2015 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. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. In April 2014, Iraq held a national legislative election and expanded the COR to 328 legislators. Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI dropped his bid for a third term in office, enabling new Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI, a Shia from Baghdad, to win parliamentary approval of his new cabinet in September 2014. Since early 2015, Iraq has been engaged in a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country.

Area

land

437,367 sq km

total

438,317 sq km

water

950 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New York state

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

Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Environment - current issues

government water control projects 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

2,616 cu m/yr (2000)

total

66 cu km/yr (7%/15%/79%)

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 (6)

Iran 1,599 km, Jordan 179 km, Kuwait 254 km, Saudi Arabia 811 km, Syria 599 km, Turkey 367 km

total

3,809 km

Land use

arable land 8.4%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.2%

agricultural land

18.1%

forest

1.9%

other

80% (2011 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

Total renewable water resources

89.86 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

40.25% (male 7,615,835/female 7,300,957)

15-24 years

18.98% (male 3,576,740/female 3,454,768)

25-54 years

33.49% (male 6,276,669/female 6,132,968)

55-64 years

3.95% (male 693,629/female 771,624)

65 years and over

3.33% (male 549,034/female 683,945) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

31.45 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

11% (2006 est.)

total number

715,737

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.5% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

52.5% (2011)

Death rate

3.77 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.5%

potential support ratio

18.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

78.7%

youth dependency ratio

73.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 93.8% of population

rural: 70.1% of population

total: 86.6% of population

urban: 6.1% of population

rural: 31.5% of population

total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

34.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

40.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

37.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), Kurdish (official), Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic) are official in areas where they constitute a majority of the population), Armenian

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.19 years (2015 est.)

male

72.62 years

total population

74.85 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

73.7% (2015 est.)

male

85.7%

total population

79.7%

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 (2013)

Major urban areas - population

BAGHDAD (capital) 6.643 million; Mosul 1.694 million; Erbil 1.166 million; Basra 1.019 million; As Sulaymaniyah 1.004 million; Najaf 889,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

50 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

20 years (2015 est.)

male

19.4 years

total

19.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Iraqi

noun

Iraqi(s)

Net migration rate

1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.2% (2014)

Physicians density

0.61 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

37,056,169 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian 0.8%, Hindu

note

while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam HUSSEIN regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.4% of population

rural: 83.8% of population

total: 85.6% of population

urban: 13.6% of population

rural: 16.2% of population

total: 14.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.8 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.12 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

69.5% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

33 20 N, 44 24 E

name

Baghdad

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Iraq

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Iraq

conventional short form

Iraq

etymology

the name probably derives from "Uruk" (Biblical "Erech") the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River

local long form

Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq

local short form

Al Iraq/Eraq

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Stuart E. JONES (since 2 October 2014)

embassy

Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad

FAX

NA

mailing address

APO AE 09316

telephone

0760-030-3000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Luqman Abd al-Rahim FAYLI (since 31 May 2013)

consulate(s) general

Detroit, Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 333-1129

telephone

[1] (202) 742-1600

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives

chief of state

President Fuad MASUM (since 24 July 2014); Vice Presidents Ayad ALLAWI (since 9 September 2014), Nuri MALIKI (since 9 September 2014), Usama al-NUJAYFI (since 9 September 2014)

election results

Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM (PUK) 211, Barham SALIH (PUK) 17; Haydar al-ABADI (Da'wa Party) approved as prime minister

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by Council of Representatives

head of government

Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI (since 8 September 2014)

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 Interim Government

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, EITI (compliant country), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Higher Juridical Council, a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure until retirement nominally at age 63

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal (governorate level); courts of first instance; personal status, labor, criminal, juvenile, and religious courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy (328 seats; 320 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members serve 4-year terms); note - Iraq's constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council, but it has not been instituted

election results

Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by coalition/party – State of Law Coalition 95, Sadrist Movement 34, ISCI/Muwatin 30, KDP 25, United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun 23, PUK 21, Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah 19, other Sunni coalitions/parties 15, Al-Arabiyah Coalition 10, Goran 9, other Shia parties/coalitions 9, Fadilah 6, National Reform Trend 6, Iraq Coalition 5, KIU 4, other 17

elections

last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL

name

"Mawtini" (My Homeland)

note

adopted 2004; following the ouster of SADDAM Husayn, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world; also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black

Political parties and leaders

Al-Arabiyah Coalition [Salih al-MUTLAQ]

Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]

Da`wa Party [Vice President Nuri al-MALIKI];; Da`wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI]

Fadilah Party [Muhammad al-YAQUBI]

Goran Party [Nawhirwan MUSTAFA]

Iraq Coalition [Abd al-Salam al-HAMMUDI]

Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]

Iraqi Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR]

Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI/Muwatin Coalition [Ammar al-HAKIM]

Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI]

Kurdistan Islamic Union or KIU [Mohammed FARA]

Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah [Vice President Ayad ALLAWI]

National Movement for Reform and Development [Muhammad al-KARBULI]

National Reform Trend [Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI]

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [former President Jalal TALABANI]

Sadrist Movement or Ahrar Bloc [Muqtada al-SADR]

State of Law Coalition [Vice President Nuri al MALIKI]

United for Iraq/Muttahidun Party [Vice President Usama al-NUJAYFI]

United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun [Vice President Usama al-NUJAYFI]

note

includes political coalitions

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

Budget

expenditures

$97.57 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$86.03 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6% (December 2012)

6% (December 2011)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6% (31 December 2014 est.)

6% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$6.208 billion (2014 est.)

