Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Willy Telavi Tuvalu has no political parties. Allegiances revolve around personalities and geography. The 15-member parliament is popularly elected every four years. The prime minister is chosen by MPs.
Population
78,868,711
10,619
Life Expectancy
70.350 years
65.110 years
Capital City
Tehran
Largest city
Tehran (population: 7,153,310)
Funafuti (population: 4,749)
Human Development Index
0.777
0
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
77%
%
Corruption Perception Index
2.3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
2.8%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
15.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
theocratic republic
constitutional monarchy with a 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%
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
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, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Area
1,648,195 km sq
26 km sq
Coastline
2,440 km
24 km
Climate
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
