1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
15 August 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (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%
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$14,930,000,000 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
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
4.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
1
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Area
1,648,195 km sq
760 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
161 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
