1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
External Debt
$9,452,000,000 $
$1,016,000,000,000 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
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.4074 (2008 est.), 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
1.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
5
Location
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Area
1,648,195 km sq
450,295 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
3,218 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
