Counties of Iran (Shahrestan): Administrative units, structure, and role
Overview of Iran's counties (shahrestan): their place in the provincial system, internal parts (bakhsh, dehestan), administration, history, uses, and notable examples.
Overview
In Iran the second-level administrative divisions are known as counties (Persian: shahrestan). Each county lies inside a province (ostan) and typically centers on an urban settlement that functions as its administrative capital. Counties are an intermediate layer between provincial authorities and smaller local units and serve as key building blocks for local government, census reporting, and planning. For more on the higher level, see provinces and the country context at Iran.
Typical structure and parts
A shahrestan normally contains a mix of urban and rural subdivisions. Common components include:
- Central city (markaz-e shahrestan): the county capital and main administrative center.
- Bakhsh (district): intermediate districts inside the county; a county usually has one central bakhsh and may have additional ones.
- Dehestan (rural district): clusters of villages within a bakhsh that share local administration for rural affairs.
- Cities (shahr): municipal urban settlements which may be located in one or more bakhsh.
- Villages: the smallest settlements, grouped into rural districts for administrative purposes.
Administration and functions
Counties are administered from their capital by a county governor, commonly called a farmandar, who operates under the provincial governor-general and the national Ministry of Interior. Local municipalities and elected councils handle city-level services, while county authorities coordinate broader programs such as health, education, infrastructure, and resource distribution. Counties also provide the geographic framework for statistical collection, development planning, and—frequently—electoral districts for parliamentary representation.
History and development
The modern arrangement of provinces and counties evolved through reforms in the 20th century and has been adjusted periodically to reflect population growth, urbanization, and administrative needs. New counties are created by subdividing existing ones or by elevating districts to county status. Because of these changes, the exact number of counties has varied; for example, there were 324 counties reported in 2005, but the figure has changed since then as authorities reorganize boundaries to improve local governance.
Uses, importance, and notable facts
Counties are important for delivering government services at a level that can respond to local conditions while remaining linked to provincial and national authorities. They range widely in size and population: some encompass major metropolitan areas such as Tehran County, Mashhad County, and Isfahan County, while others cover sparsely populated or mountainous territory. Because counties are often the level at which budgets, schools, and health services are allocated, their boundaries and capacities affect daily life for residents across Iran.
Distinctions and practical points
Two practical points help when reading maps or administrative lists: first, a county may share its name with its principal city, which can cause confusion between the urban municipality and the larger county territory. Second, administrative reform is ongoing; users seeking current counts or exact boundary definitions should consult up-to-date government sources or statistical offices rather than rely on older totals.
Overview
The following overview serves for a better understanding of the administrative units. A province P with two administrative districts (Shahrestan): A and B serves as an example. Administrative district A has three counties (Bachsch): center, X and Y. The district center is the district containing the city M, the main town of the administrative district. Each circle contains one or more cities and one or more municipalities (Gd). In our example, the circle center contains the city M, the town N and the municipality T, which is composed of the villages D1, D2, D3 and D4; circle X contains the city O and the municipality U; and circle Y has no cities and one municipality. The smallest administrative district consists of only one town as the only district, which is naturally called the center. Administrative district (Shahrestan) B in the following table is such a type, it contains only one city: Q.
| Province (ostan) | Administrative district (shahrestan) | Circle (bachsch) | City (shahr) /Municipality | Villages |
| P | A | Center | City M (main town) | |
| City N | ||||
| Gd T | D1, D2, D3, D4 | |||
| X | City O | |||
| Gd U | D5, D6 | |||
| Y | Gd V | D7, D8, D9 | ||
| B | Center | City Q |
List of shahrestans
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In the following, the administrative districts (Shahrestan) are subdivided according to the Iranian provinces.
