Iraq. English. |
| The World Factbook 2003 | ||
| Iraq | 
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| Introduction | Iraq |
| Background: |
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government. |
| Geography | Iraq |
| Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
33 00 N, 44 00 E |
| Map references: |
Middle East |
| Area: |
total: 437,072 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km land: 432,162 sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho |
| Land boundaries: |
total: 3,650 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km |
| Coastline: |
58 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf: not
specified territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
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 |
| Terrain: |
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point: Persian
Gulf 0 m highest point: unamed peak 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur |
| Land use: |
arable land: 11.89%
permanent crops: 0.78% other: 87.33% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
35,250 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
dust storms, sandstorms, floods |
| Environment
- current issues: |
government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography
- note: |
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf |
| People | Iraq |
| Population: |
24,683,313 (July 2003 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 40.7% (male
5,103,669; female 4,946,443) 15-64 years: 56.3% (male 7,033,268; female 6,855,644) 65 years and over: 3% (male 348,790; female 395,499) (2003 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 19 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.1 years (2002) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.78% (2003 est.) |
| Birth rate: |
33.66 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Death rate: |
5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Net migration
rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
| Infant mortality
rate: |
total: 55.16 deaths/1,000
live births female: 48.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 61.09 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy
at birth: |
total population: 67.81
years male: 66.7 years female: 68.99 years (2003 est.) |
| Total fertility
rate: |
4.52 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 1,000 |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi |
| Ethnic groups: |
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% |
| Religions: |
Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% |
| Languages: |
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 40.4% male: 55.9% female: 24.4% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Iraq |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq |
| Government
type: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Capital: |
Baghdad |
| Administrative
divisions: |
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit |
| Independence: |
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) |
| National
holiday: |
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968) |
| Constitution: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Legal system: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Suffrage: |
formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Legislative
branch: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Judicial
branch: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, EAPC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
| Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria which has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band |
| Economy | Iraq |
| Economy
- overview: |
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports have recently been more than three-quarters prewar level. However, 28% of Iraq's export revenues under the program have been deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund and UN administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure and the loss of a comparatively small amount of capital plant. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $58 billion (2002 est.) |
| GDP - real
growth rate: |
-3% (2002 est.) |
| GDP - per
capita: |
purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2002 est.) |
| GDP - composition
by sector: |
agriculture: 6% industry: 13% services: 81% (1993 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
70% (2002 est.) |
| Labor force: |
6.5 million (2002 est.) |
| Labor force
- by occupation: |
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
NA% |
| Budget: |
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Industries: |
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
36.01 billion kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 98.4% hydro: 1.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
33.49 billion kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
| Oil - production: |
2.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.); note - production was disrupted as a result of the March-April 2003 war (2001 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: |
460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
| Oil - exports: |
NA (2001) |
| Oil - imports: |
NA (2001) |
| Oil - proved
reserves: |
113.8 billion bbl (37257) |
| Natural
gas - production: |
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
| Natural
gas - consumption: |
2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
| Natural
gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
| Natural
gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
| Natural
gas - proved reserves: |
3.149 trillion cu m (37257) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep |
| Exports: |
$13 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
crude oil |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 40.9%, Canada 8.2%, France 8.2%, Jordan 7.5%, Netherlands 6.4%, Italy 5.4%, Morocco 4.7%, Spain 4.4% (2002) |
| Imports: |
$7.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
food, medicine, manufactures |
| Imports
- partners: |
Jordan 11%, France 8.8%, China 8.4%, Germany 7.6%, Russia 7.3%, Australia 7.2%, Vietnam 6.6%, Italy 6.4%, Japan 5.6% (2002) |
| Debt - external: |
$120 billion (2002 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$327.5 million (1995) |
| Currency: |
Iraqi dinar (IQD) |
| Currency
code: |
IQD |
| Exchange
rates: |
Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 0.31 (2002), 0.31 (2001), 0.31 (2000), 0.31 (1999), 0.31 (1998), note: fixed official rate since 1982; market rate subject to wide fluctuations |
| Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
| Communications | Iraq |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
675,000 (1997); note - an unknown number of telephone lines were damaged or destroyed during the March-April war |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA; service available in northern Iraq (2001) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
