2010 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 through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. 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-JAFARI 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 Kirkuk province. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010, and after nine months of deadlock the CoR approved the new government in December.

Area

land

437,367 sq km

total

438,317 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

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

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

Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,482 cu m/yr (2000)

total

42.7 cu km/yr (3%/5%/92%)

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

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

13.12%

other

86.27% (2005)

permanent crops

0.61%

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

Total renewable water resources

96.4 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.8% (male 5,711,187/female 5,514,794) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 8,535,550/female 8,303,942) 65 years and over: 3% (male 410,395/female 469,701) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

29.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

38.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

47.47 deaths/1,000 live births

total

43.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.69 years (2010 est.)

male

68.88 years

total population

70.25 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

64.2% (2000 est.)

male

84.1%

total population

74.1%

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

female

20.8 years (2010 est.)

male

20.5 years

total

20.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Iraqi

noun

Iraqi(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

29,671,605 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.449% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

8 years (2005)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.76 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

67% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

33 20 N, 44 23 E

name

Baghdad

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 James F. Jeffrey

embassy

Baghdad

FAX

NA

mailing address

APO AE 09316

telephone

1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI

FAX

[1] (202) 333-1129

telephone

[1] (202) 742-1600

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers consists of ministers appointed by the Presidency Council plus the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005)

election results

President Jalal TALABANI reelected on 11 November 2010; parliamentary vote count on second ballot - 195 votes; Nuri al-MALIKI reselected prime minister

elections

president elected by Council of Representatives (parliament) to serve a four-year term (eligible for a second term)

head of government

Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006)

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; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'athist Saddam-era flag note: 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

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, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, 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 (325 seats consisting of 317 members elected by an optional open-list, proportional representation system and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members serve four-year terms); note - Iraq's Constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council

election results

Council of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition - Iraqi National Movement 25.9%, State of Law coalition 25.8%, Iraqi National Alliance 19.4%, Kurdistan Alliance 15.3%, Goran (Change) List 4.4%, Tawafuq Front 2.7%, Iraqi Unity Alliance 2.9%, Kurdistan Islamic Union 2.3%, Kurdistan Islamic Group 1.4%; seats by coalition - Iraqi National Movement 91, State of Law Coalition 89, Iraqi National Alliance 70, Kurdistan Alliance 43, Goran (Change) List 8, Tawafuq Front 6, Iraqi Unity Alliance 4, Kurdistan Islamic Union 4, Kurdistan Islamic Group 2, seats reserved for minorities 8

elections

last held on 7 March 2010 for an enlarged 325-seat parliament; next election to be held in 2014

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL note: adopted 2004; following the ousting of Saddam HUSSEIN, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world, which also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people

name

"Mawtini" (My Homeland)

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

Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI]; Da'wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI branch]; Da-wa Tanzim [Abd al-Karim al-ANZI branch]; Fadilah Party [Hashim al-HASHIMI]; Hadba Gathering [Athil al-NUJAYFI]; Iraqi Charter Assembly [Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur al-SAMARRAI]; Iraqi Constitutional Party [Jawad al-BULANI]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Usama al-TIKRITI]; Iraqi Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [former Prime Minister Ayad ALLAWI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Ammar al-HAKIM]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI]; National Gathering [Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-ISSAWI]; National Movement for Reform and Development [Jamal al-KARBULI]; National Reform Trend [former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Renewal List [Vice President Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR]; Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI]; Tawafuq Front note: numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority 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

Central bank discount rate

8.83% (31 December 2009) 16.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.64% (31 December 2009 est.) 19.5% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$2.715 billion (2010 est.) -$19.9 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$52.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $73 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

