Sanandaj Population 2026

Sanandaj has a population of 349,176, making it the #21 biggest city in 🇮🇷 Iran, located in Kurdistan Province. Roughly 0.4% of Iran's population lives here. It is about 20× smaller than Tehran, the country's biggest city.

TehranSanandaj
Location of Sanandaj (capital Tehran shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
349,176
Rank in Iran
#21
Coordinates
35.31°N, 47.00°E
~1,494 m elevation · Asia/Tehran
Distance to capital (Tehran)
403 km
250 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Kurdistan Province

CityPopulationRank in Iran
Saqqez165,258#62
Marīvān136,654#71
Bāneh110,218#92
Qorveh87,953#115
Kāmyārān57,077#160
Bījār50,014#188
Dīvāndarreh34,007#256

Cities near Sanandaj

FAQ

What is the population of Sanandaj?
Sanandaj has a population of 349,176 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #21 biggest city in Iran.
What region is Sanandaj in?
Sanandaj is located in Kurdistan Province, Iran.
Is Sanandaj the capital of Iran?
No, the capital of Iran is Tehran, about 403 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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