Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
Population
78,868,711
22,015,576
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
81.900 years
Capital City
Tehran
Canberra
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.965
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
$40,800 US
Literacy Rate
77%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
8.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
29.6%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
5.100%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
theocratic republic
federal parliamentary democracy
Independence date
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (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 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$1,376,000,000,000 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
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
46
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Area
1,648,195 km sq
7,741,220 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
25,760 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
