1999), 10,013.6 (1998), 2,909.4 (1997), 2,342.3 (1996), 2,248.6
(1995), 2,160.8 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March
Communications
Telephones: 1,276,600 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic service fair, international service
good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system
international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0
Radios: 28.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (of which 18 are
government-owned and 23 are commercial) (1997)
Televisions: 11.5 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km
double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 342,700 km
paved: 158,670 km
unpaved: 184,030 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820
km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya
4,587 km
Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural
gas 1,703 km (1989)
Ports and harbors: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang,
Semarang, Surabaya, Ujungpandang
Merchant marine:
total: 587 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,707,004
GRT/3,701,001 DWT
ships by type: bulk 37, cargo 348, chemical tanker 8, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 116,
passenger 9, passenger-cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,
short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 5 (1998
est.)
Airports: 443 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 125
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 41
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 318
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 282 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 61,087,521 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 35,804,125 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,268,638 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $959.7 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Indonesian sovereignty over Timor Timur
(East Timor Province), which is not recognized by the UN, is the
subject of discussions between the UN, Indonesia, and Portugal; two
islands in dispute with Malaysia
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic
use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden
Triangle heroin
======================================================================
@Iran
----
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian
Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq
1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline: 2,440 km
note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in
the Persian Gulf
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with
deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium,
copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 7%
other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 94,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms,
sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
Environment--current issues: air pollution, especially in urban
areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial
effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil
pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation
People
Population: 65,179,752 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 11,963,438; female 11,447,191)
15-64 years: 60% (male 19,549,935; female 19,276,784)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,561,877; female 1,380,527) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.71 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.76 years
male: 68.43 years
female: 71.16 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and
Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%,
other 1%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian,
Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%
Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic
dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish
1%, other 2%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.1%
male: 78.4%
female: 65.8% (1994 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
Data code: IR
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: Tehran
Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan);
Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar
Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer
Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va
Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
note: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, and
Qazvin
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of
the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of
government
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since
3 August 1997); First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA
August 1989)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval
elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by
the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA
May 2001)
election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani elected president;
percent of vote--(Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 69%
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (270 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA
March 2000)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: since President KHATAMI's election
in May 1997, several political parties have been licensed including
Executives of Construction, Islamic Iran Solidarity Party, and
Islamic Partnership Front; other important political groupings are:
MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA]; Islamic
Political pressure groups and leaders: groups that generally
support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of
the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the
Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups
include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran
party; armed political groups that have been almost completely
repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization
(MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the
Society for the Defense of Freedom
International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Iran has an
Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Fariborz
JAHANSUZAN; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,
965-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note--protecting
power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of
the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR
(God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the
bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the
red band
Economy
Economy--overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central
planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises,
village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service
ventures. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market
reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI and has indicated that
he will pursue diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy
although he has made little progress toward that goal. In the early
1990s, Iran experienced a financial crisis and was forced to
reschedule $15 billion in debt. The strong oil market in 1996 helped
ease financial pressures on Iran and allowed for Tehran's timely
debt service payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997
and deteriorated further in 1998 because of lower oil prices. As a
result Iran has begun to cut imports and fall into arrears on its
debt payments.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$339.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: -2.1% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: 53% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 15.4 million
note: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
(1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: more than 30% (January 1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $34.6 billion
expenditures: $34.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.8
billion (FY96/97)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other
construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining
and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity--production: 79.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 90.57%
hydro: 9.43%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 79.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets,
fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: petroleum 80%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides,
iron, steel
Exports--partners: Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, South Korea
Imports: $13.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works,
foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
Imports--partners: Germany, Italy, Japan, UAE, UK, Belgium
Debt--external: $21.9 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid--recipient: $116.5 million (1995)
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note--domestic figures
are generally referred to in terms of the toman
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1--1,754.63 (January
1999), 1,751.86 (1998), 1,752.92 (1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93
(1995), 1,748.75 (1994); black market rate: 7,000 rials per US$1
(December 1998); note--as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750
rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services
and for oil exports, whereas the "official export rate" of 3,000
rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered
by the official rate
Fiscal year: 21 March--20 March
Communications
Telephones: 8,991,797 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: 25 regional telecommunications authorities created in
1996; these authorities are responsible for implementing paging
services and cellular systems; microwave radio relay extends
throughout the country with the system centered in Tehran; system is
moving toward digitization and direct-dial capability; 255
long-distance circuits (1999 est.); 366 telephone exchanges (1995
est.); 204,400 microwave channels (1996 est.); 230,000 cellular
telephone subscribers (1997 est.); 3,930 pager subscribers (1995
est.)
international: 13,985 international circuits (1999 est.) with a plan
to reach 14,000 by March 1999; satellite earth stations--9 Intelsat
(with 50 terminals) and 4 Inmarsat; HF radio and microwave radio
relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan,
Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic
cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG); Trans Asia Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from
Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with
expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; four Internet service providers
as of 1997 with the number increasing (service limited to electronic
mail to promote Iranian culture)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 6, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)
Radios: 13 million (1999 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28 (in addition, there are 450
low-power repeaters, all government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: 7 million (1999 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 7,286 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,192 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1996
est.)
Highways:
total: 162,000 km
paved: 81,000 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 81,000 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m
and is in use
Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km;
natural gas 4,550 km
Ports and harbors: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during
1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr,
Bandar-e Imam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e
Torkaman, Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye
Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since
November 1992), Now Shahr
Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,238,293
GRT/5,658,259 DWT
ships by type: bulk 46, cargo 35, chemical tanker 4, combination
bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 288 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 110
over 3,047 m: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 178
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 126
under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 11 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces
(includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces),
Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and
Basij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Military manpower--military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 17,203,360 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 10,217,269 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 767,152 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $5.787 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic
relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written
agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war
concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of
navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran
occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser
Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e
Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in
Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it
jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf
claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye
Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)--over which Iran has taken steps to
exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions
and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered
significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these
Iranian actions; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among
Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran
remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to
Europe; domestic consumption of narcotics remains a persistent
problem and Iranian press reports estimate that there are at least
1.2 million drug users in the country
======================================================================
@Iraq
----
Introduction
Background: Iraq lies in the lower part of the Tigris-Euphrates
valley, the heart of one of the four great ancient civilizations.
The area was overrun by Arab, Mongol, and Turkish conquerors and
became a British mandate following World War I. Independence came in
1932. Iraq's pro-Western stance ended in 1958 with the overthrow of
the monarchy. Its subsequent turbulent history has witnessed the
dictatorship of SADDAM Husayn, civil war with the Kurds, a bloody
conflict with neighboring Iran, and, in 1990, an invasion of Kuwait,
swiftly turned back by a Western coalition led by the US.
Noncooperation with UN Security Council resolution obligations and
the UN's inspection of Iraq's nuclear, chemical, biological, and
long-range missile weapons programs remain major problems.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran
and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 437,072 sq km
land: 432,162 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km
Area--comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total: 3,631 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi
Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border
in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran
and Turkey
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 9%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 79% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floods
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 Shi'a Muslims, who have 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 Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon
agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution;
soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
People
Population: 22,427,150 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 4,982,510; female 4,825,129)
15-64 years: 53% (male 6,030,417; female 5,889,543)
65 years and over: 3% (male 326,223; female 373,328) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.52 years
male: 65.54 years
female: 67.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.12 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian
or other 5%
Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian
or other 3%
Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq
Data code: IZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Baghdad
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah,
An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk,
Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate
under British administration)