A map showing the distribution of ethnic groups across Iran.

Who are the ethnic groups in Iran?

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Persians

Region: Central

Population: 50-60%

Language: Farsi

Provinces: Tehran, Isfahan, Fars, Alborz, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan, Yazd, Kerman, Bushehr, Hormozgan, Markazi, Qazvin, Gilan, Mazandaran, Semnan, Hamadan, North Khorasan, Khuzestan, half of Sistan & Baluchistan, southern and western half of Golestan.

Mazanderanis that speak Mazanderani, Tats, and Talysh fall under the Persian ethnic group.

Azeris

Region: North Western

Population: 16-20%

Language: Azerbaijani

Provinces: East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Qazvin, Hamadan

Violence has been escalating in some areas in this region, as the Islamic Republic security forces are stepping up their violent crackdown on protestors.

Kurds

Region: North Western

Population: 10%

Language: Kurdish

Provinces: West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, parts of Hamadan, parts of Lorestan

22 year old Jina Mahsa Amini, whose death triggered the current wave of protests, is from this region. A convoy of heavy military vehicles with heavily armed troops have been spotted in this region and sounds of heavy weaponry have been heard on social media.

Lurs

Region: Western

Population: 6%

Language: Luri

Provinces: Lorestan, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, Isfahan, Fars, Bushehr, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad

The funeral of 16 year old Nika Shakarami who was killed by the Islamic Republic was held in Khorramabad, Lorestan.

Gilaks

Region: Northern

Population: 4%

Language: Gilaki

Provinces: Mazandaran, Qazvin, Tehran, Alborz

The language is closely related to Mazanderani.

Arabs

Region: Southern

Population: 2%

Language: Arabic

Provinces: Khuzestan, Former Khorasan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Qom

The province of Khuzestan is oil-rich and borders with Iraq.

Baloch

Region: Eastern

Population: 2%

Language: Balochi

Provinces: Sistan, Baluchistan

The region is the most isolated and remote area of Iran. On a day known as Bloody Friday, 93 people were killed by the security forces. This group has the highest casualties amongst the protestors.


Sources: irannegintravel.com, Wikipedia.org, University of Cologne

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