Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy Prime minister: Kenny Anthony
Population
78,868,711
162,178
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
77.040 years
Capital City
Tehran
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Bisee (population: 12,980)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.821
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
77%
90.1%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
7.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
17.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
theocratic republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
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 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (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), French patois
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
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
1,648,195 km sq
616 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
158 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
