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More often, there is confusion about using the word Iranian and Persian. Many people don’t know whether these two words share the same meaning or refer to two separate things. The following article intends to shine a light on the matter and explain everything once and for all.
Persian vs. Iranian
If you are one of those people who have always wondered what the difference is between Iranian and Persian, buckle up! This question frequently comes up, and many still don’t know the correct answer. To give you a short answer, an Iranian is someone who is a resident of Iran. It’s a nationality rather than a race or ethnicity. However, the word Persian refers to the ethnicity. Here’s where things get a bit complicated. But do not worry. We are here to explain everything. Hence, read on to find out more!
Iran or Persia
The word Iran is an ancient name that comes from the word Aryan. In fact, Iran is the original name of Iran. What’s the story behind this name?
Previously, Iran was referred to as Persia. The name comes from the ancient Persian Empire, which consisted of a much larger area than present-day Iran.
The name “Persia” has an allusion to mythology. The Greeks believed that Perseus, the son of Zeus, married Cassiopeia, the daughter of Andromeda, and their children were the Persians because they were named after Perseus, the son of Zeus. The country that they were living in at that time was called “Persia.”
Reza Shah returned to the original name during the Reign of Pahlavi Dynasty. Consequently, Iran is now recognized as Iran since the reign of Reza Shah.
The difference between Persian and Iranian
In most cases, Persian and Iranian can be used interchangeably. However, there’s a slight difference between the two.
Persian refers to the heritage, culture, and language of the people, an ethnic group native to Iran. The official language of Iran is the Persian Language, also known as Farsi. Persian culture encompasses various aspects like art, literature, music, etc.
Iranian refers to people who are citizens or residents of Iran, regardless of their ethnic background. It’s more of a nationality. There are several different ethnic groups living in Iran, including Azeris, Kurds, Arabs, and Baluchis, each of whom has its own language, culture, and tradition. They are all considered to be Iranians.
What percentage of Iran is Persians
The current population of Iran is 86,616,226. Approximately 61% of this number belongs to the Persians, the largest ethnic group in Iran. Other ethnic groups are Azeris, Lors, Arabs, Kurds, Baluch, Turkmen, and other minorities.
Are Iranians Arabs or Persians
The answer to this question would be “No.” Although among the citizens, there are Arabs, not all Persians are considered to be Arabs. Iran is not an Arab country and does not speak Arabic. Surprisingly, this is a widespread misunderstanding among people worldwide. Only 2% of the population are Arabs. However, the remaining population would be the Persians and people from other ethnic groups.
The following table breaks down the ethnicity in Iran:
| Percentage | Ethnicity |
| 61% | Persians |
| 16% | Azeri |
| 10% | Kurd |
| 6% | Lur |
| 2% | Baluch |
| 2% | Arab |
| 2% | Turkmen and Turkic tribes |
| 1% | other |
Official Language of Iran
Persian or Farsi is the official language of Iran, and it is the language taught in schools. Consequently, the majority of the population can speak Persian. There are a variety of dialects in the country due to its ethnic diversity, such as Turkic, Kurdish, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Luri, Baluchi, Arabic, and other non-Turkic languages.
Visit ProFarsi to learn more about Iran
If you are interested in reading about similar topics, visit ProFarsi now, for it contains many wonderful things you can read and learn. Did you know ProFarsi offers the most efficient language courses for learning Persian? If that’s something you would like to pursue, the virtual doors of ProFarsi are always open for you! Join the community today and embark upon an exceptional journey.
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