3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Exports
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
New Iraqi dinars (NID) per US dollar - 1,176 (2008), 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
2 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
4 km
58 km
Climate
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
