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
Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$10,430,000,000 $
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 117.8 (2008 est.), 127.46 (2007), 127.38 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89 (2004)
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
1.500%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
4
0
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
923,768 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
853 km
58 km
Climate
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
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
