Sistan and Baluchestan province
Sistan and Baluchestan province
استان سیستان و بلوچستان (Persian) | |
|---|---|
Map of Iran with Sistan and Baluchestan province highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 28°17′N 61°07′E / 28.283°N 61.117°E | |
| Country | Iran |
| Capital | Zahedan |
| Counties | 26 |
| Government | |
| • Governor-general | Mansour Bijar (Independent) |
| Area | |
• Total | 180,726 km2 (69,779 sq mi) |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 2,775,014 |
| • Density | 15.3548/km2 (39.7688/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Baloch & Sistani |
| Time zone | UTC+03:30 (IRST) |
| ISO 3166 code | IR-11 |
| Main language(s) | Baluchi Persian |
| HDI (2017) | 0.688 medium · 31st |
The Sistan and Baluchestan province (Persian: استان سيستان و بلوچستان) is the second largest of the 31 provinces of Iran, after Kerman province, with an area of 180,726 km2. Its capital is the city of Zahedan. The province is in the southeast of the country, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The name of the region was simply Baluchistan at first, but later became "Baluchistan and Sistan" before becoming "Sistan and Baluchestan". The province is mainly populated by the Baloch ethnicity with a small minority of Sistani Persians.