Back محافظات العراق Arabic ܗܘܦܪܟܝܣ ܕܥܝܪܐܩ ARC ليستة المحافظات العراقيه ARZ Gobernaciones d'Iraq AST इराक कय प्रांत AWA Административно деление на Ирак Bulgarian ইরাকের প্রদেশসমূহ Bengali/Bangla پارێزگاکانی عێراق CKB Taleithiau Irac CY Iraks provinser Danish
| Governorates of Iraq المحافظات العراقية (Arabic) پارێزگاکانی عێراق (Kurdish) | |
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Clickable map of Iraq exhibiting its eighteen governorates, and partially recognized Halabja.
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| Category | Federated state |
| Location | Republic of Iraq |
| Number | 18 governorates (19 including partially recognized Halabja) |
| Areas | 529 km2 (204.2 sq mi) (Baghdad) – 138,500 km2 (53,476 sq mi) (Al Anbar) |
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| Constitution |
 Iraq portal |
Iraq consists of 18 recognized governorates (Arabic: محافظة, romanized: muḥāfażah; Sorani Kurdish: پارێزگا, romanized: parêzgeh), also known as "provinces" and 1 partially recognized governorate (Halabja). Per the Iraqi constitution, governorates can form a federal region.[1] Four governorates, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Halabja and Duhok, constitute the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. Baghdad (which is the most populous) and Basra are the oldest governorates. The second most-populous one, Ninawa (or Nineveh) is in the upland region and has a cooler climate of the north-west.
There have been numerous calls to recognize Halabja Governorate since 1999.[2] It was recognized as an official governorate of the Kurdistan Region in 2014,[3][2] and the Council of Ministers approved a bill twice in 2013,[4][5] and 2023.[6] However, the only legislature in Iraq that can implement new governorates is the Council of Representatives of Iraq, which has had delayed hearings regarding Halabja numerous times.[7][8][9][10]
- ^ "Iraq's Constitution of 2005" (PDF). Constitute Project. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Halabja: City of Peace becomes Kurdistan's fourth province". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Iraqi Kurdistan government announces Halabja as its fourth province". www.ekurd.net. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Iraq Ministers Agree Turning Halabja into Province". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Council of Ministers decisions in Session 54 in 31/12/2013". 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ "Halabja on the cusp of ascension to province on 35th anniversary of chemical attack". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Iraqi parliament postpones vote on Halabja's ascension to province". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Again, Iraqi parliament postpones voting on the establishment of Halabja governorate". Shafaq News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Halabja Governorate Push: Local Leader Renews Call for Official Recognition". Shafaq News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "البرلمان يؤجل مجددا التصويت على استحداث محافظة حلبجة". شفق نيوز (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.