Mashhad had 3,001,184 residents in Iran’s 2016 census and ranked as the country’s second-most-populous city.
Located in northeastern Iran, Mashhad is the capital of Razavi Khorasan province and lies near the historic city of Tus. Its growth reflects both regional migration and its importance as a religious destination. The city is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the burial place of the eighth Twelver Shi'a imam.
Mashhad’s population rose from 2,410,800 in 2006 to 2,766,258 in 2011 before reaching the 2016 census total. The figure refers to the city population, not the much larger metropolitan or pilgrimage population.
A common mix-up is choosing Isfahan, which is also one of Iran’s largest cities and a major historic centre. Mashhad’s distinguishing clues are its second-place national ranking, northeastern location and shrine-based religious importance.