Quick facts
Mashhad overview
Mashhad (orange) and the other large cities of Iran
Mashhad lies in Razavi Khorasan in Iran at 36.3°N, 59.61°E, about 980 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Tehran (UTC+3:30); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Tehran (7,153,309) and larger than Isfahan (1,547,164). The largest city in Iran is Tehran with 7,153,309 people; the capital, Tehran, has 7,153,309.
The national capital, Tehran, is about 739 km away; the nearest large city is Marāgheh, 52 km from Mashhad.
Iran as a whole has a live population of 93,380,098 (+0.8% a year) and ranks #17 of 238 countries — see the Iran population page for the full statistics and the Iran atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Mashhad
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Marāgheh Razavi Khorasan | 52 km | 262,604 |
| Neyshābūr Razavi Khorasan | 73 km | 220,929 |
| Torbat-e Ḩeydarīyeh Razavi Khorasan | 119 km | 140,019 |
| Qūchān Razavi Khorasan | 133 km | 111,752 |
| Kāshmar Razavi Khorasan | 156 km | 131,517 |
| Sabzevar Razavi Khorasan | 173 km | 243,700 |
Largest cities in Iran
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mashhad?
Mashhad has about 2,307,177 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Mashhad the capital of Iran?
No. The capital of Iran is Tehran (7,153,309 people), about 739 km away. Mashhad is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Mashhad compared with the rest of Iran?
Its 2,307,177 residents are 2.5% of the 93,380,098 people living in Iran today. Tehran is larger with 7,153,309 people.
Where is Mashhad?
In Razavi Khorasan, Iran, at latitude 36.3 and longitude 59.61, 980 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Marāgheh (52 km), Neyshābūr (73 km), Torbat-e Ḩeydarīyeh (119 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Mashhad Population 2026 — Iran. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/iran/mashhad/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/iran/mashhad/">Mashhad Population 2026 — Iran</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.