Kandahar Province

Kandahar
کندهار
Nickname: 
Loy kandahar
Map of Afghanistan with Kandahar highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 31°00′N 65°30′E / 31.0°N 65.5°E / 31.0; 65.5
Country Afghanistan
CapitalKandahar
Government
  TypeProvince
  BodyUlema Council
  GovernorMullah Shirin Akhund
  Deputy GovernorMaulvi Hayatullah Mubarak
Area
  Total
54,844 km2 (21,175 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
  Total
1,431,876
  Density26/km2 (68/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
Postal code
38xx
Area codeAF-KAN
Main languagesPashto
Websitehttps://kandahar.gov.af/

Kandahār (Pashto: کندهار; Kandahār, Dari: قندهار; Qandahār) is one of the thirty four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the southern part of the country, sharing a border with Pakistan, to the south. It is surrounded by Helmand in the west, Uruzgan in the north and Zabul Province in the east. Its capital is the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan's second largest city, located on the Arghandab River. The greater region surrounding the province is called Loy Kandahar. The Emir of Afghanistan sends orders to Kabul from Kandahar making it the de facto capital of Afghanistan, although the main government body operates in Kabul. All meetings with the Emir take place in Kandahar, meetings excluding the Emir are in Kabul.

The province contains about 18 districts, over 1,000 villages, and approximately 1,431,876 people (the 6th most populous province), which is mostly tribal and a rural society. The main inhabitants of Kandahar province are the ethnic Pashtuns. They are followed by the Baloch people, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmens and Hazaras.