ilam,
- Kerman,
- Kermanshahan,
- Khorasan,
- Khuzestan,
- Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi,
- Kordestan,
- Lorestan,
- Markazi,
- Mazandaran,
- Semnan,
- Sistan va Baluchestan,
- Tehran,
- Yazd,
- Zanjan
note: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, and Qazvin
25 provinces (ostanha, singular-ostan); singular--ostan);
Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar
Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi,
Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va
Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be three new provinces named Gorgan, Golestan, Qom, and
Qazvin
- 28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qom, Qazvin, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
25 28 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan);singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar
note: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, and
Qazvin
- 28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qom, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
The same text in 2002 and 2003.
- 28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
The same text in 3 editions, 2005 to 2007.
- 30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Janubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shemali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
28 30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khorasan-e Janubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shemali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Janubi, Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shemali, Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
- 30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shomali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
The same text in 15 editions, 2010 to 2024.
31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
- Alborz,
- Ardabil,
- Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan),
- Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan),
- Bushehr,
- Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari,
- Esfahan,
- Fars,
- Gilan,
- Golestan,
- Hamadan,
- Hormozgan,
- Ilam,
- Kerman,
- Kermanshah,
- Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan),
- Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan),
- Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan),
- Khuzestan,
- Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad,
- Kordestan,
- Lorestan,
- Markazi,
- Mazandaran,
- Qazvin,
- Qom,
- Semnan,
- Sistan va Baluchestan,
- Tehran,
- Yazd,
- Zanjan
30 31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi, Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi, Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali, Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
31 provinces ( ostanha , singular - ostan );
- Alborz,
- Ardabil,
- Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan),
- Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan),
- Bushehr,
- Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari,
- Esfahan,
- Fars,
- Gilan,
- Golestan,
- Hamadan,
- Hormozgan,
- Ilam,
- Kerman,
- Kermanshah,
- Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan),
- Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan),
- Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan),
- Khuzestan,
- Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad,
- Kordestan,
- Lorestan,
- Markazi,
- Mazandaran,
- Qazvin,
- Qom,
- Semnan,
- Sistan va Baluchestan,
- Tehran,
- Yazd,
- Zanjan
31 provinces (ostanha, ( ostanha , singular - ostan); ostan ); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Iran: Administrative divisions.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iran/administrative-divisions.