Iran lies at the easternmost edge of the geographic and cultural region known as the Middle East. The country is bordered on the north by Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, and Turkmenistan; on the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan; on the south by the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf; and on the west by Iraq and Turkey. Iran's capital and largest city is Tehrân, located in the northern part of the country.

Tehrân the capitol of Iran is located 36°N, 51°E on the globe.

FACTS OF IRAN

Population
68,959,931 (1998 estimate)

Population Density
42 persons/sq km (108 persons/sq mi) (1998 estimate)

Urban/Rural Breakdown
60%Urban
40%Rural (1997 estimate)

Largest Cities
Tehran6,758,845
Mashhad1,887,405
Esfahan1,266,072
(1996 census)

Ethnic Groups
60%Persian
25%Azeri
7%Kurdish
2%Lur
6%Other including Arab, Armenian, Assyrian, Baluchi, Georgian, and Pashtun Languages

Official Language
Modern Persian
Other Languages Azeri, Kurdish, Luri, Balochi, Arabic, Turkish, other minority languages

Religions
93%Shiite Islam
6%Sunni Islam
1%Other including Armenian Christianity, Judaism, Bahai, Zoroastrianism