1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
26 September 1907 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$85,650,000,000 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
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
9
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Area
1,648,195 km sq
267,710 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
15,134 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
