List of largest cities of Iran
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. 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.
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 with large industries and hosts several 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, 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 are Tabriz, Qom and Ahvaz.
List of Metro Cities
There are ten cities or metropolitan areas in Iran with a million or more inhabitants.| Rank | City | Population |
| 1 | Tehran | 15,800,000 |
| 2 | Isfahan | 3,989,070 |
| 3 | Mashhad | 3,416,000 |
| 4 | Karaj | 2,512,737 |
| 5 | Shiraz | 1,800,000 |
| 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 |