Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general Prime minister: Baldwin Spencer
Population
78,868,711
89,018
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
75.690 years
Capital City
Tehran
Saint John's
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Saint John's (population: 24,226)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.83
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
$18,200 US
Literacy Rate
77%
85.8%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
16.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
11.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
theocratic republic
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Independence date
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
1 November 1981 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
English (official), local dialects
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$359,800,000 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
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
0.500%
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
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Area
1,648,195 km sq
443 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
153 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
