1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
26 July 1847
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$228,000,000 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
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 59.43 (2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
1.300%
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
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Area
1,648,195 km sq
111,369 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
579 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
