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
Religions
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$14,930,000,000 $
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)
New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.500%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
760 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
161 km
58 km
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
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
