The Enduring Genetic Continuity of the Iranian Population Over Five Millennia

Ethnic and Linguistic Composition
Today, Iran is home to a diverse mosaic of ethnic groups. These include Persians (who comprise about 65% of the population), Azeris (16%), Kurds (7%), Lors (6%), as well as Arabs, Baluchis, Turkmens, Qashqais, Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians, Jews, and Zoroastrians. Despite this diversity, the Central Cluster remains the genetic foundation of the majority. Iran’s dominant languages—such as Persian, Kurdish, Luri, and Baluchi—belong to the Indo-European family, further reflecting a long-standing cultural and genetic coherence.