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. In January 2009 Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates 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.

Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N 44 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 438,317 km²
Rank: 59
Land: 437,367 km²
Water: 950 km²
Comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries
Total: 3,650 km
Border countries: (6) Iran 1458 km; Jordan 181 km; Kuwait 240 km; Saudi Arabia 814 km; Syria 605 km; Turkey 352 km

Coastline: 58 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: not specified

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
Extremes highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is neither Gundah Zhur 3,607 m nor Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m

Natural resources: petroleum natural gas phosphates sulfur

Land use
Arable land: 13.12%
Permanent crops: 0.61%
Other: 86.27% (2005)

Irrigated land: 35,250 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 96.4 km³ (1997)

Natural hazards: dust storms; sandstorms; floods

Geography
Note: strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

Population: 30,399,572 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 39
Growth rate: 2.399% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 31
Below poverty line: 25% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Iraqi
Adjective: Iraqi

Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80% Kurdish 15%-20% Turkoman Assyrian or other 5%

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

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 38%
15-64 years: 58.9% (male 9,076,558/female 8,826,545)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 435,908/female 499,138) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 20.9 years
Male: 20.8 years
Female: 21 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.399% (2011 est.)
Rank: 31

Birth rate: 28.81 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 44

Death rate: 4.82 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 193

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 91

Urbanization
Urban population: 66% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Environment
Current issues: government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs who inhabited these areas for thousands of years has been displaced; furthermore the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 41.68 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 62
Male: 45.93 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 37.21 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.55 years
Rank: 145
Male: 69.15 years
Female: 72.02 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.67 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 42

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.69 physicians/1000 population (2009)
Rank: 115

Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1000 population (2009)
Rank: 130

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 131
People living with hivaids: fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 155
Deaths: NA

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 r

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7.1% (2006)
Rank: 72

Education expenditures: NA

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)

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 (Ad Diwaniyah) An Najaf Arbil (Erbil) As Sulaymaniyah Babil Baghdad Dahuk Dhi Qar Diyala Karbala' Kirkuk Kurdistan Regional Government* Maysan Ninawa Salah ad Din Wasit

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

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 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum)

Legal system: mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI ; Vice Presidents Tariq al-HASHIMI and Khudayr Musa Jafar Abbas al-KHUZAI
Head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006)
Cabinet: The Council of Ministers consists of the prime minister and cabinet ministers he proposes; approved by an absolute majority vote by the Council of Representatives
Elections: president elected by Council of Representatives (parliament) to serve a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
Election results: President Jalal TALABANI reelected on 11 November 2010; parliamentary vote count on second ballot - 195 votes; Nuri al-MALIKI reselected prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral Council of Representatives (325 seats consisting of 317 members elected by an optional open-list and representing a specific governorate 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 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 - NA

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 Party [Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI]; Da'wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI branch]; Da-wa Tanzim [Abd al-Karim al-ANZI branch]; Fadilah Party [Hasan al-SHAMMARI and Ammar TUAMA]; Goran (Change) List [Nushirwan MUSTAFA]; Hadba Gathering [Athil al-NUJAYFI]; Iraqi Covenant Gathering [Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur al-SAMARRAI]; Iraqi Constitutional Party [Jawad al-BULANI]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Deputy Prime Minister Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Usama al-TIKRITI]; Iraqi Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI former Interim Government prime minister]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Ammar al-HAKIM]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI]; Future National Gathering [Finance Minister Rafi al-ISSAWI]; National Iraqiyun Gathering [Usama al-NUJAYFI]; National Movement for Reform and Development [Jamal al-KARBULI]; National Reform Trend [former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [President Jalal TALABANI]; Renewal List [Vice President Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR]; Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI]
Note: numerous smaller local tribal and minority 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
In the us chancery: 3,421 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600
In the us fax: [1] (202) 333-1129
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY
From the us embassy: Baghdad
From the us mailing address: APO AE 9,316
From the us telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5,340 or 5,635; note - Consular Section
From the us 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 symbols: golden eagle

National anthem
Name: 'Mawtini'
Lyricsmusic: 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 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 pipeline 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 1170 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 66
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 176

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 159
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.7%
Industry: 60.5%
Services: 29.8% (2010 est.)

Agriculture products: wheat barley rice vege

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

Industrial production growth rate: 4.8% (2010 est.)
Rank: 85

Labor force: 8.5 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 55
By occupation agriculture: 21.6%
By occupation industry: 18.7%
By occupation services: 59.8% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate: 15.2% (2008 est.)
Rank: 151

Population below poverty line: 25% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $59.42 billion
Expenditures: $55 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 5.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 13

Taxes and other revenues: 72.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 5

Inflation rate consumer prices: -2.8% (2009 est.)
Rank: 81

Central bank discount rate: 8.83% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 37

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 7% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 141

Stock of narrow money: $31.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 47

Stock of broad money: $38.84 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 68

Stock of domestic credit: $10.16 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 76

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 95

Current account balance: -$2.178 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 43

Exports: $39.43 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 53
Commodities: crude oil 84% crude materials excluding fuels food and live animals
Partners: US 24.3% India 16.7% China 12.1% South Korea 8.2% Italy 6.9% Japan 6.6% (2010)

Imports: $38.44 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 52
Commodities: food medicine manufactures
Partners: Turkey 24.2% Syria 18.6% China 14.4% US 6.6% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $43.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 32

Debt external: $73 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 58

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 46.39 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Production rank: 52
Consumption: 52 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 45
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 5.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 1.149 billion m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 63
Consumption: 1.149 billion m³
Consumption rank: 88
Consumption note: 1.48 billion m³ were flared (2009 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 118
Imports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 137
Proven reserves: 3.17 trillion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 11

Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.6 million (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 63
Mobile cellular: 24 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 39

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
Hosts: 9 (2010)
Hosts rank: 223
Users: 325,900 (2009)
Users rank: 126

Military expenditures: 8.6% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 5

Military service age and obligation: 18-40 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)

Airports: 104 (2010)
Rank: 58
With paved runways total: 75
With paved runways over 3047 m: 20
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 36
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 8 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 29
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 6 (2010)

Heliports: 21 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 2,447 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,104 km; refined products 1637 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 2,272 km
Rank: 66
Standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Total: 44,900 km
Rank: 82
Paved: 37,851 km
Unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Waterways: 5,279 km (the Euphrates River (2,815 km) Tigris River (1899 km) and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) (2010)
Rank: 23

Merchant marine
Total: 2
Rank: 148
By type: petroleum tanker 2
Registered in other countries: 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Al Basrah Khawr az Zubayr Umm Qasr

Disputes international: 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: 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)