$3.024 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$58.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$59.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

During 2014, worsening security and financial stability throughout Iraq - driven by an ongoing insurgency, decreasing oil prices, and political upheaval - decreased the prospects for improving the country's economic environment and securing much-needed foreign investment. Long-term fiscal health, a strengthened investment climate, and sustained improvements in the overall standard of living still depend on the central government passing major policy reforms. Iraq's largely state-run economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides more than 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil exports in 2014 remained relatively flat at 2.4 million barrels per day on average, despite new production coming online at the West Qurna 2 and Badrah oilfields, because repeated attacks on the Iraq-Turkey pipeline reduced export capacity. During the second half of 2014, government revenues decreased as global oil prices fell by more than 30%. Iraq's contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil exports and revenues, but Iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their economic potential. The Iraqi Kurdistan Region's (IKR) autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) passed its own oil law in 2007, and has directly signed about 50 contracts to develop IKR energy reserves. The federal government has disputed the legal authority of the KRG to conclude most of these contracts, some of which are also in areas with unresolved administrative boundaries in dispute between the federal and regional government. In December, the federal government and the KRG agreed to sell oil exports from Kurdish-controlled oil fields under the federal oil ministry, in exchange for the central government paying $1 billion to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and resuming budget transfers to the KRG that amount to 17% of Iraq's national budget. Iraq is making slow progress enacting laws and developing the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and political reforms are still needed to assuage investors' concerns regarding the uncertain business climate.. The government of Iraq is eager to attract additional foreign direct investment, but it faces a number of obstacles, including a tenuous political system and concerns about security and societal stability. Rampant corruption, outdated infrastructure, insufficient essential services, skilled labor shortages, and antiquated commercial laws stifle investment and continue to constrain growth of private, nonoil sectors. Under the Iraqi Constitution, some competencies relevant to the overall investment climate are either shared by the federal government and the regions or are devolved entirely to local governments. Investment in the IKR operates within the framework of the Kurdistan Region Investment Law (Law 4 of 2006) and the Kurdistan Board of Investment, which is designed to provide incentives to help economic development in areas under the authority of the KRG. Inflation has remained under control since 2006. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into an improved standard of living for the Iraqi populace. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country despite a bloated public sector. Encouraging private enterprise through deregulation would make it easier for Iraqi citizens and foreign investors to start new businesses. Rooting out corruption and implementing reforms - such as restructuring banks and developing the private sector - would be important steps in this direction.

Exchange rates

Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -

1,213.7 (2014 est.)

1,213.72 (2013 est.)

1,166.17 (2012 est.)

1,170 (2011 est.)

1,170 (2010 est.)

Exports

$83.98 billion (2014 est.)

$89.77 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 23.8%, India 18.4%, US 15.7%, South Korea 7.7%, Greece 5.9%, Italy 4.9% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

40.8%

government consumption

21.5%

household consumption

55.5%

imports of goods and services

-36.3%

investment in fixed capital

16.5%

investment in inventories

2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.2%

industry

59.5%

services

36.3% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,300 (2014 est.)

$15,700 (2013 est.)

$14,700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.1% (2014 est.)

6.6% (2013 est.)

13.9% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$223.5 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$526.1 billion (2014 est.)

$537.5 billion (2013 est.)

$504.3 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

23.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

28.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

28.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.7% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%

3.6%

Imports

$45.2 billion (2014 est.)

$49.98 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners

Turkey 23.3%, Syria 17.3%, China 16.6%, US 4.5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.1% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2014 est.)

1.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

8.9 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

21.6%

industry

18.7%

services

59.8% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4 billion (9 December 2011)

$2.6 billion (31 July 2010)

$2 billion (31 July 2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2008 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$57.07 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$66.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$78.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$75.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$-359,300 (31 December 2014 est.)

$-898,500 (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$62.31 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$63.32 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

16% (2012 est.)

15% (2010 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

130.7 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

2.39 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

3.368 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

144.2 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

53.41 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

92% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

7.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

8.201 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

11.2 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

62.3 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.179 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.18 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.158 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

750,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,153 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

242,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

590,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

the number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003; government-owned TV and radio stations are operated by the publicly funded Iraqi Media Network; 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 (2015)

Internet country code

.iq

Internet users

percent of population

7.8% (2014 est.)

total

2.8 million

Radio broadcast stations

55 (station frequency types NA) (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; 3 GSM operators since 2007 have expanded beyond their regional roots and offer near country-wide access to second-generation services; third-generation mobile services are not available nationwide; 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 expanded rapidly to some 27 million subscribers by the end of 2012

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, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iran; links to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the Gulf Bridge International (GBI) submarine fiber-optic cables have been established (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.95 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

92 (2014 est.)

total

33 million

Television broadcast stations

28 (2009)

Airports

102 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

34

914 to 1,523 m

7

over 3,047 m

20

total

72

under 914 m

7 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

6 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

13

over 3,047 m

3

total

30

Heliports

16 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

petroleum tanker 2

registered in other countries

2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)

total

2

Pipelines

gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1,637 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Al Basrah (Shatt al-'Arab); Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)

Railways

standard gauge

2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

2,272 km

Roadways

paved

59,623 km (includes Kurdistan Region) (2012)

total

59,623 km

Waterways

5,279 km (the Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

7,461,766 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

7,767,329

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

6,421,717 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,591,185

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

322,010 (2010 est.)

male

332,194

Military branches

Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army (includes Army Aviation Directorate), Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force; Counterterrorism Service (2015)

Military expenditures

8.7% of GDP (2014)

3.4% of GDP (2013)

2.88% of GDP (2012)

3.27% of GDP (2011)

2.88% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)

Disputes - international

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

4,149,518 (since 2006 due to ethno-sectarian violence; includes 3,195,390 displaced in central and northern Iraq since January 2014) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

16,637 (Turkey); 11,053 (Iran); 9,246 (West Bank and Gaza Strip) (2014); 244,642 (Syria) (2015)

stateless persons

120,000 (2014); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless