1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$583,300,000,000 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
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
4.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
4
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Area
1,648,195 km sq
131,957 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
13,676 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
