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Herat Province

Coordinates: 34°00′N 62°00′E / 34.0°N 62.0°E / 34.0; 62.0
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a province of Afghanistan. For its capital city, see Herat.
Herat
هرات
Province
From the top, Landscape of Herat Province, Great Mosque of Herat, Cheheltan-Chisht
.
Map of Afghanistan with Herat highlighted
Map of Afghanistan with Herat highlighted
Detail map of Herat province
Detail map of Herat province
Coordinates (Capital): 34°00′N 62°00′E / 34.0°N 62.0°E / 34.0; 62.0
Country Afghanistan
CapitalHerat
Government
 • GovernorNoor Mohammad Islamjar[1]
 • Deputy GovernorAbdul Qayyum Rohani
Area
 • Total
55,868 km2 (21,571 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Total
2,140,662
 • Density38.316/km2 (99.239/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
Postal code
30xx
ISO 3166 codeAF-HER
Main languagesDari

Herat (Dari:[a] هرات), or Harat, is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the western part of the country. Together with Badghis, Farah, and Ghor provinces, it makes up the north-western region of Afghanistan. Its primary city and administrative capital is Herat city. The province of Herat is divided into about 17 districts and contains over 2,000 villages. It has a population of about 3,780,000, making it the second–most populated province in Afghanistan behind Kabul Province.[2] The population is multi-ethnic but largely Persian-speaking. Herat dates back to Avestan times and was traditionally known for its wine. The city has a number of historic sites, including the Herat Citadel and the Musalla Complex. During the Middle Ages, Herat became one of the important cities of Khorasan and was known as the Pearl of Khorasan.[3]

The province of Herat shares a border with Iran in the west and Turkmenistan in the north, making it an important trading region. The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAPI) is expected to pass through Herat from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India in the south. The province has two airports; one is Herat International Airport, in the capital Herat, and the other is at the Shindand Air Base, which is one of the largest military bases in Afghanistan. The Salma Dam, which is fed by the Hari River, is also located in this province.

History

[edit]
Further information: History of Afghanistan

The region of Herat was historically part of Greater Khorasan, which was successively controlled by the Tahirids followed by the Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Ilkhanids, Timurids, Safavids, Hotakis, Afsharids, Durranis, Qajarids until it became part of the modern state of Afghanistan.

During the 19th century, the British arrived from southern Afghanistan as part of the "Great Game" and backed up the Afghans during one Persian siege and one capture of the city, the former in 1838, and the latter in 1856 in order to prevent Persian or Russian influence reaching deeper in South Asia, and also, more importantly, to protect Britain's colony in India as part of the Great Game. The situation in the province then remained quiet and uneventful until the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The province saw a number of battles during the 1980s Soviet war, and remained an active area of guerrilla warfare throughout, with local mujahideen commander Ismail Khan leading resistance against the Soviet-backed Afghan government. This continued until the Soviet Union withdrew all its forces in 1989.

When the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, Khan became the governor of the province, a position he retained until the Taliban forces from the south took control of the province in 1995. Following the ousting of the Taliban and establishment of the Karzai administration in late 2001, led by Hamid Karzai, Khan once again became governor of Herat.

Khan become a figure of controversy when the media began reporting that he was attempting to restrict freedom of the people, and that he was becoming more of an independent ruler as a warlord. He lost a son, Mirwais Sadiq, in 2004 during a fight with forces of other warlords. In response to this, the central government began expanding into the province with the newly trained Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Khan was ordered to leave his post to become a minister and live in Kabul.

After 2005, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) established a presence in the area to help assist the Afghan government. It was led by Italy. A multi-national Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was also established to help the local population of the province. The United States established a consulate in Herat, trained Afghan security forces, and built schools and clinics.

Herat was one of the first seven areas that transitioned security responsibility from NATO to Afghanistan. On 21 July 2011, Afghan security forces assumed lead security responsibility from NATO. On the occasion, Minister of Defence Wardak told the audience, "This is our national responsibility to take over our security and defend our country."

Herat International Airport

In December 2012, Afghanistan and Italy signed a "long term agreement" including a €150 million soft loan facility for infrastructure projects in Herat Province. In 2014 the agreement for a first soft loan worth about US$32 million was agreed for the upgrade of the Herat airport. In 2016 a second soft loan agreement worth about US$100 million was signed between Afghanistan and Italy for the construction a 155 km road between Herat and Chist-e Sharif. Italy also agreed to assess the possibility of a third soft loan worth about US$70 million for completing the railroad connection between Herat and Mashad in Iran. The Asian Development Bank is also implementing a feasibility study for the construction of a railway connection between Herat and Turkmenistan.

