Origins & History
The Persian people are an Iranian ethnic group with a documented history stretching back over 2,500 years to the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE), one of antiquity's largest states. Persian language and culture have influenced a vast region from Anatolia to South Asia over subsequent millennia. Modern Persian identity is closely associated with Iran, though it has shaped many neighboring cultures.
Geographic Distribution
There are approximately 70 to 80 million ethnic Persians, the majority living in Iran where they form roughly 60 percent of the population. Smaller Persian and Persian-speaking populations live in Tajikistan (where the language is called Tajik), Afghanistan (where it is called Dari), and Uzbekistan, particularly around historic cities like Samarkand and Bukhara.
Diaspora & Migration
The Persian diaspora, particularly the Iranian diaspora, grew substantially after 1979. Major communities live in the United States (especially Los Angeles, sometimes called "Tehrangeles"), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. This diaspora includes significant populations of writers, academics, and business figures.
About This Map
This map shows where visitors perceive Persian populations to live. Because "Persian" is sometimes used interchangeably with "Iranian", results may reflect broader Iranian identity as well.
The map above shows crowd opinion, not official demographic data. Vote on the main map to contribute your own perception of where Persians populations live.