Iraq at a Glance
The Iraqi economy is poised for takeoff with a competitive and vibrant private sector leading the way. The new economic ethos is to attract foreign investment and maximum private sector participation in all sectors of the economy. In order to place the economy on a sustainable footing an all encompassing legislative framework has been put in place with respect to Company Law, Banking, Capital Markets, Foreign Investment and Fiscal and Monetary policies. Good governance is at the heart of the regeneration of society and the economy with the executive, the legislature and the judiciary performing separate and independent functions.
Agriculture, petroleum, services, manufacturing and infrastructure are the prime sectors that provide a firm foundation for trade and investment in Iraq. There is a well-educated and well-trained population of 27 million, the country's natural resources are diverse and it is endowed with plentiful irrigation water by its two major rivers. Most notably Iraq possesses 11 percent of the world's proven oil reserves making it the second largest depository of global oil.
- GDP: $ 94,100,000,000 (PPP 2005 est.)
- GDP per capita: $ 3,400 (PPP 2005 est.)
- GDP growth rate: 15% ( 2005)
Please see Iraq's map at:
Location: Middle East
Total Area: 435,052 Sq Km
Bordering Countries: Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
Total Border: 3462 km
» Iran: 1300 km
» Kuwait: 195 km
» Jordan: 178 km
» Saudi Arabia: 812 km
» Syria: 605 km
» Turkey: 377 km
- Baghdad - the capital
- North: Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Kirkuk
- Central: Ramadi, Baquba, and Hilla
- South: Najaf, Karbala, Nasiriyah, Amarah, and Basra
- Coastline: 58 km (Arabian Gulf)
Principal Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr-az-Zubayr, and Basra
» Mountains in the northeast on the borders with Iran and Turkey, with the highest peak reaching 3,611 m.
» Desert in the southwest.
» Between the two is the heartland of the country, a fertile lowland region watered by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The two rivers converge into the Shat-al-Arab waterway and finally fall into the Arabian Gulf.
» North: Mild summers and Cold winters with occasional heavy snows
» Central and west: Hot summers and cool winters
» South: Very hot summers and mild winters
» Rains during spring and autumn
» Arable land: 13.15% of total land area
» Irrigated Land: 35,250 Sq Km
Natural Resources: Oil, Natural gas, Phosphates and Sulphur
Main Agricultural Products: Wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; Water buffalo, sheep and poultry
Major Fruits Produced: Pomegranates, grapes, apples, figs, peaches, apricots, walnuts and watermelons etc.
Administrative Divisions: 18 governorates called the Mouhafadha; these are further sub-divided into districts called Qadha and sub-districts called Nahiya. The Governorates are as follows:
 (courtesy of UNOSAT)
Population 2004:
» Total: 27.14 million
» Male: 50.22%
» Female: 49.78%
Age Structure:
» 0-14: 40%
» 15-64: 57%
» 65+: 3%
Population Growth Rate: 2.82%
Urban Population: 75%
Life Expectancy: 68.7 Years
Labor Force: 7.5 M (2003)
Ethnic Groups:
» Arab (75%-80%)
» Kurds (15%-20%)
» Turkmen, Assyrian, Chaldean and others (5%)
Principal Religion:
» Islam (96%)
» 60% Shiah
» 40% Sunni
Other Religions:
» Christian: 3%;
» Jewish,Yezidi and others :1%
Official Languages:
» Arabic
» Kurdish
» Assyrian
Other languages:
» Old Turkish, Armenian, Aramaic and Chaldean
» English is understood and spoken by a large number of people especially in the urban areas and is taught in schools
Literacy:
» Total: 65%
» Male: 74%
» Female: 56%
» Urban: 70%
» Rural: 50%
Name: Republic of Iraq
Arabic Name: AL Jamhuriyah AL Iraqiya
Type of Government: Federal Democratic Republic
Independence: October 3, 1932
Constitution: Iraq is a Federal Parliamentary Democracy
Executive Authority: The executive authority of the republic comprises of the President and the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister.
Legislative Authority: The federal legislative authority comprises of the Council of Representatives and the Council of Union.
Judiciary: The federal judiciary comprises of the Supreme Judiciary Council, Supreme Federal Court, the Federal Cassation Court, the Prosecutor's Office, the Judiciary Inspection Department, and other federal courts as organized by law.
Important National Holidays:
National day: July 14th, Army Day: 6th January, Labor Day: 1st May, 21st of Nauroz (start of Persian New Year), New Year: January 1st.
Important Religious Holidays (Follows the Islamic lunar calendar): Eid-al-Adha: Four days feast of sacrifice, Eid-ul-Fitr: three days of celebration marking the end of Ramadan. Islamic New Year: 1st of Muharram. Aashoora: 10th of Muharram. Eid Milad-un-Nabi: 12th of Rabi-ul-Awal. Yom-ul- Mearaaj.
Important Political Parties: Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), Islamic Da'wa Party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Jama'at Al-Fadeela, Iraqi National Accord, Al-Wifaq Party, Kurdish Islamic Party, Hayat Ulema-al-Muslimeen, Al-Sadr Movement, Independent Iraqi Alliance, Iraqi Independent Democrats, Iraqi National Congress, Iraqi Islamic Party.
|
|
;){kind=link}