In 2023, Herat was heavily impacted by two major earthquakes, one of which was 6.3-magnitude earthquake, and the other an aftershock. Combined, the earthquakes killed over 2,800 and injured thousands more in the province. It has been called Afghanistan's worst earthquake since 1998. Herat was hit by a third earthquake of 6.3 magnitude in just over a week. It killed 2 people and injured almost 150.[4]

Administrative divisions

[edit]
Districts of Herat

The province is divided into 16 districts and contains over 1,000 villages.

Districts of Herat Province
District Capital Population[5] Area
in km2 		Pop.
density 		Number of villages and ethnic groups
Adraskan 60,716 8,113 7 Predominantly Pashtuns, few Farsiwan (Tajiks).
Chishti Sharif 26,838 1,626 17 Majority Farsiwan (Aimaqs), minority Pashtuns.[6]
Farsi 34,676 2,194 16 Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs, Tajiks), few Pashtuns and Uzbeks.
Ghoryan 101,878 7,934 13 Majority Pashtuns, minority Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs).
Gulran 106,420 5,544 19 Majority Pashtuns, minority Farsiwan (Aimaqs) and Turkmen.
Guzara 165,940 2,455 68 Mixed Farsiwan (Tajiks) and Pashtuns.
Herat Herat 574,276 234 2,452 Majority Farsiwan (Tajiks), minority Pashtuns, few Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmens and others.[7]
Injil/Enjil 276,479 896 308 Majority Farsiwan (Aimaqs, Tajiks), minority Pashtuns.
Karukh 72,530 2,123 34 Majority Farsiwan (Aimaqs), minority Pashtuns.
Kohsan 61,513 2,688 23 60% Pashtuns, 35% Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs), 5% Baloch.[8]
Kushk 141,585 2,959 48 Majority Farsiwan (Aimaqs), minority Pashtuns, few Turkmens.
Kushki Kuhna 51,682 1,817 28 55% Tajik, 40% Pashtun, 5% Hazara.[9]
Obe 85,836 2,427 35 Majority Farsiwan (Aimaqs, Tajiks), minority Uzbeks, few Pashtuns.
Pashtun Zarghun 113,329 2,196 52 Majority Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs), minority Pashtuns.
Shindand Shindand 202,395 15,760 13 Majority Pashtuns, minority Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs).
Zinda Jan 64,569 2,542 25 Predominantly Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs), few Pashtuns.
Herat 2,140,662 55,869 38 39.8% Pashtuns, 37.1% Tajiks, 21.6% Aimaqs, 1.3% Uzbeks, 0.9% Turkmens, 0.2% Hazaras, 0.1% Balochi.

Economy

[edit]
Further information: Economy of Afghanistan

The province is home to 90% of Afghanistan's Saffron production (a $12 million industry in 2014).[10] In 2015 the World Bank noted that saffron cultivation had provided Herat Province's farmers a steady source of income, jobs for both men and women, and a decreased dependency on poppy cultivation.[10]

With international borders to Iran and Turkmenistan and an international airport, trade could potentially play an important part in the economy of Herat Province.[11] Due to the lack of urbanization in Herat Province, around 75% of the population lives in rural areas and economic activity is correspondingly heavily reliant on agriculture and horticulture production (saffron, rugs, cumin, marble, animal skins and wool[11]) with around 82% of economic activity coming from these fields in 2011.[12] Marble manufacturing and light industry comprised the remaining areas of economic activity.[12]

Demographics

[edit]
Further information: Demographics of Afghanistan

Population

[edit]

As of 2020, the total population of the province is about 2,187,169, the majority of which live in rural parts.[2] According to Afghanistan's Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development:

Ethnicity, languages and religion

[edit]

In Herat, a distinct Herati identity plays a central role in shaping social life, reflecting centuries of urban development, trade, Persianate cultural influence, and sustained cross-border interaction.[13][14] This identity is rooted primarily in the local Herati Persian dialect, but also in a shared urban culture, collective historical experience, and commonly accepted social norms. It is reinforced through customs, cuisine, music, and communal participation, and frequently transcends rigid ethnic, linguistic, or religious boundaries. As a result, many residents primarily identify as "Herati", fostering a strong sense of regional belonging even within ethnically diverse communities.[15]

