Karbala Governorate

Karbala Governorate
محافظة كربلاء
Aerial view of the shrine of Imam Hussain
Coordinates: 32°27′N 43°48′E / 32.450°N 43.800°E / 32.450; 43.800
Country Iraq
CapitalKarbala
Government
 • GovernorNassif Jassim al-Khattabi
Area
 • Total
5,034 km2 (1,944 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total
1,218,732
 • Density242.1/km2 (627.0/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeIQ-KA
HDI (2024)0.693
medium · 14th of 18
Websitekarbala.gov.iq

Karbala Governorate (Arabic: محافظة كربلاء, Muḥāfażat Karbalāʾ) is a governorate in central Iraq. Its administrative center is the city of Karbala, a holy city for Shia Muslims for housing the shrine of the revered Imam Hussein. The population is majority Shia. The governorate includes part of the artificial Lake Milh.