Where are the Kurds?
Kurdistan is not a country, but the map of the Kurdish region includes the geographical region in the Middle East wherein the Kurdish people have historically established a prominent population and unified cultural identity.
A People Without A Home
The Kurds, an ethnic group numbering around 30 million people, is widely recognized to be the largest stateless national group in the world. While Kurdistan is known for its strong cultural unity, Kurdistan is home to numerous languages, religions and political factions.
This melting pot of ethnicities, languages, religions and political factions is due to the large area that the Kurds inhabit. The region is mountainous, and the borders that were drawn after WWI reflected divisions along these mountain lines. Unfortunately, the Kurds called these mountains home, and many Kurds were forced to relocate away from the borders.
Modern Kurdistan Map
The modern Kurdistan map includes parts of eastern Turkey, northern Syria, northern Iraq and northwestern Iran. The Kurdish populations are recognized in both Iraq and Iran, as the Kurds in northern Iraq have successfully established their own autonomous government (the Kurdistan Regional Government), and the Kurds in Iran primarily inhabit the Iranian province of Kordestan.
The map was built with Google Maps and highlights cities that have historically been inhabited by large Kurdish populations. Click each marker to explore the region, view pictures, and learn more.
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