Balkh (Dari: ولایت بلخ, romanized: Wilāyat-e Balkh and Pashto: د بلخ ولایت, romanized: Da Balkh Wilāyat) is one of the northern provinces of Afghanistan and is widely regarded as one of the country's most historically significant and culturally rich regions. It borders Jowzjan and Sar-e-Pol to the west, Samangan to the south, Kunduz to the east, and the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan to the north. The provincial capital is Mazar-i-Sharif, which functions as the main administrative, economic, and cultural center of the province.
Covering an area of approximately 16,000 square kilometers and having an estimated population of about 1.6 million people (as of 2023), Balkh is defined by its fertile plains in the Kunduz River basin and its proximity to the northern Afghan steppe, which contrasts with the mountainous regions further south. The province contains numerous archaeological sites and ancient cities, including the historic city of Balkh, which was a major center of trade, religion, and learning in antiquity, often referred to as the "mother of cities".