An improved security environment and an initial wave of foreign investment are helping to spur economic activity, particularly in the energy, construction, and retail sectors. Broader economic improvement, long-term fiscal health, and sustained increases in the standard of living still depend on the government passing major policy reforms and on continued development of Iraq's massive oil reserves. Although foreign investors viewed Iraq with increasing interest in 2010, most are still hampered by difficulties in acquiring land for projects and by other regulatory impediments. Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides over 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Since mid-2009, oil export earnings have returned to levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom and government revenues have rebounded, along with global oil prices. In 2011 Baghdad probably will increase oil exports above the current level of 1.9 million barrels per day (bbl/day) as a result of new contracts with international oil companies, but is likely to fall short of the 2.4 million bbl/day it is forecasting in its budget. Iraq is making modest progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy. In 2010, Bagdad signed a new agreement with both the IMF and World Bank for conditional aid programs that will help strengthen Iraq's economic institutions. Some reform-minded leaders within the Iraqi government are seeking to pass laws to strengthen the economy. This legislation includes a package of laws to establish a modern legal framework for the oil sector and a mechanism to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although these and other important reforms are still under contentious and sporadic negotiation. Iraq's recent contracts with major oil companies have the potential to greatly expand oil revenues, but Iraq will need to upgrade its oil processing, pipeling, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their potential. The Government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to gain additional foreign investment in Iraq's economy. This includes an amendment to the National Investment Law, multiple international trade and investment events, as well as potential participation in joint ventures with state-owned enterprises. Provincial Councils also are using their own budgets to promote and facilitate investment at the local level. However, widespread corruption, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient essential services, and antiquated commercial laws and regulations stifle investment and continue to constrain the growth of private, non-energy sectors. The Central Bank has successfully held the exchange rate at approximately 1,170 Iraqi dinar/US dollar since January 2009. Inflation has decreased consistently since 2006 as the security situation has improved. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into improved lives for ordinary Iraqis. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country. Reducing corruption and implementing reforms - such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector - would be important steps in this direction.

Electricity - consumption

52 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

46.39 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar - 1,170 (2010), 1,170 (2009), 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006)

Exports

$49.1 billion (2010 est.) $40.86 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 27.62%, India 14.45%, Italy 10.14%, South Korea 8.62%, Taiwan 5.61%, China 4.23%, Netherlands 4.13%, Japan 3.99% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

9.7%

industry

63%

services

27.3% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,600 (2010 est.) $3,600 (2009 est.) $3,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2010 est.) 4.5% (2009 est.) 7.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$84.14 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$117.7 billion (2010 est.) $111.5 billion (2009 est.) $106.7 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$42.56 billion (2010 est.) $50 billion (2008 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners

Turkey 24.99%, Syria 17.36%, US 8.66%, China 6.79%, Jordan 4.17%, Italy 3.98%, Germany 3.97% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

4.8% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (2010 est.) 6.8% (2009 est.)

Labor force

8.5 million (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

21.6%

industry

18.7%

services

59.8% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.6 billion (31 July 2010) $2 billion (31 July 2009) $1.878 billion (31 March 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

9.454 billion cu m note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

687,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

1.91 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

116,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

2.399 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

115 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2008 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$45.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $44.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$46.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $37.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$21.94 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $10.16 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$35.69 billion (31 December 2010 est) $30.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

15.3% (2009 est.) 15.2% (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

the number of private radio and television stations has increased rapidly since 2003; government-owned TV and radio stations are operated by the publicly-funded Iraqi Public Broadcasting Service; private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to an estimated 70% of viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2007)

Internet country code

.iq

Internet hosts

9 (2010)

Internet users

325,900 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; mobile-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 is available in some metropolitan areas and additional licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure

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 is expected to continue increasing rapidly

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; international terrestrial fiber-optic connections have been established with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Kuwait with planned connections to Iran and Jordan; a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable is planned (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.108 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

19.722 million (2009)

Airports

104 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

75 over 3,047 m: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

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 (2010)

Heliports

21 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

petroleum tanker 2

registered in other countries

2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)

total

2

Pipelines

gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,032 km; refined products 1,637 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

Railways

standard gauge

2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

total

2,272 km

Roadways

paved

37,851 km

total

44,900 km

unpaved

7,049 km (2002)

Waterways

5,279 km note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 7,541,723 females age 16-49: 7,238,553 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,402,171 females age 16-49: 6,232,674 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

313,360 (2010 est.)

male

323,328

Military branches

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)

Military expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-40 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence) (2007) page last updated on January 26, 2011 ======================================================================

refugees (country of origin)

10,000-15,000 (Palestinian Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)