Alborz
- Eschtehard
- Fardis
- Karaj
- Nazarabad
- Savodshbolagh
- Taleghan
Ardabil
- Ardabil
- Bilasavar
- Germi
- Khalkhal
- Kowsar
- Meshginshahr
- Namin
- Nir
- Parsabad
Bushehr
- Assaluyeh
- Bushehr
- Dashtestan
- Dashti
- Dayyer
- Deylam
- Ganaveh
- Jam
- Kangan
- Tangestan
Chahār Mahāl and Bakhtiyāri
- Ardal
- Borud's
- Farsan
- Kiar
- Kuhrang
- Lordegan
- Shahr-e cord
Esfahan
- Aran-o-Bidgol
- Ardestan
- Borkhar-o-Meymeh
- Chadegan
- Falavarjan
- Fereydan
- Fereydunschahr
- Golpayegan
- Isfahan
- Kashan
- Chansar
- Chomeinishahr
- Lendschan
- Lower semirome
- Mobarakeh
- Nain
- Najafabad
- Natanz
- Semirom
- Shahreza
- Shahinshahr o Meymeh
- Tiran-o-Korun
Fars
- Abadeh
- Arsanjan
- Bavanat
- Darab
- Eqlid
- Estahban
- Farashband
- Fasa
- Firuzabad
- Gerash
- Jahrom
- Cavar
- Kazerun
- Kherameh
- Khonj
- Chorrambid
- Lamerd
- Larestan
- Mamasani
- Marvdasht
- More
- Neyriz
- Pasargad
- Qir-o-Karzin
- Rostam
- Sarvestan
- Sepidan
- Shiraz
- Zarrindasht
Gilan
- Amlash
- Astara
- Astane-ye-Ashrafiyeh
- Bandar-e-Anzali
- Fuman
- Lāhījān
- Langrud
- Masal
- Rascht
- Rezvanshahr
- Rudbar
- Rudsar
- Shank
- Siahkal
- Some'e-sara
- Talesch
Golestan
- Aliabad
- Aqqala
- Azajahr
- Bandar-e-gaz
- Bandar-e Torkaman
- Galikesch
- Gomischan
- Gonbad-e Qabus
- Gorgan
- Kolaleh
- Kordkuy
- Maravehtapeh
- Minudasht
- Ramian
Hamadan
- Asadabad
- Bahar
- Hamadan
- Kabudrahang
- Malayer
- Nahavand
- Razan
- Tuyserkan
Hormozgan
- Abu Musa
- Bandar Abbas
- Bandar-Lengeh
- Bastak
- Gavbandi
- Hajiabad
- Jask
- Chamir
- Minab
- Qeschm
- Rudan
Ilam
- Abdanan
- Darrehschahr
- Dehloran
- Eyvan
- Ilam
- Malekshahi
- Mehran
- Shirvan-o-Chardavol
Kerman
- Anar
- Anbarabad
- Baft
- Bam
- Bardsir
- Dschiroft
- Fahradsch
- Ghaleye-Ganj
- Kahnuj
- Kerman
- Cowbonan
- Manudshan
- Rabar
- Rafsanjan
- Ravar
- Reygan
- Roudbar-e-Jonub
- Shahr-e-Babak
- Sirjan
- Zarand
Kermānschāh
- Dalaho
- Javanrud
- Gilan-e-gharb
- Harsin
- Islamabad-e-gharb
- Kangavar
- Kermānschāh
- Paveh
- Qasr-e Shirin
- Ravansar
- Sahneh
- Sarpol-e-Zahab
- Solas-e-Babajani
- Sonqor
Khuzestan
- Abadan
- Aghajari
- Ahvaz
- Andika
- Andimeshk
- Baghmalek
- Bavi
- Behbahan
- Chorramshahr
- Dasht-e-Azadegan
- Dezful
- Guotvand
- Haftkel
- Hendijan
- Hoveizeh
- Izeh
- Karun
- Lali
- Mahshahr
- Masjed Soleyman
- Omidiyeh
- Ramhormoz
- Rameshir
- Schadegan
- Shush
- Schushtar
Kohgiluye and Boyer Ahmad
- Bases
- Bahmai
- Boyer-Ahmad
- Cheram
- Dena
- Gachsaran
- Kohgeluyeh
- Yasuj
Kordestān
- Baneh
- Bidschar
- Dehgolan
- Divandarreh
- Kamyaran
- Marivan
- Qorveh
- Sanandaj
- Saqqez
- Sarvabad
Lorestan
- Aligudarz
- Azna
- Borujerd
- Chorramabad
- Dolphin
- Dorud
- Doureh
- Cowdasht
- Pol-e Dochtar
- Selseleh
Markazi
- Ashtian
- Arak
- Delijan
- Chomein
- Khondab
- Komeijan
- Mahallat
- Saveh
- Shazand
- Tafresh
- Zarandieh
Māzandarān
