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
elections: last held on 7 March 2010 for an enlarged 325-seat
parliament; next election to be held in 2014
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
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:
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
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)
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 James F. Jeffrey
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; 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
National anthem:
name: "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
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
Economy ::Iraq
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$117.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$111.5 billion (2009 est.)
$106.7 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$84.14 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
4.5% (2009 est.)
7.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$3,600 (2009 est.)
$3,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 63%
services: 27.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
8.5 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.6%
industry: 18.7%
services: 59.8% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
15.2% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
6.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
8.83% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
16.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.64% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
19.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$35.69 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 50
$30.02 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$46.01 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$37.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$21.94 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$10.16 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.6 billion (31 July 2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
$2 billion (31 July 2009)
$1.878 billion (31 March 2008)
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:
4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Electricity - production:
46.39 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - consumption:
52 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
2.399 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Oil - consumption:
687,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - exports:
1.91 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - imports:
116,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - proved reserves:
115 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - production:
1.88 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
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 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Current account balance:
$2.715 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
-$19.9 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$49.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$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)
Imports:
$42.56 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$44.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$52.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$73 billion (31 December 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)
Communications ::Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.108 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
Telephones - mobile cellular:
19.722 million (2009)
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 is expected to continue increasing rapidly
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
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)
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)
country comparison to the world: 222
Internet users:
325,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Transportation ::Iraq
Airports:
104 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 58
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)
Pipelines:
gas 2,501 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,032 km; refined
products 1,637 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,272 km
country comparison to the world: 69
standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 44,900 km
country comparison to the world: 83
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: 2
country comparison to the world: 147
by type: petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)
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:
18-40 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)
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:
male: 323,328
female: 313,360 (2010 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 January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@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:
4,622,917 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 34.5 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 34.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.007% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Birth rate:
16.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Death rate:
6.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 206
male: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.07 years
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 77.86 years
female: 82.41 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
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: 142
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: 18 years
female: 18 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 73
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:
29 counties and 5 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*,
Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*,
Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Limerick*,
Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, North Tipperary, Offaly,
Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, South Tipperary, Waterford,
Waterford*, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution:
adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937
Legal system: