Head of state: Grand Duke Henri Prime minister: Jean-Claude Juncker
Population
78,868,711
509,074
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
79.750 years
Capital City
Tehran
Luxembourg
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Luxembourg (population: 76,684)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.956
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
$81,100 US
Literacy Rate
77%
100%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
8.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
23.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
5.900%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
theocratic republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
1839 (from the Netherlands)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13% (2000)
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$2,146,000,000,000 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%
0.900%
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 Europe, between France and Germany
Area
1,648,195 km sq
2,586 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
0 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
