Iraq
Country Guide

Explore Iraq

Iraq with its capital Baghdad is located in Asia (Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf). It covers some 438,318 square kilometers (slightly more than three times the size of New York state) with a population of 39,192,100. Arabic, Kurdish and Armenian are the languages spoken by people in Iraq (consider regional differences). Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey are bordering countries.

Iraq is a country in the Middle East. It lies at the north end of the Persian Gulf and has a small (58 km) coastline in the southeast of the country. It is surrounded by Iran to the east, Kuwait to the south, Saudi Arabia to the southwest, Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, and Turkey to the north. The past 40 years of disastrous government and devastating wars has taken its toll on Iraq's travel industry.

Popular Destinations in Iraq

Administrative regions of Iraq

• An Najaf
• Dihok
• Diyala
• Muhafazat Arbil
• Muhafazat Babil
• Muhafazat Baghdad
• Muhafazat Dhi Qar
• Muhafazat Karbala'
• Muhafazat Kirkuk
• Muhafazat Maysan
• Muhafazat Ninawa
• Muhafazat Salah ad Din
• Muhafazat Wasit
• Muhafazat al Anbar
• Muhafazat al Basrah
• Muhafazat al Muthanna
• Muhafazat al Qadisiyah
• Muhafazat as Sulaymaniyah

About the country

The topography is mostly broad plains with reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas as well as mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey. The average density of population is about 89 per km². The climate in Iraq can be described as mostly desertmild 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. Potential natural disasters are dust storms, floods and sandstorms.

To reach someone Iraq dial +964 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".iq". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, D, G). The sign for the locally used currency Dinar is IQD.

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag.

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom 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 strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn from 1979 to 2003. 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 led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock, the COR approved the new government in December 2010. In April 2014, Iraq held a national legislative election and expanded the COR to 328 legislators. Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI dropped his bid for a third term in office, enabling new Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI, a Shia Muslim from Baghdad, to win legislative approval of his new cabinet in September 2014. Since 2014, Iraq has been engaged in a military campaign against ISIS to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 60)	438,317	sq km
Land (World Rank: 56)	437,367	sq km
Water (World Rank: 113)	950	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 133)	9.20	%
Comparative	slightly more than three times the size of New York state
Coastline
58
Landborder
3809
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 53)	3,611	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 173)	18.10	%
Arable (World Rank: 127)	8.40	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 147)	0.50	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 133)	9.20	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 18)	35,250	sq km
Map reference
Middle East
Environment
Issues	- a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs - air and water pollution - desertification - development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey - furthermore - government water control projects drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers - has been displaced - inadequate supplies of potable water - soil degradation (salination) and erosion - the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations - who inhabited these areas for thousands of years
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection
Agreement signed	Environmental Modification
Hazzards	- dust storms - floods - sandstorms
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 35)	39,192,100
Deathrate (World Rank: 211)	0.38	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 36)	3.04	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 18)	2.55	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 110)	-0.12	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 34)	4.00	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 185)	19.80
Female (World Rank: 189)	20.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 22)	7,895,520
0 14 female (World Rank: 23)	7,569,200
15 24 male (World Rank: 31)	3,841,380
15 24 female (World Rank: 31)	3,702,190
25 54 male (World Rank: 38)	6,704,200
25 54 female (World Rank: 38)	6,558,110
55 64 male (World Rank: 52)	752,598
55 64 female (World Rank: 50)	812,683
65 x male (World Rank: 59)	601,937
65 x female (World Rank: 62)	754,295
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 48)	3.75	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 114)	75	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 123)	77	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 108)	73	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 117)	0.85
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 134)	1.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 109)	85.60	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 23)	30.40	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 151)	86.60	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 37)	84,000,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 40)	66,000,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 21)	12,000,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 69)	87.30	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 124)	6.20	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 4)	4,452,000	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 3)	2,792,000	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 5)	142,500,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 31)	484,800	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 25)	850,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 87)	7,080	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 25)	295,300	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 67)	1,002,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 92)	1,270,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
137000000

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Nation

Budget
Military (World Rank: 20)	4	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 124)	6	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 204)	-15	% of GDP
National symbol
golden eagle
National colours
white
Adjective
Iraqi
Noun
Iraqi(s)
Background
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom 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 strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn from 1979 to 2003. 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 led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock, the COR approved the new government in December 2010. In April 2014, Iraq held a national legislative election and expanded the COR to 328 legislators. Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI dropped his bid for a third term in office, enabling new Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI, a Shia Muslim from Baghdad, to win legislative approval of his new cabinet in September 2014. Since 2014, Iraq has been engaged in a military campaign against ISIS to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country.
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 33)	652,300,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 3)	11.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 96)	17,200	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 126)	5.10	%
Source industry (World Rank: 36)	37.30	%
Source service (World Rank: 140)	57.70	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 55)	8,900,000
In poverty (World Rank: 86)	23.00	%
Products
Industries	- chemicals - construction materials - fertilizer - food processing - leather - metal fabrication/processing - petroleum - textiles
Agriculture	- barley - cattle - cotton - dates - poultry - rice - sheep - vegetables - wheat
Exports	- crude materials excluding fuels - crude oil - food - live animals
Imports	- food - manufactures - medicine

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 56)	2,031,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 159)	5.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 164)	79.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 53)	8,098,400
Population (World Rank: 184)	21.20	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 31)	72.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 84)	30.00
Heliports (World Rank: 16)	16.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 69)	2,272
Road
Total length (World Rank: 71)	59,623
Paved length (World Rank: 44)	59,623
Water
Total length (World Rank: 23)	5,279

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