Iranian Ethnicities and Languages
Iran is home to a diverse population made up of various ethnic groups, each with its own rich cultural heritage and unique language or dialect. This cultural mosaic reflects Iran’s long history and geographical vastness.
Major Ethnic Groups:
Persians (Fars):
The largest ethnic group, predominantly living in central and southern Iran, speaking Persian (Farsi), the country’s official language.Azerbaijanis (Azeri Turks):
Concentrated in northwest Iran, particularly in East and West Azerbaijan provinces, they speak Azerbaijani Turkish.
Kurds:
Primarily living in western regions like Kurdistan and Kermanshah, they speak Kurdish in several dialects such as Sorani and Kurmanji.Lurs:
Native to the western regions of Lorestan and surrounding areas, they speak Luri, which is closely related to Persian.Baluchis:
Found in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, they speak Baluchi.Arabs:
Mostly residing in the southern province of Khuzestan, they speak Arabic.
Turkmens:
Living near the northeastern border, particularly in Golestan province, they speak Turkmen.Gilaks and Mazandaranis:
Found along the Caspian Sea coast, they speak Gilaki and Mazandarani, which are part of the Northwestern Iranian language group.Talysh:
Inhabitants of the northwest near the border with Azerbaijan, speaking Talysh.Qashqai and Bakhtiari:
Nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes in central and southwestern Iran, speaking their own Turkic and Luri dialects.
