Nimruz

Nimruz (also Nimroz) is a province of Afghanistan in the country’s southwestern region. It is bordered by Iran to the west and by Pakistan to the south and east; its northern edge touches Helmand and Farah provinces. The provincial capital is Zaranj. Nimruz is Afghanistan’s least populous province and has a harsh, arid climate. The landscape is dominated by deserts and steppe, with the Helmand River intersecting the area and providing limited irrigation in river valleys; the province forms part of the Sistan Basin, a transboundary low-lying region that extends into Iran.

Demographics: Nimruz is ethnically diverse, with significant Baloch (Baluch) and Pashtun communities, along with Brahui, Tajik and other groups. The population has been affected by drought and conflict, with seasonal migrations and displacement reported.

Economy and transport: Economic activity centers on pastoralism, subsistence agriculture in irrigated pockets, and cross-border trade. The province hosts several border crossings linking Afghanistan with Iran and Pakistan. A major transportation project, the Delaram-Zaranj Highway, connects Zaranj to Delaram near the Iranian border and links Nimruz to the broader trade corridor to Iran; completed in 2009, with international backing, it has been a key development for the region.

Administration: Nimruz is divided into several districts and governed by a provincial administration seated in Zaranj. The province has faced security challenges but remains a strategic border region for trade and humanitarian access.