Gia Lai province

Gia Lai is a northern mountainous province in the Central Highlands region, the Central of Vietnam. It borders Quảng Ngãi in the northeast, Đắk Lắk in the south and Ratanakiri of Cambodia in the west.

Gia Lai province
Province
Clockwise from top left: Pleiku Lake Ghềnh Ráng Beach An Khê Pass Pleiku One Pillar Pagoda
Location in Vietnam
Coordinates: 13°45′N 108°15′E
Country	Vietnam
Region	Central Highlands
Capital	Quy Nhon
Government
• People's Council Chair	Dương Văn Trang
• People's Committee Chair	Phạm Thế Dũng
Area [1]
• Total	21,576.53 km2 (8,330.74 sq mi)
Population  (2025)
• Total	3,583,693
• Density	170/km2 (430/sq mi)
Demographics
• Ethnicities	39, including Kinh, Yagrai, Bahnar, M'nam, Jeh-Tariang
GDP[2]
• Total	VND 66.158 trillion US$ 2.873 billion
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Area codes	269 (from 17 Jun 2017) 59 (until 16 Jul 2017)
ISO 3166 code	VN-30
HDI (2020)	0.663[3] (56th)
Website	gialai.gov.vn

As of 2023, Gia Lai province is the 18th most populous administrative unit in Vietnam with a population of 1,613,895 people. It ranks 30th in terms of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), 33rd in per capita GRDP, and 33rd in GRDP growth rate. In 2020, the GRDP reached 80,000.32 billion VND, with a per capita GRDP of 51.9 million VND and a GRDP growth rate of 8.00%.^[4]

Prior to Vietnam's 2025 administrative reforms, Pleiku was formerly the capital of Gia Lai province making Quy Nhon the now capital city of Gia Lai province after merging with Bình Định province.

Name

Its name Gia-lai or Giá-rai in Kinh language from an ancient name Yăgrai in Jarai language. It was often known as "the water dragon" what is the official name of Jarai people. However, it was also the title of Po Klaung Yăgrai, who was worshiped by Jarai clans during thousands years.

According to the indigenous tradition, the Jarai community often organizes the festival to honor his unexpected attack on the Khmer empire. This area is still thought to be a pedal and a logistics gathering place to serve the glorious victory.

Geography

Gia Lai is a mountainous province located in the northern Central Highlands at an average altitude of 700 - 800 m above sea level with an area of Convert 15510.13 km², an average population of 1,590,980 people (2022).^[5] Gia Lai borders Kon Tum Province to the north, Dak Lak Province to the south, Cambodia to the west, and Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen Provinces to the east. The province has 17 administrative units including Pleiku City, 2 towns of An Khe, Ayun Pa, and 14 districts including Chu Pah, Chu Prong, Dak Doa, Chu Se, Chu Puh, Phu Thien, Mang Yang, Krong Pa, Kong Chro, Kbang, Ia Pa, Ia Grai, Duc Co, Dak Po. Pleiku City is the economic, political, cultural, and social center of the province.

Transport

The province has 2 airports:

• Phu Cat Airport (serving Quy Nhon city)
• Pleiku Airport (serving Pleiku)

Ethnic groups

• Kinh: 814,056
• Tay: 11,412
• Thai: 5,440
• Hoa: 515
• Khmer: 326
• Muong: 8,283
• Nung: 12,420
• Mong: 3,386
• Dao: 4,825
• Gia Rai: 459,738
• Ngai: 32
• E De: 904
• Ba Na: 189,367
• Xo Dang: 964
• San Chay: 388
• Co Ho: 23
• Cham: 759
• San Diu: 133
• Hre: 278
• Mnong: 45
• Raglay: 19
• Xtieng: 12
• Bru Van Kieu: 12
• Tho: 204
• Giay: 12
• Co Tu: 21
• Gie Trieng: 70
• Ma: 2
• Kho Mu: 60
• Co: 46
• Ta Oi: 8
• Cho Ro: 13
• Khang: 3
• Xinh Mun: –
• Ha Nhi: 1
• Chu Ru: 6
• Lao: –
• La Chi: 1
• La Ha: –
• Phu La: –
• La Hu: 2
• Lu: 1
• Lo Lo: –
• Chut: 6
• Mang: 1
• Pa Then: 2
• Co Lao: 16
• Cong: –
• Bo Y: 1
• Si La: –
• Pu Peo: –
• Brau: –
• O Du: –
• Ro Mam: 3
• Aboard: 20
• Unknown: 11

Administrative divisions

Gia Lai is composed of 17 district-level sub-divisions:

Second Tier subdivisions	Area (km2)	Third-tier subdivisions
		Ward	Township	Commune
Pleiku city	266.62	14		9
An Khê town	200.07	6		5
Ayun Pa town	287.00	4		4
Chư Păh District	988.66		2	13
Chư Prông District	1687.50		1	19
Chư Pưh District	716.95		1	8
Chư Sê District	642.96		1	14
Đắk Đoa District	988.66		1	16
Đắk Pơ District	499.62		1	7
Đức Cơ District	717.00		1	9
Ia Grai District	1157.30		1	12
Ia Pa District	870.90			9
K'Bang District	1845.00		1	13
Kông Chro District	1442.00		1	13
Krông Pa District	1623.60		1	13
Mang Yang District	1126.10		1	11
Phú Thiện District	501.91		1	9

They are further subdivided into 15 commune-level towns (or townlets), 184 communes, and 24 wards.