1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Religions
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Languages
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Exports
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
External Debt
$2,726,000,000 $
$17,900,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar - 9,142.8 (2008 est.), 9,407.5 (2007), 9,227.1 (2006), 8,964 (2005), 8,614 (2004) note: Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regime since unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
2.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
2
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Area
267,667 km sq
1,648,195 km sq
Coastline
885 km
2,440 km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