Within this broader framework, a substantial portion of the population belongs to Persian-speaking communities, including Tajiks, Farsiwan, Aimaq groups, Hazaras and Sadat/ Sayed. Historically, the city of Herat has often been described as a Tajik-dominated urban enclave within a predominantly Pashtun province, alongside significant Hazara and Aimaq minorities.[16] Since 2001, large-scale migration—particularly of Hazaras—has further diversified the urban population, at times giving rise to social tensions between long-established residents and newer arrivals.[17][18]

Persian-speaking communities in Herat include both Sunni and Shia Muslims. Sunni Dari speakers are prominent in both urban and rural settings, while Shia Dari-speaking communities—distinct from Hazara groups—have long been concentrated in the provincial capital.[18] The term Farsiwan functions as a flexible social label applied to settled urban Persian speakers of diverse origins and both sects, including individuals of Pashtun background, and often overlaps with broader Persian-speaking identities in western Afghanistan.[19][20][21] In recent usage, the term has increasingly become interchangeable with Tajik.[22] Aimaq tribes such as the Jamshidi, Taimuri, and Firozkohi are predominantly Sunni and Dari-speaking, and depending on context, they may emphasize tribal affiliation, Aimaq identity, or inclusion within the wider Persian-speaking population.[23][24]

Pashtuns constitute another major component of Herat's population and represent an important intersection between ethnic and linguistic categories. While the province as a whole has historically been described as Pashtun-majority,[16] and Pashto remains central to Pashtun ethnic identity, many Pashtuns—particularly in urban and semi-urban environments—speak Dari as a first language and participate fully in Persian-speaking cultural and social life.[25] Pashtuns in Herat are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, and their widespread bilingualism further reinforces the fluid and interconnected nature of identity in the province. Seasonal and semi-nomadic Kochi populations also form part of this broader Pashtun presence, with more than 4% of the total Kochi population residing in Herat during the winter months.[26]

Smaller communities include Uzbeks and Turkmen, who are predominantly Sunni Muslim and speak Turkic languages, mainly residing in the northern districts of the province, alongside other minor groups. Historically, Herat was also home to Hindu, Armenian, and Jewish communities, particularly during the 19th century.[27]

Estimated ethnolinguistic and -religious composition
Ethnicity Pashtun Tajik/
Farsiwan 		Aimaq Hazara Uzbek Turkmen Sources
Period
2004–2021
(Islamic Republic) 		40 – 50% <40 – ≤50% ∅ ∅ 2%
2020 EU[28] 1st 2nd – 3rd – –
2020 CSSF[b][30] 40% <40% – ∅ ∅ –
2018 UN[26] 98% 2%
2017 EU[31] majority ∅ ∅ ∅ ∅ ∅
2015 CP[32] minority majority – ∅ ∅ ∅
2015 NPS[23] ∅[c] ∅ ∅[d] ∅ – –
2011 PRT[33] 98%[e] 2%
2011 USA[34] ∅ ∅ – ∅ – –
2010 IWPR[35] 50% – – – – –
2009 ISW[36] ≤50%[f] ≤50% ∅ ∅ – –
2009 EB[37] predominant[g] predominant ∅[h] – – –
Legend:

Education

[edit]
Further information: Education in Afghanistan

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 36% in 2005 to 25% in 2011.[38] The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) fell from 55% in 2005 to 52% in 2011.[38] Herat University is Afghanistan's second largest university with over 10,000 students, 14 faculties and 45 departments in 2014.

Health

[edit]
Further information: Health in Afghanistan

The percentage of households with clean drinking water fell from 31% in 2005 to 28% in 2011.[38] The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 24% in 2005 to 25% in 2011.[38]

Sport

[edit]
Further information: Sport in Afghanistan

Football is the popular sport in Herat Province, and in recent years cricket is also growing in popularity. The Province is represented in domestic competitions by the Herat Province cricket team. Afghanistan's national sport Buzkashi and a number of other sports are also played in the region.

