1989 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1989 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Total area
400km Gulf Srr regional map \ 1 Strait of Hormuz Gulf Beheihti of
Economy
Agriculture
principal products — rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not selfsufficient in food
Aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $976 million; note — aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution
Budget
revenues SNA; expenditures $55.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1 1.5 billion (FY88 est.)
Currency
Iranian rial (plural — rials); 1 Iranian rial (IR) = 100 dinars; note — do mestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman (plural — tomans), which equals 10 rials
Electricity
14,579,000 kW capacity; 40,000 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Iranian rials (IR) per US$1— 70.019 (January 1990), 72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988), 71.460 (1987), 78.760(1986), 91.052(1985) Fiscal yean 21 March-20 March
Exports
$12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides; partners — Japan, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, FRG
External debt
$4-5 billion (1989)
GNP
$97.6 billion, per capita $1,800; real growth rate 0-1% (1989)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and international drug trade
Imports
$12.0 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities— machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, Pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products; partners— FRG, Japan, Turkey, UK, Italy
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating (steel and copper)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
50-80% (1989)
Overview
Since the 1979 revolution, the banks, petroleum industry, transportation, utilities, and mining have been nationalized, but the new five-year plan — the first since the revolution — passed in January 1990, calls for the transfer of many government-controlled enterprises to the private sector. War-related disruptions, massive corruption, mismanagement, demographic pressures, and ideological rigidities have kept economic growth at depressed levels. Oil accounts for 90% of export revenues. A combination of war damage and low oil prices brought a 2% drop in GNP in 1988. GNP probably rose slightly in 1989, considerably short of the 3.4% population growth rate in 1989. Heating oil and gasoline are rationed. Agriculture has suffered from the war, land reform, and shortages of equipment and materials. The five-year plan seeks to reinvigorate the economy by increasing the role of the private sector, boosting nonoil income, and securing foreign loans. The plan is overly ambitious but probably will generate some short-term relief.
Unemployment rate
30% (1989)
Communications
Airports
201 total, 175 usable; 82 with permanent-surface runways; 17 with runways over 3,659 m; 17 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 68 with runways 1,2202,439 m
Branches
Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, and Revolutionary Guard Corps (includes Basil militia and own ground, air, and naval forces), Gendarmerie Military manpower males 15-49, 12,302,967; 7,332,614 fit for military service; 569,647 reach military age (21) annually
Civil air
42 major transport aircraft
Defense expenditures
8% of GNP, or $7.8 billion (1989 est.)
Highways
140,072 km total; 46,866 km gravel and crushed stone; 49,440 km improved earth; 42,566 km bituminous and bituminous-treated surfaces; 1,200 km (est.) of rural road network
Inland waterways
904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 1 30 km, but closed since September 1980 because of Iran-Iraq war
Merchant marine
133 ships (1,000 CRT or over) totaling 4,631,836 GRT/ 8,662,454 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 6 rollon/roll-off cargo, 33 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 49 bulk, 2 combination bulk
Pipelines
crude oil, 5,900 km; refined products, 3,900 km; natural gas, 3,300 km
Ports
Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Bandar Beheshtt, Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Shahld Raja'T, Khorramshahr (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war)
Railroads
4,601 km total; 4,509 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km 1.676-meter gauge; 730 km under construction from Bafq to Bandar Abbas
Telecommunications
radio relay extends throughout country; system centered in Tehran; 2,143,000 telephones; stations — 62 AM, 30 FM, 250 TV; satellite earth stations — 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; HF and microwave to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and USSR Defense Forces