an unknown number of telecommunication facilities were damaged during
the March-April 2003 war domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational |
| Radio broadcast
stations: |
AM 19 (5 are inactive), FM 51, shortwave 4 (1998) |
| Radios: |
4.85 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
13 (1997); note - unknown number were destroyed during the March-April 2003 war |
| Televisions: |
1.75 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.iq |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
12,500 (2001) |
| Transportation | Iraq |
| Railways: |
total: 1,963 km standard gauge: 1,963 km 1.435-m gauge (2003) |
| Highways: |
total: 45,550 km paved: 38,399 km unpaved: 7,151 km (2000 est.) |
| Waterways: |
1,015 km note: Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft boats; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf war |
| Pipelines: |
gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2003) |
| Ports and
harbors: |
Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited functionality |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 18 ships (1,000
GRT or over) 119,433 GRT/170,221 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.) |
| Airports: |
150 (2002); note - unknown number were damaged during the March-April 2003 war |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 77 over 3,047 m: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 73 under 914 m: 11 (2002) over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 |
| Heliports: |
5 (2002) |
| Military | Iraq |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Fedayeen Saddam; note - with the defeat of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, the data listed in the following entries for Iraq is invalid, but is retained here for historical purposes and until replaced by valid information related to the future Iraqi Government (April 2003) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age (2003 est.) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 6,339,458 (2003 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 3,541,467 (2003 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 292,930 (2003 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$1.3 billion (FY00) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
NA% |
| Transnational Issues | Iraq |
| Disputes
- international: |
despite restored diplomatic relations in 1990, disputes with Iran over maritime and land boundaries, navigation channel, and other issues from eight-year war persist; land and Shatt al Arab boundary demarcation put an end to claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands, but no maritime boundary exists with Kuwait in the Persian Gulf; Iraq protests Turkey's hydrological projects to regulate the Tigris and Euphrates rivers upstream |
| Source: The World Factbook 2002 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003 |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Iraq | 
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| Introduction | Iraq |
| Background: |
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990 Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during January-February 1991. The victors did not occupy Iraq, however, thus allowing the regime to stay in control. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. UN trade sanctions remain in effect due to incomplete Iraqi compliance with relevant UNSC resolutions. |
| Geography | Iraq |
| Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
33 00 N, 44 00 E |
| Map
references: |
Middle East |
| Area: |
total: 437,072 sq
km water: 4,910 sq km land: 432,162 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 3,650 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km |
| Coastline: |
58 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf:
not specified territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
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 |
| Terrain: |
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point: Persian
Gulf 0 m highest point: Haji Ibrahim 3,600 m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 11.89%
permanent crops: 0.78% other: 87.33% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
35,250 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
dust storms, sandstorms, floods |
| Environment
- current issues: |
government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Shi'a Muslims, who have inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Law of
the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography
- note: |
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf |
| People | Iraq |
| Population: |
24,001,816 (July 2002 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 41.1%
(male 5,003,755; female 4,849,238) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 6,794,265; female 6,624,662) 65 years and over: 3% (male 341,520; female 388,376) (2002 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.82% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
34.2 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
57.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
67.38 years female: 68.5 years (2002 est.) male: 66.31 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
4.63 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.01% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% |
| Religions: |
Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% |
| Languages: |
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15
and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 70.7% female: 45% (1995 est.) |
| Government | Iraq |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local short form: Al Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| Capital: |
Baghdad |
| Administrative
divisions: |
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit |
| Independence: |
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) |
| National
holiday: |
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968) |
| Constitution: |
22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted |
| Legal
system: |
based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state: President
SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice Presidents Taha Muhyi al-Din
MARUF (since 21 April 1974) and Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)
