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
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
Exports
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$703,100,000 $
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (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
4.700%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
17,364 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
0 km
58 km
Climate
varies from tropical to near temperate
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
