Iran has one of the highest urban population growth rates in the world. From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of the population increased from 27% to 60%. The United Nations predicts that by 2030 80% of the population will live in urban areas."Islamic Azad University", retrieved 28 Jan 2008 Most internal migrants have settled near the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Ahvaz, Mashhad and Qom.

Tehran, with a population of 8.7 million in 2016, is the largest city in Iran and is the nation's capital. Tehran is home to around 11% of Iran's population. It is the hub of Iran's communication and transport networks.

Mashhad, with a population of 4.2 million in 2019, is the second-largest Iranian city and the centre of the province of Razavi Khorasan. Mashhad is one of the holiest Shi'a cities in the world as it is the site of the Imam Reza shrine. It is the centre of tourism in Iran. Between 15 and 20 million pilgrims go to Imam Reza's shrine every year.Religious Tourism Potentials Rich retrieved 28 Feb 2008 Mashhad, Iran retrieved 28 Feb 2008

The third most populous city of Iran is Isfahan with a population 2.5 million in 2019. This city is one of the most industrial cities of Iran, hosting large industries and a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city has a wide variety of historic monuments and is known for its paintings, history and architecture.

The fourth most populous Iranian city is Karaj, with a population of 2.1 million in 2019. Karaj is the capital of Alborz province and is 35 km west of Tehran, at the foot of Alborz mountains. Karaj is increasingly becoming an extension of metropolitan Tehran.

The fifth most populous Iranian city is Shiraz (population 1.57 million), which is located in the southwest of Iran with a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for over a thousand years. Shiraz is one of the oldest cities of ancient Persia, known as the city of poets, literature and flowers. It is also considered by many Iranians to be the city of gardens and also a major center for Iran's electronic industries.

Other major cities include Tabriz (population 1.56 million), Qom (population 1.2 million) and Ahvaz (population 1.18 million).

City nicknames City NicknameIsfahan Half of the WorldTehran City of 72 NationsZahedan Little LondonYasujCity of TulipsMashhad Spiritual Capital of IranPiranshahr Tourism Gateway of IranUrmiaLittle ParisAhvaz City of BridgesShahrekordRoof of IranAbadanBrazil of IranArdabilCity of HoneyRamsarBride of Iran

List of Metro Cities

There are ten cities or metropolitan areas in Iran with a million or more inhabitants, according to the 2016 census.

Rank CityPopulation 1 Tehran 15,800,000 2 Isfahan 3,989,070 3 Mashhad 3,416,000 4 Karaj 2,512,737 5 Shiraz 2,080,000 6 Tabriz 1,773,023 7 Qom 1,260,000 8 Ahvaz 1,184,788 9 Kermanshah 1,083,833 10 Urmia 1,000,000

Cities over 100,000 population The following sorted table, lists the most populous cities in Iran with a population of more than 100,000 in 2016. A city is displayed in bold if it is the province capital. Rank City Province Date of Official Foundation of Municipality 2016 Census 2011 Census Change 1 Tehran Tehran 1907 2 Mashhad Razavi Khorasan 1918 3 Isfahan Isfahan 1907 4 Karaj Alborz 1951 5 Shiraz Fars 1907 6 TabrizEast Azerbaijan 1907 7QomQom 1926 8AhvazKhuzestan 1925 9 Kermanshah Kermanshah 1912 10 Urmia West Azerbaijan 1928 11 Rasht Gilan 1907 12 Zahedan Sistan and Baluchestan 1938 13 Hamadan Hamadan 1911 14 Kerman Kerman 1907 15 Yazd Yazd 1926 16 Ardabil Ardabil 1925 17 Bandar Abbas Hormozgan 1925 18 Arak Markazi 1927 19 Eslamshahr Tehran 1978 20 Zanjan Zanjan 1923 21 Sanandaj Kurdistan 1928 22 Qazvin Qazvin 1924 23 Khorramabad Lorestan 1931 24 Gorgan Golestan 1925 25 Sari Mazandaran 1927 26 Shahriar Tehran 1952 27 Qods Tehran 1989 28 Kashan Isfahan 1930 29 Malard Tehran 1995 30 Dezful Khuzestan 1920 31 Nishapur Razavi Khorasan 1931 32 Babol Mazandaran 1925 33 Khomeyni Shahr Isfahan 1932 34 Sabzevar Razavi Khorasan 1930 35 Piranshahr West Azerbaijan 1996 36 Amol Mazandaran 1933 37 Pakdasht Tehran 1991 38 Najafabad Isfahan 1931 39 Borujerd Lorestan 1935 40 Abadan Khuzestan 1924 41 Qarchak Tehran 1976 42 Bojnord North Khorasan 1931 43 Varamin Tehran 1941 44 Bushehr Bushehr 1922 45 Saveh Markazi 1931 46 Qaem Shahr Mazandaran 1935 47 Birjand South Khorasan 1928 48 Nasimshahr Tehran 1995 49 Sirjan Kerman 1936 50 Khoy West Azerbaijan 1923 51 Ilam Ilam 1936 52 Bukan West Azerbaijan 1948 53 Shahr-e Kord Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari 1931 54 Semnan Semnan 1925 55 Fardis Alborz 2013 56 Maragheh East Azerbaijan 1921 57 Shahin Shahr Isfahan 1976 58 Malayer Hamadan 1934 59 Mahabad West Azerbaijan 1931 60 Saqqez Kurdistan 1935 61 Bandar-e Mahshahr Khuzestan 1954 62 Rafsanjan Kerman 1935 63 Gonbad-e Kavus Golestan 1934 64 Shahrud Semnan 1925 65 Marvdasht Fars 1950 66 Kamal Shahr Alborz1996 67 Jahrom Fars 1925 68 Torbat-e Heydarieh Razavi Khorasan 1928 69 Marivan Kurdistan1957 70 Andimeshk Khuzestan 1956 71 Shahreza Isfahan 1929 72 Zabol Sistan and Baluchestan 1928 73 Yasuj Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad 1970 74 Miandoab West Azerbaijan 1935 75 Khorramshahr Khuzestan 1925 76 Marand East Azerbaijan 1929 77 Jiroft Kerman 1946 78 Bam Kerman 1937 79 Behbahan Khuzestan 1937 80 Dorud Lorestan 1949 81 Nazarabad Alborz 2002 82 Mohammadshahr Alborz1996 83 IzehKhuzestan 1958 84 Bandar-e Anzali Gilan 1922 85 Andisheh Tehran 2003 86 Iranshahr Sistan and Baluchestan 1940 87 Fasa Fars1926 88 Borazjan Bushehr1928 89 Baneh Kurdistan 1948 90 Chabahar Sistan and Baluchestan 1950 91 Robat Karim Tehran 1983 92 Kashmar Razavi Khorasan 1929 93 Shushtar Khuzestan 1927 94 Quchan Razavi Khorasan 1937 95 Lahijan Gilan 1928 96 Ahar East Azerbaijan 1944 97 Masjed Soleyman Khuzestan 1959 98 Torbat-e Jam Razavi Khorasan 1933

Gallery

See also List of cities in Iran by province List of cities in Asia

References

Bibliography

1969–1973