Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Population
78,868,711
194,320
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
72.660 years
Capital City
Tehran
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Apia (population: 40,407)
Human Development Index
0.777
0.76
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
77%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
4.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
8.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
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%
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (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%
Samoan (Polynesian), English
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
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Area
1,648,195 km sq
2,831 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
403 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
