2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

18 governorates (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

Age structure

0-14 years: 40.7% (male 5,103,669; female 4,946,443) 15-64 years: 56.3% (male 7,033,268; female 6,855,644) 65 years and over: 3% (male 348,790; female 395,499) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep

Airports

150 (2002); note - unknown number were damaged during the March-April 2003 war

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 6

total

77

under 914 m

9 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24

total

73

under 914 m

11 (2002)

Area

land

432,162 sq km

total

437,072 sq km

water

4,910 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Background

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government. Geography Iraq

Birth rate

33.66 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Capital

Baghdad

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

Constitution

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Iraq

conventional short form

Iraq

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah

local short form

Al Iraq

Currency

Iraqi dinar (IQD)

Currency code

IQD

Death rate

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$120 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Diplomatic representation in the US

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Disputes - international

despite restored diplomatic relations in 1990, disputes with Iran over maritime and land boundaries, navigation channel, and other issues from eight-year war persist; land and Shatt al Arab boundary demarcation put an end to claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands, but no maritime boundary exists with Kuwait in the Persian Gulf; Iraq protests Turkey's hydrological projects to regulate the Tigris and Euphrates rivers upstream This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$327.5 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Iraq's economy is 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, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports have recently been more than three-quarters prewar level. However, 28% of Iraq's export revenues under the program have been deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund and UN administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure and the loss of a comparatively small amount of capital plant.

Electricity - consumption

33.49 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

36.01 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

98.4%

hydro

1.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unamed peak 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 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 Marsh Arabs, who 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 the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to

Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Ethnic groups

Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%

Exchange rates

Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 0.31 (2002), 0.31 (2001), 0.31 (2000), 0.31 (1999), 0.31 (1998), note: fixed official rate since 1982; market rate subject to wide fluctuations

Executive branch

chief of state

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Exports

$13 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil

Exports - partners

US 40.9%, Canada 8.2%, France 8.2%, Jordan 7.5%, Netherlands 6.4%, Italy 5.4%, Morocco 4.7%, Spain 4.4% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Iraq

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 which has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band Economy Iraq

GDP

purchasing power parity - $58 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6%

industry

13%

services

81% (1993 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-3% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

33 00 N, 44 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf People Iraq

Government type

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Heliports

5 (2002) Military Iraq

Highways

paved

38,399 km

total

45,550 km

unpaved

7,151 km (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 1,000

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$7.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners

Jordan 11%, France 8.8%, China 8.4%, Germany 7.6%, Russia 7.3%, Australia 7.2%, Vietnam 6.6%, Italy 6.4%, Japan 5.6% (2002)

Independence

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing

Infant mortality rate

female

48.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

61.09 deaths/1,000 live births

total

55.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

70% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, EAPC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Internet country code

.iq

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

12,500 (2001) Transportation Iraq

Irrigated land

35,250 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Labor force

6.5 million (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

total

3,650 km

Land use

arable land

11.89%

other

87.33% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.78%

Languages

Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian

Legal system

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Legislative branch

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.99 years (2003 est.)

male

66.7 years

total population

67.81 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

24.4% (2003 est.) Government Iraq

male

55.9%

total population

40.4%

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

Median age

female

19.1 years (2002)

male

18.9 years

total

19 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 9, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)

total

18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 119,433 GRT/170,221 DWT

Military branches

Army, Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Fedayeen Saddam; note - with the defeat of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, the data listed in the following entries for Iraq is invalid, but is retained here for historical purposes and until replaced by valid information related to the future Iraqi Government (April 2003)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.3 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA% Transnational Issues Iraq

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

6,339,458 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

3,541,467 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

292,930 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Revolution Day, 17 July (1968)

Nationality

adjective

Iraqi

noun

Iraqi(s)

Natural gas - consumption

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.149 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

dust storms, sandstorms, floods

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

2.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.); note - production was disrupted as a result of the March-April 2003 war (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

113.8 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Political pressure groups and leaders

in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Population

24,683,313 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

2.78% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited functionality

Radio broadcast stations

AM 19 (5 are inactive), FM 51, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

4.85 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

1,963 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

total

1,963 km

Religions

Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

Suffrage

formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition

Telephone system

domestic

the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links

general assessment

an unknown number of telecommunication facilities were damaged during the March-April 2003 war

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 - main lines in use

675,000 (1997); note - an unknown number of telephone lines were damaged or destroyed during the March-April war

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA; service available in northern Iraq (2001)

Television broadcast stations

13 (1997); note - unknown number were destroyed during the March-April 2003 war

Televisions

1.75 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

Total fertility rate

4.52 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

1,015 km

note

Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft boats; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf war