1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 437,072 sq km land: 432,162 sq km water: 4,910 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Climate
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Coastline
58 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m
Environment-current issues
government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification
Environment-international agreements
party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geographic coordinates
33 00 N, 44 00 E
Irrigated land
25,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 3,631 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Land use
arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 0% other: 79% (1993 est.)
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Map references
Middle East
Maritime claims
continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
dust storms, sandstorms, floods
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Terrain
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (male 4,865,820; female 4,711,791) 15-64 years: 53% (male 5,794,336; female 5,662,163) 65 years and over: 3% (male 320,672; female 367,505) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
38.58 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
6.57 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Infant mortality rate
62.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 66.52 years male: 65.54 years female: 67.56 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 70.7% female: 45% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
21,722,287 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
3.2% (1998 est.)
Religions
Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.23 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
18 provinces (muhafazat, singular-muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Constitution
22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq
Data code
IZ
Executive branch
chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991) head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since 29 May 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979); Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since NA May 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since NA May 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers note: there is also a Revolutionary Command Council; Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri elections: president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council; election last held 17 October 1995 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent of vote-99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN elected vice presidents; percent of vote - NA
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script-Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star-was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Government type
republic
Independence
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
International organization participation
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note-Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Dr. Khairi AL ZUBAYDI; address: Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500; FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066 Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note-the US has an Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad, which is in the Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club); address: P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad; telephone: [964] (1) 719-6138, 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791; FAX: [964] (1) 718-9297
Judicial branch
Court of Cassation Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party, SADDAM Husayn, central party leader Political pressure groups and leaders: political parties and activity severely restricted; opposition to regime from disaffected members of the Ba'th Party, Army officers, tribes, and Shi'a religious and ethnic Kurdish dissidents; the Green Party (government-controlled)
Legal system
based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent the three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA
National capital
Baghdad
National holiday
Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit, cotton; cattle, sheep
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Debt-external
very heavy relative to GDP but amount unknown (1996)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economy-overview
The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses of at least $100 billion from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo could be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. Industrial and transportation facilities, which suffered severe damage, have been partially restored. At current prices, oil exports are about one-third of their prewar level because of the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 986-the UN's oil-for-goods program-in December 1996. Shortages of spare parts continue. In accord with the oil-for-goods deal, Iraq is allowed to export $2 billion worth of oil in exchange for badly needed food and medicine. The first oil was pumped in December 1996, and the first supplies of food and medicine arrived in April 1997. Per capita output for 1995-97 and living standards are well below the 1989-90 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.
Electricity-capacity
6.83 million kW (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita
1,362 kWh (1996 est.)
Electricity-production
31.8 billion kWh (1996)
Exchange rates
Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1-0.3109 (fixed official rate since 1982); black market rate-Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1-1,530 (December 1997), 3,000 (December 1995); subject to wide fluctuations
Exports
$NA commodities: crude oil partners: Jordan, Turkey (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$42.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$2,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
0% (1997 est.)
Imports
$NA commodities: manufactures, food partners: France, Turkey, Jordan, Vietnam, Australia (1996)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing
Inflation rate-consumer price index
NA%
Labor force
total: 4.4 million (1989) by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22% note: severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July 1990); since then, it has declined substantially
Radio broadcast stations
AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
4.02 million (1991 est.)
Telephone system
reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities have been rebuilt domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational
Telephones
632,000 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations
13
Televisions
1 million (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Transportation
Airports
111 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 76 over 3,047 m: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 10 (1997 est.)
Heliports
4 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 47,400 km paved: 40,764 km unpaved: 6,636 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 791,485 GRT/1,428,307 DWT ships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1997 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km Ports and harbors: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited functionality
Railways
total: 2,032 km standard gauge: 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge
Waterways
1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Republican Guard and Special Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Internal Security Forces
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 5,247,809 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,941,014 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-military age
18 years of age
Military manpower-reaching military age annually
males: 253,504 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers