Overview Of Iraq
By: Haidar albaghdadi
Official title
Republic of Iraq
Capital
Baghdad
Population 3,844,608 in 1987
Government
Officially a republic, with power in the hands of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), which is responsible for the election of the president from among its members. The National Assembly, with a membership of 250, is elected every four years.
Religion
Officially Islam, as Muslims form 95% of the population. Shiite Muslims (60%) live in the south, Sunni Muslims (40%) in the north. Christians make up the largest non-Muslim religious group, and belong to a number of sects. Smaller religious groups include the Yazidis and the Sabaeans (Baptists).
Main port
Basra
Population 616,700 in 1987, now thought to be closer to 1,500,000.
Additional urban centre
Mosul (Al-Mawsil)
Population about 570,900 (1985 estimate), now thought to be closer to 1,250,000
Population
22,680,000 (estimation of July 2000).
Population profile
About 80% Arab and 15% Kurd. Minority ethnic groups include Jazirah ::/ITurkomans, Sabaeans, Jews, Yazidis, mostly in rural areas. Also, around 2.5 million Christians live in Iraq, mostly Chaldians and Assyrian Roman Catholics, speaking the old Aramaic (Assyrian-Chaldian) language.
Population Density : 55/kmē
Young people under 15 years old : 42%.
Population growth : 2.9% (estimation of 2000)
Urban Population : 75% (estimation of 1999)
Birth Rate
35.04 births/1,000 population (estimation of 2000).
Death Rate
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (estimation of 2000).
Infant Mortality Rate
62.49 deaths/1,000 live births (estimate 2000).
Life Expectancy at Birth
66.53 years old (estimate 2000).
Life Expectancy per Sex
Males 66 years old, Females 68 years old (estimation of 2000).
Language
Officially Arabic; Kurdish is also spoken.
Currency
Iraqi dinar is divided into 1000 fils
Industries
Petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing.
Agricultural products
Wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep.
Inflation Rate at Consumer Prices
135 % (1999), 110 % (estimation of 2000).
Labour Force by Economic Sector of Activity
Agriculture 20%, Industry and Services 80% (1999).
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
$ 13.5 billion dollars (1999).
Real Gross Domestic Product -Growth rate
17% (estimation of 2000).
Gross Domestic Product -Per Capita purchasing power parity
$ 2,700 (estimation of 1999).
Major Export Products
Crude oil (regulated by the United Nations "Oil for Food Programme"
Major Import Products
Food, medicines, manufactures.
Merchandise Exports
$ 12.4 billion (1999).
Merchandise Imports
$ 8.4 billion (1999).
Merchandise Trade Balance
$ 3.9 billion (1999).
Current Account Balance
$ 0.3 billion (1999).
Time zone
GMT 3 hours
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Subject: Overview Of Iraq 