republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
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 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Exports
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$50,260,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
322,463 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
515 km
58 km
Climate
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
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
