Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province

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For the village in Bushehr Province, see Chahar Mahal. For the village in Gilan Province, see Chahar Mahal. For other places with a similar name, see Bakhtiari (disambiguation).

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province
استان چهارمحال و بختیاری (Persian)
Province
Location of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province within Iran
Location of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province within Iran
Coordinates: 31°58′N 50°29′E / 31.967°N 50.483°E / 31.967; 50.483[2][3][unreliable source?]
CountryIran
RegionRegion 2[1]
CapitalShahr-e Kord
Counties12
Government
 • Governor-generalJafar Mardani (Independent)
Area
 • Total
16,332 km2 (6,306 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[4]
 • Total
947,763
 • Density58.031/km2 (150.30/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s)Luri language
Persian
Qashqai Turkish
HDI (2017)0.798[5]
high · 13th

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province (Persian: استان چهارمحال و بختیاری)[a] is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Shahr-e Kord.[6] The province lies in the southwest of the country, with an area of 16,332 square kilometers.

The province was classified as part of Region 2 upon the division of the provinces into 5 regions solely for coordination and development purposes on June 22, 2014.[1]

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province lies in the heart of the Zagros Mountains, a mountain range that stretches across north-western Iran and forms a natural barrier between Iran and Iraq.[7]

Demographics

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Languages

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Bakhtiāri, which belongs to the Luri language of the Iranian language family, is the province's main language. Bakhtiāri is primarily spoken in the valleys of the higher areas in the western half of the province. It is also spoken in the lower areas around Lordegān in the south, and by speakers who have moved into the cities in the north-east.[8]

Linguistic map of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari province

In the north-east quarter of the province, people in most cities and villages speak either Chārmahāli (also in the Southwestern branch of Iranian) or Chaharmahali Turkic. Chārmahāli is transitional between Bakhtiari and Persian varieties of Isfahan province, but more similar to the latter. Chārmahāli varieties spoken in cities include Dehkordi (in Shahr-e Kord), Ghafarrokhi (in Farrokh Shahr), Heysheguni (in Hafshejān), and Borujeni (in Borujen). There are also many other varieties of Chārmahāli spoken in rural areas.

Most types of Turkic spoken in this province are similar to Qashqa'i of Fars province, but they are transitional to the Āzarbāyjāni (Azerbaijani) language of north-west Iran. The Chārmahāli and Turkic language areas overlap with one another, and in the foothills of the Zagros and in the larger cities, they intermingle with Bakhtiāri as well.[8]

Tehrani-type Persian is now being taught by parents to children as a first language in some parts of the province, with the highest concentrations in the cities.[8] This statistic is based on the population statistics of 2013.

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Linguistic Composition[9]
language percent
Luri
 
 61.88%
Persian
 
 20.3%
Turkic
 
 17.80%
Other, mixed
 
 0.02%

The Atlas of the Languages of Iran (ALI) published a series of language maps for Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province, including a point-based and polygon (area-based) language distribution maps, and several linguistic data maps.[8]

Written descriptions of some of the Bakhtiāri varieties in the province.[10][11] and a lexicon of the Bakhtiāri language[12] have also been published.

Population

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At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 843,784 in 194,171 households.[13] The following census in 2011 counted 895,263 people in 234,416 households.[14] The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 947,763 in 270,434 households.[4]

Administrative divisions

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The population history and structural changes of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province
Counties 2006[13] 2011[14] 2016[4]
Ardal 68,740 53,514 48,880
Ben[b] — — 28,326
Borujen 113,795 118,681 122,483
Falard[c] — — —
Farrokhshahr[d] — — —
Farsan 90,111 93,941 95,286
Khanmirza[e] — — —
Kiar[f] — 58,047 50,976
Kuhrang 33,468 35,915 41,535
Lordegan 175,289 194,783 209,681
Saman[b] — — 34,616
Shahrekord 362,381 340,382 315,980
Total 843,784 895,263 947,763

Cities

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According to the 2016 census, 607,444 people (over 64% of the population of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province) live in the following cities:[4]

