Kurdish Regions Overview

Overview

Kurdish communities are concentrated across a broad, mountainous arc that runs from southeastern Anatolia through western Iran and into northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. This contiguous core is often referred to as Kurdistan, though the term can have different administrative meanings in different countries.

In Iraq, “Kurdistan Region” is an officially recognized autonomous region. In Iran, “Kordestan” is a formal province name, while Kurdish communities also live in adjacent provinces. In Turkey and Syria, Kurdish areas are widely recognized as part of the historic Kurdish homeland but are not formally designated as such by the state.

Regional Names (Common Usage)

• Bashur (South): Iraqi Kurdistan
• Rojhelat (East): Iranian Kurdistan
• Bakur (North): Turkish Kurdistan
• Rojava (West): Syrian Kurdistan

Diaspora

A significant Kurdish diaspora lives in Europe, the Americas, and the former Soviet Union. These communities maintain language, music, and cultural practice while building new institutions abroad.

Why This Matters

Understanding regional names helps interpret local news, cultural references, and historical sources. Many Kurdish organizations and cultural projects use these terms to communicate place and identity quickly.

Why These Names Matter

These regional names are often used in Kurdish media, cultural projects, and daily conversation. They provide a shared shorthand for place and identity, even when official borders use different terminology.