Quick answerTehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, with 9,840,100 people inside the city limits in 2026. It is best known for the Azadi Tower, the Milad Tower and the Golestan Palace. Its official language is Persian, and its currency is the Iranian rial.
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, with around 9 million people in the city and about 16.8 million in the metropolitan area. It stands at the foot of the Alborz mountains in the north of the country and is Iran's political, economic and cultural centre.
Key facts
| Country | Iran |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 9,840,100 (2026) |
| Time zone | Asia/Tehran |
| Language | Persian |
| Currency | Iranian rial (IRR, ﷼) |
| Coordinates | 35.683° N, 51.417° E |
Overview
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, and the capital of Tehran Province, in the north of the country at the foot of the Alborz mountains. The city itself had 8,693,706 residents in the 2016 census, while a 2026 estimate puts the city at about 9,840,100 people, and the metropolitan area holds about 16.8 million. The city sits on a slope between 1,040 and 2,040 metres above sea level.
Tehran was first chosen as the capital in the late 18th century, under the Qajar dynasty, and it grew from a small town into a metropolis in the 20th century. Its landmarks include the Azadi Tower, built in 1971, the Milad Tower, one of the tallest towers in the world, the Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world.
Today Tehran is the political, economic and cultural centre of Iran and the most populous city in West Asia. It is home to the national government, the parliament, most of the country's universities and museums, and the National Museum of Iran. Greater Tehran includes many neighbouring municipalities, such as Rey, Eslamshahr, Shahriar and Karaj, which has grown into a city of its own.
What Tehran is known for
- Azadi Tower
- Milad Tower
- Golestan Palace
- Grand Bazaar
- National Museum of Iran
- Tabiat Bridge
Landmarks
- Azadi Tower
- Milad Tower
- Golestan Palace
- National Museum of Iran
- Grand Bazaar
- Sa'dabad Complex
- Tabiat Bridge
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Tehran?
Around 9 million people live in Tehran, in the city itself, and about 16.8 million in the metropolitan area. The 2016 census counted 8,693,706 people in the city, and a 2026 estimate puts it at about 9.8 million. That makes Tehran the largest city in Iran and in West Asia.
What is Tehran famous for?
Tehran is famous as the capital of Iran and for the Azadi Tower, the Milad Tower and the Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also known for the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, the National Museum of Iran and the Tabiat Bridge over the Modarres Expressway.
Where is Tehran located?
Tehran is in northern Iran, at the foot of the Alborz mountains, about 100 kilometres south of the Caspian Sea. It is the capital of Iran and of Tehran Province, and it sits between 1,040 and 2,040 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 35.68° N, 51.42° E.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Iran — the country Tehran is in
- Mashhad — another city in Iran
- Isfahan — another city in Iran
- Karaj — another city in Iran
- All cities in Iran
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.