# Gia Lai province

Gia Lai is a northern mountainous province in the Central Highlands region, the Central of Vietnam. It borders Kon Tum in the north, Quảng Ngãi in the northeast, Bình Định in the east, Phú Yên in the southeast, Đắk Lắk in the south and Ratanakiri of Cambodia in the west.
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%.

## 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 km$^2$, an average population of 1,590,980 people (2022). 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.

## 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
* Nguoi Nuoc Ngoai: 20
* Khong Xac Dinh: 11

## Administrative divisions

Gia Lai is composed of 17 district-level sub-divisions:
| Second Tier subdivisions | Area (km$^2$) | Third-tier subdivisions | Third-tier subdivisions | Third-tier subdivisions |
| Second Tier subdivisions | Area (km$^2$) | 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.