1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$102,300,000,000 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
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
7.300%
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, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Area
1,648,195 km sq
20,770 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
273 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