City Population
Aluni 5,248
Ardal 10,113
Babaheydar 11,202
Bazoft 1,519
Ben 12,971
Boldaji 11,980
Borujen 57,071
Chelgerd 2,989
Cholicheh 4,945
Dashtak 4,016
Dastana 5,143
Faradonbeh 13,317
Farrokh Shahr 31,739
Farsan 30,504
Gahru 6,263
Gandoman 6,291
Gujan 6,179
Hafshejan 21,352
Haruni 3,601
Junqan 14,433
Kaj 4,227
Kian 12,948
Lordegan 40,528
Mal-e Khalifeh 4,024
Manj 1,492
Nafech 4,059
Naghan 6,125
Naqneh 9,923
Pardanjan 8,699
Saman 14,192
Samsami 1,203
Sar Khun 2,131
Sardasht 5,691
Sefiddasht 5,471
Shahr-e Kord 190,441
Shalamzar 6,899
Sudjan 5,581
Sureshjan 12,308
Taqanak 6,170
Vardanjan 4,456

Economy

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The province is mainly active in the agriculture sector. Most of the industrial sector is clustered around the center of the province.

The province has the potential to become a vibrant tourist attraction because of its natural resources.[20]

Natural attractions

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Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province is the source and birthplace of many springs, rivers and waterfalls that supply the water of the two great and vital rivers of Zayanderud and Karoon and cause the development of many cities in the country. Natural attractions include Zayanderud river, Zamankhan bridge, Kouhrang 1 Dam, Dime spring, Sheik Ali Khan waterfall, Chama Ice cave, Darkesh varkesh canyon, Rostam Abad Sardab spring, Do Polan, Karoon-4 dam, Darreh Esgh (love valley), Atashgah waterfall, Choghakhor Wetland, Pire Ghar cave, Siasard spring, Helen protected area, Barm spring, Sendegan spring, Tang Sayyad national Park, Parvaz national park, Sarab cave, Gandoman wetland, Zard lime waterfall, Kordikon waterfall.[21]

Colleges and universities

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See also

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Media related to Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province at Wikimedia Commons

