Sultan, prime minister, foreign minister: Qaboos Bin Said Al Said
Population
78,868,711
3,090,150
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
74.470 years
Capital City
Tehran
Muscat
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Muscat (population: 797,000)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.839
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
$26,900 US
Literacy Rate
77%
81.4%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
5.5
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
9.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
15.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
theocratic republic
monarchy
Independence date
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%
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), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$9,054,000,000 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
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2008 est.), 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
11.400%
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
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Area
1,648,195 km sq
309,500 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
2,092 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