Notable people

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See also

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ Dari pronunciation: [ʔä.ɾɑ́ːt̪, ʔɪ.ɾɑ́ːt̪, hä.ɾɑ́ːt̪, hɪ.ɾɑ́ːt̪]
  2. ^ Demographic information is based on data from 2020.[29]
  3. ^ incl. Kuchi and Karkar.
  4. ^ incl. Chahar Aimaq (Timuri, Firozkohi, and Jamshidi) and Aimaq Hazara ("Qala-i Naw").
  5. ^ excl. Kochi.
  6. ^ incl. Kuchi.
  7. ^ incl. Durrani Pashtuns.
  8. ^ incl. "seminomadic Dari-speaking peoples".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "د هرات ولايت نوي والي او مرستیال والي معرفي او دندې یې پيل کړې – الاماره پښتو". Archived from the original on October 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021–22" (PDF). nsia.gov.af. National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  3. ^ The Best Attractions In Herat Province destimap.com, accessed 8 October 2023
  4. ^ "Afghanistan hit by 6.3 magnitude earthquake – its third in days". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  5. ^ ""Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021–22" (PDF). April 2021" (PDF). National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  6. ^ "Hirat, A socio-economic and Demographic Profile Household listing – 2003" (PDF). 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-19.
  7. ^ Thomas Gouttierre; Matthew S. Baker (2003). "2003 National Geographic Population Map" (PDF). National Geographic Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  8. ^ "Kohsan" (PDF). aims.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2005.
  9. ^ "UNHCR District Profiles Western Hirat Kushki Kuhna" (PDF). aims.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2005.
  10. ^ a b "Saffron: A Major Source of Income and an Alternative to Poppy". World Bank. 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  11. ^ a b Jawed, Mohammad Ali; Hakimi, Harun (2012-04-16). "Herat trade on the up and up". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  12. ^ a b Fischer, David (2014-08-27). "Herat Economic Corridor Could Catalyze Growth in Western Afghanistan". DAI Publications. Archived from the original on 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
  13. ^ Dossier der Staatendokumentation: AfPak. Grundlagen der Stammes- & Clanstruktur. Bundesamt für Fremdenwesen und Asyl. (translated into English): "[...] The Dari-speaking inhabitants of Herat still seem to have some difficulty seeing themselves as Tajiks; but when it comes to stating their ethnic affiliation in official documents, such as when applying for an ID card, they agree to be classified as Tajiks. After all, the constitutionally recognized list of ethnic groups does not include an entry for herāti. [...]")
  14. ^ Dorronsoro, Gilles (2007). "Kabul at War (1992-1996) : State, Ethnicity and Social Classes". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. doi:10.4000/samaj.212. In urban areas, the term 'Tajik' refers to Persian language (Farsi) speakers, although they do not form a coherent social group, nor can they easily be collectively mobilized. The city of Herat has, equally, a very strong identity, which partially transcends ethnic identities.
  15. ^ HERAT vi. THE HERAT QUESTION, Encyclopædia Iranica
  16. ^ a b [1]
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ a b [3]
  19. ^ [4]
  20. ^ Central Asian Cultural Intelligence for Military Operations. Farsiwan in Afghanistan Tajiks in Afghanistan
  21. ^ [5]
  22. ^ Anfragebeantwortung zu Afghanistan: Provinz Herat: Informationen zu Tadschiken, die zwischen 2009 und 2012 für die Taliban kämpften, und zu deren Anzahl; Distrikt Shindand: Anzahl der Tadschiken, Präsenz und Interesse der Taliban [a-10260]
  23. ^ a b "Herat - Program for Culture and Conflict Studies - Naval Postgraduate School". nps.edu. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  24. ^ AYMĀQ, Encyclopaedia Iranica
  25. ^ "My city of Herat"
  26. ^ a b Ramizpoor (2018). "Afghan People's Dialogue on Peace: Local Road Maps for Peace – Kabul and Surrounding Provinces" (PDF). United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  27. ^ HERAT i. GEOGRAPHY, Encyclopædia Iranica
  28. ^ "Herat". European Union Agency for Asylum. 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  29. ^ City Population Herat
  30. ^ "State of Families CSSF Report: Herat, Afghanistan (2023)". 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  31. ^ "EASO Country of Origin Information Report Afghanistan. Security Situation. Dezember 2017" (PDF). European Union Agency for Asylum. April 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  32. ^ "Herat Province - Afghanistan National Drug Use Survey" (PDF). Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  33. ^ "Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team" (PDF). February 2011. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
  34. ^ "U.S. Army Afghanistan Smart Book, Third Edition" (PDF). January 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  35. ^ "Pashtun Candidates Protest in Herat". Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  36. ^ "Regional Command West". Retrieved April 15, 2009.
  37. ^ "Herat | Province". Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  38. ^ a b c d "Herat". cimicweb.org. 2014-05-31. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
[edit]
  • Media related to Herat Province at Wikimedia Commons
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