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
Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census)
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$1,234,000,000 $
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 203.86 (2008 est.), 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (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
1.800%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
214,969 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
459 km
58 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
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
