Religions:
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish
dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.1%
male: 84.1%
female: 64.2% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Iraq
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq
local short form: Al Iraq
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 23 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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
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
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
Constitution:
ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional
Review Committee and a possible public referendum )
Legal system:
based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined
in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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
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
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
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
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)
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
FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129
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
FAX: 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
Economy ::Iraq
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.
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
GDP (official exchange rate):
$91.45 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
1.5% (2007 est.)
6.2% (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 - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 68%
services: 27% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
7.74 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
18.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
18% (2006 est.)
note: official data; unofficial estimates as high as 30%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $42.4 billion
expenditures: $49.9 billion (FY08 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
4.7% (2007 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)
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)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.878 billion (31 March 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep,
poultry
Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials,
food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate:
10.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - production:
36.92 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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.)
Oil - production:
2.385 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
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 - proved reserves:
115 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - production:
1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
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 - proved reserves:
3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Current account balance:
$14.05 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$4.909 billion (2007 est.)
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)
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)
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.)
Debt - external:
$67.74 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$100.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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)
Communications ::Iraq
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
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
52 (station frequency types NA) (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
47 (2008)
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
Transportation ::Iraq
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)
Pipelines:
gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,418 km; refined
products 1,637 km (2008)
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)
Merchant marine:
total: 14
country comparison to the world: 107
by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 4 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr
Military ::Iraq
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 service age and obligation:
18-49 years of age for voluntary military service (2008)
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
Transnational Issues ::Iraq
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:
refugees (country of origin): 10,000-15,000 (Palestinian
Territories); 11,773 (Iran); 16,832 (Turkey)
IDPs: 2.4 million (ongoing US-led war and ethno-sectarian violence)
(2007)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Ireland (Europe)
Introduction ::Ireland
Background:
Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions
by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended
when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions
began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of
Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh
repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off
several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in
independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern
(Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. In 1949, Ireland withdrew
from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in
1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of
Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A
peace settlement for Northern Ireland is gradually being implemented
despite some difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British
governments developed and began to implement the St. Andrews
Agreement, building on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.
Geography ::Ireland
Location:
Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in
the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates:
53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 70,273 sq km
country comparison to the world: 119
land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild
winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the
time
Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills
and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum,
limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
46.8 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.18 cu km/yr (23%/77%/0%)
per capita: 284 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America
and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100
km of Dublin
People ::Ireland
Population:
4,203,200 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 454,571/female 424,022)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,411,336/female 1,409,760)
65 years and over: 12% (male 224,850/female 278,661) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 34.2 years
female: 35.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.12% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Birth rate:
14.23 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Net migration rate:
4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 188
male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.24 years
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 75.6 years
female: 81.06 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Nationality:
noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups:
Irish 87.4%, other white 7.5%, Asian 1.3%, black 1.1%, mixed 1.1%,
unspecified 1.6% (2006 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.4%, Church of Ireland 2.9%, other Christian 1.9%,
other 2.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.2% (2006 census)
Languages:
English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic or
Gaeilge) (official) spoken mainly in areas along the western coast
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 18 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 81
Government ::Ireland
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
Government type:
republic, parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: