1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
2 March 1956 (from France)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
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), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
clothing and textiles, electric components, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, fish
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$28,080,000,000 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
Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - 7.526 (2008 est.), 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
5.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
2
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
Area
1,648,195 km sq
446,550 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
1,835 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
