Iranian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Iran is a large country in western Asia with one of the world's oldest civilisations, famous for its poetry, carpets, gardens and architecture. Iranians have come to Britain in several waves, including students in the 1970s, people leaving after the 1979 revolution, and more recent arrivals seeking work, study and safety.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 4,147 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Iranian; 4,624 people living in the city had been born in Iran; and 4,143 residents gave Persian or Farsi as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still. The Persian figure also includes Dari speakers from Afghanistan.

Working for Birmingham

Iranian-heritage doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, architects and university lecturers are well represented in Birmingham, and many Iranians run businesses in food, retail and property. Iranian students are a valued part of the city's universities, especially in engineering, medicine and the sciences.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Iranian community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Nowruz, the Persian new year on the spring equinox, is celebrated with the haft-seen table of seven symbolic items, and Yalda, the longest night of the year, is marked with poetry, pomegranates and watermelon. The poems of Hafez and Rumi are much loved, and Persian rice dishes and kebabs are shared with pride.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Iranian community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.