25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
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