- Abbas abad
- Amol
- Babol
- Babolsar
- Behshahr
- Galugah
- Juybar
- Mahmudabad
- Miyandorud
- Neka
- Nouschahr
- Only
- Qaem Shahr
- Ramsar
- Sari
- Savadkuh
- Tonekabon
- Chalus
North Chorasan
- Bodschnurd
- Esfarayen
- Faroj
- Germeh
- Jajrom
- Maneh-o-Samalqan
- Shirvan
East Azerbaijan
- Ahar
- Ajabshir
- Azarshahr
- Bonab
- Bostanabad
- Charuymagh
- Heris
- Hashtrud
- Jolfa
- Calibar
- Choda Afarin
- Malekan
- Maragha
- Marand
- Mianeh
- Osku
- Sarāb
- Shabestar
- Tabriz
- Varzaqan
Qazvin
- Abyek
- Buinzahra
- Qazvin
- Takestan
Ghom
- Ghom
Razavi-Chorasan
- Bajestan
- Bardaskan
- Chenaran
- Dargaz
- Davarzan
- Fariman
- Firuzeh
- Gonabad
- Jowayin
- Joghatai
- Kalat
- Kashmar
- Khaf
- Khalilabad
- Khoschab
- Mahvelat
- Mashhad
- Nishapur
- Quchan
- Rashtkhar
- Sabzevar
- Sarakh's
- Takht-e-Jolgeh
- Taybad
- Torghabe-o-Shandiz
- Torbat-e-Jam
- Torbat-e-Heydarieh
- Zave
Semnan
- Aradan
- Damghan
- Garmsar
- Mehdishahr
- Meyami
- Semnan
- Shahrud
Sistan and Baluchistan
- Dalgan
- Hirmand
- Iranshahr
- Chasch
- Konarak
- Mehrestan
- Nikshahr
- Saravan
- Sarbaz
- Sib o Soran
- Chahbahar
- Zabol
- Zahedan
- Zehak
South Chorasan
- Birdschand
- Boshruyeh
- Darmian
- Ferdows
- Nehbandan
- Qaen
- Sarayan
- Sarbisheh
Tehran
- Damavand
- Firūzkuh
- Islamschahr
- Malard
- Pakdasht
- Pischva
- Robat-Karim
- Ray
- Shemiranate
- Shahriar
- Shahr-e Qods
- Tehran
- Waramin
West Azerbaijan
- Bukan
- Chaipareh
- Chaldiran
- Choy
- Mahabad
- Maku
- Miandoab
- Naghadeh
- Oschnaviyeh
- Piranschahr
- Poldasht
- Salamas
- Sardasht
- Shahindj
- Shovt
- Takab
- Urmia
Yazd
- Abarkuh
- Ardakan
- Bafq
- Bahabad
- Khatam
- Mehriz
- Meybod
- Sadugh
- Tabas
- Taffeta
- Yazd
Zandjan
- Abhar
- Chodabandeh
- Chorramdarreh
- Eedshrud
- Mahneschan
- Tarom
- Zandjan
Questions and answers
Q: What are the provinces of Iran divided into?
A: The provinces of Iran are divided more into counties called shahrestan.
Q: What does shahrestan mean?
A: Shahrestan means county.
Q: What is an ostan?
A: Ostan is a larger administrative division in Iran, of which shahrestan is a smaller part.
Q: What can be found in a shahrestan?
A: A shahrestan usually contains a city center, a few bakhsh, and a bunch of villages around them. They are also usually some cities in each county.
Q: How many counties did Iran have in 2005?
A: As of the year 2005, Iran had 324 counties.
Q: What is a bakhsh?
A: A bakhsh is a smaller administrative division in Iran, which is usually contained within a shahrestan.
Q: What surrounds a city center in a shahrestan?
A: A few bakhsh and a bunch of villages around them usually surround a city center in a shahrestan.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Counties of Iran (Shahrestan): Administrative units, structure, and role Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/23487