Notes

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  1. ^ Also romanized as Ostân-e Čahâr-Mahâl-o Baxtiyâri
  2. ^ a b Separated from Shahrekord County after the 2011 census[15]
  3. ^ Separated from Lordegan County after the 2016 census[16]
  4. ^ Separated from Shahrekord County after the 2016 census[17]
  5. ^ Separated from Lordegan County after the 2016 census[18]
  6. ^ Separated from Ardal County and Shahrekord County after the 2006 census[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند". همشهری آنلاین. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  2. ^ "XF8M+M88 Lirabi, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  3. ^ "بخش مرکزی [Central District], Ardal County, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiyari Province, Iran" (Map). OpenStreetMap (in Persian). 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1395 : استان چهارمحال و بختیاری [General Population and Housing Census 2016: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province]. مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran] (in Persian). Archived from the original (Excel) on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  6. ^ Habibi, Hassan (12 September 1990) [تاریخ تصویب (Approval date) 1369/06/21 (Iranian Jalali calendar)]. تصویب سازمان و سلسله تابعیت عناصر و واحدهای تقسیمات کشوری استان چهارمحال و بختیاری به مرکزیت شهر 25 - د [‌Approval of the organization and hierarchy of subordination of elements and units of the national divisions of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province centered in the city of Shahr-e Kord]. لام تا کام [Lam ta Kam] (in Persian). ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board]. شناسه [ID] 60A18F84-E80E-41D2-A108-62931133CA64. شماره دوره [Course number] 69, شماره جلد [Volume number] 3. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  7. ^ https://sku.ac.ir/en/University_AboutProvince.aspx
  8. ^ a b c d "Language distribution: Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari Province". Iran Atlas. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Language distribution: Chahr Mahal va Bakhtiari Province". Atlas of the Languages of Iran. 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  10. ^ Khosravi, Abdol'ali. 1996/1375. Guyesh-e Bakhtiāri: Ketāb-e chahārom [Bakhtiari dialect: Fourth book]. Esfahan: Nashr-e Ghazal.
  11. ^ Tāheri, Esfandyār. 2010/1389. Guyesh-e Bakhtiāri-ye Kuhrang [The Bakhtiari dialect of Kuhrang]. Tehran: IHCS Press.
  12. ^ Madadi, Zohrāb. 1996/1375. Vāzhehnāmeh-ye zabān-e Bakhtiāri [Lexicon of the Bakhtiari language]. Tehran & Esfahan: Enteshārāt-e Āyāt.
  13. ^ a b سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1385 : استان چهارمحال و بختیاری [General Population and Housing Census 2006: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province]. مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran] (in Persian). Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  14. ^ a b سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1390 : استان چهارمحال و بختیاری [General Population and Housing Census 2011: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province]. Iran Data Portal—Syracuse University (in Persian). مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran]. Archived from the original (Excel) on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  15. ^ Rahimi, Mohammad Reza (1 January 2013) [تاریخ ابلاغیه : 1391/10/12 (Date of Resolution: 1391/10/12) (Iranian Jalali calendar)]. تصویب‌نامه درخصوص تقسیمات کشوری در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری [‌Resolution on national divisions in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province]. مرکز پژوهشهای مجلس شورای اسلامی ایران [Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran] (in Persian). ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. هیات وزیران [Council of Ministers]. بختیاری شماره۲۰۰۶۷۱/ت۴۷۶۶۱ه [Notification Number 200671/T47661H]. Archived from the original on 10 January 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  16. ^ Habibi, Hassan (21 February 1990) [تاریخ تصویب (Approval date) 1368/12/02 (Iranian Jalali calendar)]. ایجاد و تأسیس بخش فلارد ( به مرکزیت روستای مال خلیفه و دهشتان پشتکوه به مرکزیت روستای قلعه سوخته در شهرستان لردگان تابع استان چهار محال و بختیاری [‌Creation and establishment of the Falard District (centered on the village of Mal-e Khalifeh and the Poshtkuh Rural District centered on the village of Qaleh Sukhteh in the Lordegan County of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province]. لام تا کام [Lam ta Kam] (in Persian). ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board]. شناسه [ID] C591958A-C03D-4627-8B43-4D43AA152B13. شماره دوره [Course number] 68. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  17. ^ Mokhber, Mohammad (14 August 2023) [شماره ۸۸۹۶۳/ت ۶۱۳۳۰ هـ ـ ۱۴۰۲/۵/۲۳ (No. 88963/T 61330 AH - 1402/5/23) (Iranian Jalali calendar)]. تصویب‌نامه در خصوص تقسیمات کشوری در شهرستان شهرکرد [‌Resolution on the national divisions in Shahrekord County]. پژوهشکده حقوقی شهر دانش [Shahr Danesh Law Research Institute] (in Persian). ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. هیات وزیران [Council of Ministers]. شماره ۸۸۹۶۳/ت ۶۱۳۳۰ هـ ـ ۱۴۰۲/۵/۲۳ [Number 88963/T 61330 AH]. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  18. ^ Jahangiri, Eshaq (27 February 2019) [تاریخ تصویب : 1397/12/08 (Date of approval: 1397/12/08) (Iranian Jalali calendar)]. تصویب نامه در خصوص تقسیمات کشوری در استان چهار محال و بختیاری [‌Resolution on the national divisions in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province]. مرکز پژوهشهای مجلس شورای اسلامی ایران [Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran] (in Persian). ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. هیات وزیران [Council of Ministers]. شماره ابلاغیه : ۱۶۴۸۸۱/ت۵۵۵۱۰هـ [Notification number: 164881/T55510 AH]. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  19. ^ Davoodi, Parviz (21 October 2007) [تاریخ تصویب (Approval date) 1386/07/29 (Iranian Jalali calendar)]. تصویبنامه وزرای عضو کمیسیون سیاسی- دفاعی هیئت دولت در خصوص برخی تغییرات و تقسیمات کشوری در استان چهار محال و بختیاری [‌Approval of the Ministers of the Political Defense Commission of the Government Board regarding some changes and national divisions in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province]. لام تا کام [Lam ta Kam] (in Persian). ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board]. شناسه [ID] 2773B618-ABF2-4EA2-A9B9-33054C181C06. Archived from the original on 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Choghakhor to become a tourist hub by 2008". www.payvand.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  21. ^ "A trip to Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari".
  22. ^ "Islamic Azad University Shahrekord Branch - About Shahrekord". 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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