Najaf province (Arabic: النجف, An-Najaf), is a province in the nation of Iraq. The province has an area of 28,824 square kilometers (11,129 sq mi). In 2003 it had an estimated population of 931,600 people. Prior to 1976 it was part of the Diwaniya Province, which also included present day Al Muthanna Governorate and Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate. The Najaf Governorate is the third Governorate in Iraq to be handed over by the occupying Coalition forces to Iraqi control.