1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Religions
Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Tongan, English
Exports
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
External Debt
$17,900,000,000 $
$104,600,000 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
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.500%
0.900%
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, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Area
1,648,195 km sq
747 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
419 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
