Erbil Governorate
Governorate of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq
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Erbil Governorate (Kurdish: پارێزگای ھەولێر, romanized: Parêzgeha Hewlêr;[5][6] Arabic: محافظة أربيل, romanized: Muḥāfaẓat Arbīl[7]) is a governorate of Iraq in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. Its administrative centre is Erbil, which is its most important city. [8] Erbil is also the most populated and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with the citadel being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Erbil Governorate
| |
|---|---|
| |
 Seal | |
 Location of the Erbil Governorate (red) – in Iraq (red, beige & light grey) | |
 Erbil Governorate within Kurdistan Region[2] | |
| Coordinates: 36°11′N 44°2′E | |
| Country | Iraq |
| Federal region | Kurdistan Region |
| Capital | Erbil |
| Governor | Omed Khoshnaw |
| Area | |
• Total | 14,872 km2 (5,742 sq mi) |
| Population (2024 census)[3] | |
• Total | 2,517,534 |
| • Density | 169.28/km2 (438.43/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | IQ-AR |
| HDI (2024) | 0.751[4] high · 1st of 18 |
| Website | www |
Government
- Omid Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil
- Hemin Ali Faki, Deputy Governor of Erbil
- Dr Ali Rashid, Provincial Council Chairman of Erbil
Demographics
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1977 | 541,500 |
| 1987 | 770,439 |
| 1997 | 1,095,992 |
| 2009 | 1,532,081 |
| 2024 | 2,517,534 |
Districts
| District | Population (2009)[10] | Number of households |
|---|---|---|
| Erbil (Hewlêr) | 792,981 | 152,899 |
| Deştî Hewlêr | 186,346 | 34,264 |
| Mexmûr (disputed) | 173,801 | 30,678 |
| Soran | 154,945 | 27,707 |
| Şeqlawe | 124,628 | 23,420 |
| Koye | 95,246 | 18,727 |
| Xebat | 93,442 | 16,015 |
| Mêrgesor (partially disputed) | 44,661 | 9,711 |
| Çoman | 23,730 | 4,749 |
| Rewandiz | 21,280 | 4,235 |
| Total | 1,713,461 | 322,719 |
Cities and towns
| English Name | Kurdish Name |
|---|---|
| Erbil (Hewlêr) | هەولێر |
| Soran | سۆران |
| Koye | کۆیە |
| Shaqlawa | شەقڵاوە |
| Rawandiz | ڕەواندز |
| Khabat | خەبات |
| Makhmur | مەخموور |
| Ankawa | عەنکاوە |
| Bnaslawa | بنەسڵاوە |
| Choman | چۆمان |
| Mergasor | مێرگەسۆر |
| Khalifan | خەلیفان |
| Harir | هەریر |
| Sidekan | سیدەکان |
| Pirmam (Salahaddin) | پیرمام |
| Kasnazan | کەسنەزان |
| Bahirka | بەحرکە |
| Shawes | شاوێس |
| Qasre | قەسرێ |
| Piran | پیران |
Benoke village
Pêndro in 1968
Aerial view of the Citadel of Erbil, surrounded by the modern city
Academic establishments
- Salahaddin University: Founded in 1958 in Sulaymaniya and transferred to Erbil in 1981.[11]
- Hawler Medical University: Founded in 2005.[12]
- University of Kurdistan Hewlêr: Public English-medium university.[13]
- Tishk International University (Previously called Ishik University): Private university that was established in 2008 in Erbil.[14]
- Cihan University: Private university, founded in 2007.[15]
- SABIS University: Private university.[16]
- Soran University, KRG-Iraq governmental university founded in 2009.[17]
- Knowledge University, KRG-Iraq Private university founded in 2009.[18]
- Catholic University in Erbil, Private non-profit university founded in 2015.[19]
Banking
There are many national and international banks operating in Erbil offering citizens and visitors services, including:
- Kurdistan Central Bank
- Kurdistan International Bank for Investment and Development[20]
- Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI)[21]
- Byblos Bank[22]
- Bank of Beirut and Arab Countries (BBAC)[23]
- Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon (IBL)[24]
- BLOM Bank