Governorates of Iraq

Governorates of Iraq
المحافظات العراقية (Arabic)
پارێزگاکانی عێراق (Kurdish)
  • Also known as:
  • Muḥāfażah
Clickable map of Iraq exhibiting its eighteen governorates, and partially recognized Halabja.
A clickable map of Iraq exhibiting its governorates.Halabja GovernorateNinawa GovernorateDohuk GovernorateArbil GovernorateSulaymaniyah GovernorateKirkuk GovernorateDiyala GovernorateSalah ad Din GovernorateAl Anbar GovernorateBaghdad GovernorateBabil GovernorateKarbala GovernorateWasit GovernorateAl Najaf GovernorateAl-Qādisiyyah GovernorateMaysan GovernorateDhi Qar GovernorateAl Muthanna GovernorateBasra Governorate
A clickable map of Iraq exhibiting its governorates.
CategoryFederated state
LocationRepublic of Iraq
Number19 governorates
Areas204 km2 (78.8 sq mi) (Baghdad) – 138,500 km2 (53,476 sq mi) (Al Anbar)
Government
Subdivisions

Iraq consists of 19 governorates (Arabic: محافظة, romanizedmuḥāfażah; Kurdish: پارێزگا, romanizedparêzgeh), also known as "provinces". Per the Iraqi constitution, governorates can form a federal region.[1] Four governorates, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Halabja and Duhok, constitute the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. Baghdad (which is the most populous) and Basra are the oldest governorates. The second most-populous one, Ninawa (or Nineveh) is in the upland region and has a cooler climate of the north-west.

There have been numerous calls to recognize Halabja Governorate since 1999.[2] It was recognized as an official governorate of the Kurdistan Region in 2014,[3][2] and the Council of Ministers approved a bill twice in 2013,[4][5] and 2023.[6] The Council of Representatives of Iraq officially approved Halabja as Iraq's 19th governorate on 14 April 2025.[7][8] On 27 April 2025, Baghdad Today reported of an ongoing government initiative to convert Tel Afar District in Nineveh Governorate into the 20th governorate of Iraq. The proposed name of the new governorate is Jazira.[9]

  1. ^ "Iraq's Constitution of 2005" (PDF). Constitute Project. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Halabja: City of Peace becomes Kurdistan's fourth province". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Iraqi Kurdistan government announces Halabja as its fourth province". www.ekurd.net. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Iraq Ministers Agree Turning Halabja into Province". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Council of Ministers decisions in Session 54 in 31/12/2013". 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Halabja on the cusp of ascension to province on 35th anniversary of chemical attack". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Iraqi parliament approves Halabja as country's 19th province". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  8. ^ "KRG welcomes Iraqi parliament's approval of Halabja as province". www.krg.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  9. ^ ""الجزيرة".. اسم جديد ينسج خريطة العراق الإدارية" (in Arabic). Baghdad Today.

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