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 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, nondenominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% (2006)
Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
External Debt
$15,400,000,000 $
$50,790,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.438 (2008 est.), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (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
1.600%
8.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Area
176,215 km sq
438,317 km sq
Coastline
660 km
58 km
Climate
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
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
