1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
19 June 1961 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
oil and refined products, fertilizers
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$41,730,000,000 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
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
5.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Area
1,648,195 km sq
17,818 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
499 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
