President: Bamir Topi Prime minister: Sali Berisha
Population
78,868,711
3,002,859
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
77.590 years
Capital City
Tehran
Tirana (Tirane)
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Tirana (population: 374,801)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.807
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
$7,800 US
Literacy Rate
77%
98.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
3.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
7.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
13.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
theocratic republic
emerging democracy
Independence date
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$5,700,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
leke (ALL) per US dollar - 79.546 (2008 est.), 92.668 (2007), 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
1.490%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
Area
1,648,195 km sq
28,748 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
362 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