elections: president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council; regular election last held 17 October 1995 (next scheduled for 2002); note - in place of the 2002 election, a presidential referendum was held on 15 October 2002 in which the presidency of SADDAM Husayn was extended for a fifth consecutive seven-year term election results: SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent of vote - 99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN elected vice presidents; percent of vote - NA%; note - in a presidential referendum held 15 October 2002, SADDAM Husayn's term was extended for another seven years cabinet: Council of Ministers; note - there is also a Revolutionary Command Council or RCC with eight members as of 2001 (Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri) which controls the ruling Ba'th Party; the RCC is the highest executive and legislative body and the most powerful political entity in the country; new RCC members must come from the Regional Command Leadership of the Ba'th Party head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since 29 May 1994); Deputy Prime Ministers Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979), Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-AZZAWI (since 30 July 1999), Ahmad Husayn al-KHUDAYIR (since NA July 2001), and Abd al-Tawab Mullah al-HUWAYSH (since NA July 2001) |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral National Assembly
or Majlis al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by the president to represent
the three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220
elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 March 2000 (next to be held NA March 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA |
| Judicial
branch: |
Court of Cassation |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Ba'th Party [SADDAM Husayn, central party leader] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
any formal political activity must be sanctioned by the government; opposition to regime from Kurdish groups and southern Shi'a dissidents |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, EAPC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
none; note - Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Akram AL DOURI; address: Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500; FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad; address: P. O. Box 2051 Hay Babel, Baghdad; telephone: [964] (1) 718-9267; FAX: [964] (1) 718-9297 |
| Flag
description: |
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria which has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band |
| Economy | Iraq |
| Economy
- overview: |
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program in December 1996 has helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. For the first six, six-month phases of the program, Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports are now more than three-quarters prewar level. However, 28% of Iraq's export revenues under the program are deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund and UN administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports have increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services are steadily improving. Per capita output and living standards are still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $59 billion (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
-5.7% (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 6% industry: 13% services: 81% (1993 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
60% (2001 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
4.4 million (1989) (1989) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
NA% |
| Budget: |
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Industries: |
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
27.3 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 98%
hydro: 2% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
25.389 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep |
| Exports: |
$15.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
crude oil |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 46.2%, Italy 12.2%, France 9.6%, Spain 8.6% (2000) |
| Imports: |
$11 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
food, medicine, manufactures |
| Imports
- partners: |
France 22.5%, Australia 22%, China 5.8%, Russia 5.8% (2000) |
| Debt
- external: |
$62.2 billion (2001 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$327.5 million (1995) (1995) |
| Currency: |
Iraqi dinar (IQD) |
| Currency
code: |
IQD |
| Exchange
rates: |
Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 0.3109 (fixed official rate since 1982); black market rate - Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 2,000 (December 2001), 1,910 (December 1999), 1,815 (December 1998), 1,530 (December 1997), 910 (December 1996); note - subject to wide fluctuations |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Communications | Iraq |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
675,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA; service available in northern Iraq (2001) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after the
Gulf war; most damaged facilities have been rebuilt domestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 19 (5 are inactive), FM 51, shortwave 4 (1998) |
| Radios: |
4.85 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
13 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
1.75 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.iq |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
12,500 (2001) |
| Transportation | Iraq |
| Railways: |
total: 2,339 km standard gauge: 2,339 km 1.435-m gauge (2001) |
| Highways: |
total: 45,550 km
paved: 38,400 km unpaved: 7,150 km (1996 est.) |
| Waterways: |
1,015 km note: Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft boats; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf war |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah have limited functionality |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 25 ships (1,000
GRT or over) totaling 186,709 GRT/278,575 DWT ships by type: cargo 14, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.) |
| Airports: |
108 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 77 over 3,047 m: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 73 under 914 m: 11 (2002) over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 28 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 |
| Heliports: |
5 (2002) |
| Military | Iraq |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force, Fedayeen Saddam |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 6,135,847 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 3,430,819 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 274,035 (2002 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$1.3 billion (FY00) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
NA% |
| Transnational Issues | Iraq |
| Disputes
- international: |
despite restored diplomatic relations in 1990, lacks maritime boundary with Iran and disputes land boundary, navigation channels, and other issues from eight-year war; in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands although the government continues periodic rhetorical challenges; dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers |
| Source: The World Factbook 2002 Last Updated: 19 March 2003 |
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