Tehran

Introduction & Top Questions
Character of the city
Landscape
- City site
- Climate
- City layout
People
Economy
- Manufacturing, finance, and other services
- Transportation
Administration and social conditions
- Government
- Municipal services
- Health
- Education
Cultural life
History
- City origins
- Early development
- The growth of a capital
- The Constitutional Revolution (1906)
- Tehran during the reign of Reza Shah (1921–41)
- Tehran during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah (1941–79)
- The seat of a second revolution (1977–88)
- Postwar development and Tehran in the 21st century

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Crowds of shoppers walk through the covered Tehran Grand Bazaar, Iran, beneath colorful flags and banners, with shops lining both sides of the busy walkway.

At a Glance

Tehrān summary

Quizzes

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50 Capital Cities at Random Quiz

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Guess the City by Its River Quiz

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World Capitals Quiz

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Asian Capitals Quiz

Related Questions

How did Reza Shah transform Tehran during the 1930s?
How did Russian and British influence affect Tehran’s economy during the 19th century?
How did Shah Tahmasp I change Tehran in 1554?
How did Tehran change after the Iran-Iraq War ended in 1988?
How did Tehran develop from a village north of Ray into a major city?
How did Tehran grow after it became the Qajar capital?
How did Tehran’s population change shortly after 1796?
How did apartment living reduce private green space in Tehran?
How did migration and urban life change family structure in Tehran?
How did oil revenues change Tehran during the 1970s?
How did the 1953 coup affect Mohammad Mosaddegh and Mohammad Reza Shah?
How did the Iran-Iraq War affect life in Tehran during the 1980s?
How did the Iranian Revolution and Iran-Iraq War disrupt Tehran’s economy?
How did the Iranian Revolution change Iran’s system of government?
How did the Tehran Conference of 1943 affect Iran’s independence?
How did the White Revolution change land ownership in Iran?
How did the north-south divide develop in 19th-century Tehran?
How do Tehran’s surrounding mountains trap polluted air?
How does Tehran support traditional arts such as calligraphy and music?
How does the Tabiat Bridge connect Tehran’s public parks?
How does the Tehran Symphony Orchestra contribute to the city’s cultural life?
How large was Tehran’s population in 2016?
How tall is Milad Tower in Tehran?
What architectural styles can be seen in Tehran?
What are Tehran’s typical temperatures and rainfall?
What changes did the Constitutional Revolution bring to Iran’s government?
What did Ruy Gonzáles de Clavijo observe during his 1404 visit to Tehran?
What factors led to the Iranian Revolution of 1978–79 in Tehran?
What happened to the ancient city of Ray after the Mongol invasion of 1220?
What is the Fajr International Theater Festival?
What role does Tehran play in Iran’s economy?
What types of informal work are found in Tehran?
When was Azadi Tower completed and where is it located?
Where does Tehran get much of its water supply?
Where is Tehran located in relation to the Alborz Mountains?
Which cultural traditions are most influential in Tehran?
Which ethnic and religious communities live in Tehran?
Why did Agha Mohammad Khan choose Tehran as the Qajar dynasty’s capital in 1786?
Why did Allied forces occupy Iran in 1941?
Why did Tehran’s number of parks increase during the 1990s?
Why did Tehran’s suburbs grow faster than the central city for a time?
Why did high-rise construction expand in Tehran at the end of the 20th century?
Why did many Tehran residents work for the government before privatization in the 1990s?
Why did people from other parts of Iran move to Tehran?
Why do Tehran’s northern neighborhoods tend to be cooler and greener than southern neighborhoods?
Why does Tehran experience severe air pollution?
Why has Iran’s economy depended heavily on the oil industry?
Why has finding work been difficult for many young people in Tehran?
Why is Tehran important to Iran’s film industry?
Why is transportation difficult in Tehran?
Why was Ray important before Tehran became Iran’s capital?
Why was Tehran a major site of the Constitutional Revolution of 1906?
Why were Tehran’s city walls and gates removed under Reza Shah?
Why did the U.S. strike Kharg Island in March 2026?
Why is Kharg Island important?
Where is Kharg Island located?
What historical significance does Qeshm Island hold?
What is the military importance of Qeshm Island for Iran?
Where is Larak Island and why is it important for Iran?
What is Si-o-Se Pol, and where is it located?
When was Si-o-Se Pol constructed, and by whom?
What is Mashhad known for in Iran?
What is the significance of the shrine of Imam Ali Reza (ʿAlī al-Riḍā) in Mashhad?

Geography & Travel Cities & Towns Cities & Towns T-Z

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External Websites

Encyclopaedia Iranica - Tehran i. A PErsian Coty At the Foot of The Alborz
The Bahï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Encyclopedia Project - Tehran

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Tehran - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Tehran - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Tehran

national capital, Iran

Also known as: Tehrān

Written by

Ali Madanipour

Professor of Urban Design, Newcastle University, United Kingdom. Author of Tehran: The Making of a Metropolis and others.

Ali Madanipour

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026 •History

Tehran, the capital city of Iran and the center of the province (ostān) of Tehran, located in north-central Iran at the foot of the Alborz mountain range. Since its establishment as the capital city by Āghā Moḥammad Khān more than 200 years ago, Tehran has grown from a small city to a major metropolis: situated in an urban region of 14 million inhabitants, Tehran is Iran’s largest city and one of the most populous cities...

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