1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
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
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Area
1,648,195 km sq
2 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
4 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
