Eternal president: Kim Il-sung (deceased) Chairman, National Defence Commission: Kim Jong-il
Population
78,868,711
24,589,122
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
69.200 years
Capital City
Tehran
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000)
Human Development Index
0.777
0
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
77%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
20.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
theocratic republic
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Independence date
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Korean
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
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
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
6
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Area
1,648,195 km sq
120,538 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
2,495 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
