The Demographics of Iran by Columbia University's Gulf/2000 Project (G2K)

Submitted by Mohammad Abbas (Kuwait), Jan 9, 2015 at 10:02

Mr. Pipes:

http://gulf2000.columbia.edu/images/maps/Iran_Languages_lg.png

The above link contains the most reliable and up-to-date demographic data on Iran. Persians formed 63.3% of Iran's total population as of 2004. The old CIA figures that placed Persians at 51% dated back to demographic studies that were conducted in the 1950s and 60s, therefore they're no longer relevant today. By the way, the CIA updated their figures before the Americans and Iranians sat down for nuclear talks. I know this because I've been following up with the CIA World Factbook for the last ten years.

… Azeris and Persians are mostly the same group of people in terms of culture and genetics, albeit the former speak a variety of Turkish due to linguistic assimilation by Turkic dynasties that ruled over Iran for hundreds of years.

Anyway, it is my understanding that, historically, Iran was divided between Persians and Turks (Azeris). The former ran the administrative affairs of the country while the latter were the ones who actually ruled the country and shaped its modern borders.

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