2009 Edition

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 strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was 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 led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate until 31 December 2008 and under a bilateral Security Agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to support the freely elected government. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (CoR) in December 2005. After the election, Ibrahim al-JAAFARI was selected as prime minister; he was replaced by Nuri al-MALIKI in May 2006. The CoR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. On 31 January 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all provinces except for the three provinces comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and at-Ta'mim (Kirkuk) province.

Area

total: 438,317 sq km country comparison to the world: 58 land: 437,367 sq km water: 950 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: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is neither Gundah Zhur 3,607 m nor Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 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: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 42.7 cu km/yr (3%/5%/92%) per capita: 1,482 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

35,250 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 3,650 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

Land use

arable land: 13.12% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 86.27% (2005)

Location

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: not specified

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

Total renewable water resources

96.4 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.8% (male 5,709,688/female 5,531,359) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 8,529,956/female 8,310,164) 65 years and over: 3% (male 408,266/female 456,224) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

30.1 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Death rate

5.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Infant mortality rate

total: 43.82 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 60 male: 49.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.94 years country comparison to the world: 144 male: 68.6 years female: 71.34 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 74.1% male: 84.1% female: 64.2% (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

total: 20.4 years male: 20.3 years female: 20.5 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi

Net migration rate

NA (2009 est.)

Population

28,945,657 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Population growth rate

2.507% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 8 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.86 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Urbanization

urban population: 67% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 region*; Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Kurdistan Regional Government*, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Capital

name: Baghdad geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 23 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum )

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq local short form: Al Iraq

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL embassy: Baghdad mailing address: APO AE 09316 telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Vice Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22 April 2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the Presidency Council) head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006); Rafi al-ISSAWI (since 19 July 2008) cabinet: 36 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI and Deputy Prime Ministers Barham SALIH and Rafi al-ISSAWI elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives

FAX

[1] (202) 333-1129

NA

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law

Legal system

based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Council of Representatives (consisting of 275 members elected by a closed-list, proportional representation system) elections: last held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives (next to be held on 18 January 2010); the Council of Representatives elected the Presidency Council and approved the prime minister and two deputy prime ministers election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Unified Iraqi Alliance 41%, Kurdistan Alliance 22%, Tawafuq Coalition 15%, Iraqi National List 8%, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 4%, other 10%; number of seats by party (as of November 2007) - Unified Iraqi Alliance (including the Sadrist bloc with 30 and Fadilah with 15) 130, Kurdistan Alliance 53, Tawafuq Front 44, Iraqi National List 25, Fadilah 15, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 11, other 12

National holiday

Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic Day

Political parties and leaders

Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Nuri al-MALIKI]; General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid MAJID]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR] (not an organized political party, but it fields independent candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI] note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $42.4 billion expenditures: $49.9 billion (FY08 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 6 20% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 19.74% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

$14.05 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $4.909 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$67.74 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economy - overview

Decreasing insurgent attacks and an improving security environment in many parts of the country are helping to spur economic activity. Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided over 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil exports are around levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom. Total government revenues have benefited from high oil prices in recent years; however, revenues have declined significantly since the oil price drop in fall 2008. Iraq is making some progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy. In March 2009 Iraq concluded a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF that details economic reforms. The SBA allows an 80% reduction of the debt owed to Paris Club creditor nations. The International Compact with Iraq was established in May 2007 to integrate Iraq into the regional and global economy, and the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to strengthen its economy. This legislation includes a hydrocarbon law to establish a modern legal framework to allow Iraq to develop its resources and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although both are still under contentious political negotiation. Some foreign entities have expressed interest in reinvigorating Iraq's industrial sector. The government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to gain foreign participation in joint ventures with State-owned enterprises. Provincial Councils are also using their own budgets to promote and facilitate investment at the local level. The Central Bank has been successful in controlling inflation through appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar. However, Iraq's challenge will be to use macroeconomic gains to improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis. Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to Iraq's economic success.

Electricity - consumption

39.88 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

2.95 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

36.92 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Exchange rates

New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)

Exports

$58.81 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $36.08 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%

Exports - partners

US 37.3%, India 13.8%, Italy 9.4%, South Korea 6.8% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 68% services: 27% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $3,000 (2007 est.) $3,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 1.5% (2007 est.) 6.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$91.45 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$90.23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $83.7 billion (2007 est.) $82.46 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$37.22 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $25.67 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners

Syria 26.4%, Turkey 19.7%, US 10.7%, Jordan 6.5%, China 6% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

10.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Industries

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 4.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force

7.74 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.878 billion (31 March 2008) $NA (31 December 2007) $NA (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

9.454 billion cu m country comparison to the world: 48 note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - production

1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Oil - consumption

638,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Oil - exports

1.83 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Oil - imports

116,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - production

2.385 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Oil - proved reserves

115 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$49.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $30.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$26.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 31 $18.81 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$5.415 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 67 $3.67 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

18.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 18% (2006 est.) note: official data; unofficial estimates as high as 30%

Internet country code

.iq

Internet hosts

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 219

Internet users

300,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 126

Radio broadcast stations

52 (station frequency types NA) (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications through fiber optic links are in progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly and its subscribership base approached 18 million in 2008 domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; planned international fiber-optic connections to Iran (terrestrial) with a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.082 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 76

Telephones - mobile cellular

17.529 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 40

Television broadcast stations

47 (2008)

Airports

104 (2009) country comparison to the world: 57

Airports - with paved runways

total: 75 over 3,047 m: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 37 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 8 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 29 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 6 (2009)

Heliports

21 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 14 country comparison to the world: 107 by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 (2008)

Pipelines

gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,637 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

Railways

total: 2,272 km country comparison to the world: 68 standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 44,900 km country comparison to the world: 81 paved: 37,851 km unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Waterways

5,279 km country comparison to the world: 23 note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2008)

Iraqi Armed Forces

Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 7,086,200 females age 16-49: 6,808,954 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,203,425 females age 16-49: 6,065,009 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 313,500 female: 304,923 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 4

Military service age and obligation

18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)

Disputes - international

coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq

IDPs

2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence) (2007) page last updated on November 11, 2009

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)