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___ Iraq

Flag of Iraq

where in the world is Iraq?

Location map of Iraq

Destination Iraq, a country in the Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf at a small outlet in the southeast. Iraq borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west.

With an area of 438,317 km², Iraq is nearly twice the size of the United Kingdom, or about the size of California.

Iraq has a population of 44.4 million inhabitants (in 2024). The capital city is Baghdad (pop. est. 7 million). Spoken languages are Arabic and Kurdish (both official), Aramaic and Turkmen.
According to the Iraqi constitution, Islam is the state religion. More than 95% of the country's population are Muslims, mainly Shia 61-64% and Sunni 29-34%.

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Republic of Iraq | Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah

Country Profile

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 (1980-1988). 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.

Without UN backing in March 2003 US-led coalition forces invaded Iraq to terminate the SADDAM Husayn regime, find weapons of mass destruction, and to teach the Middle East a lesson in democracy.

Iraq is a member state of the League of Arab States

border countries: Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey

Official Name:
Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
short form: Al Iraq
international long form: Republic of Iraq
international short form: Iraq

ISO Country Code: iq
Actual Time: Tue-Apr-29 14:19
Local Time = UTC+3h
Daylight Saving Time (DST) April - 1 Oct (UTC +4)

Country Calling Code: +964

Capital City: Baghdad (pop. est. 5 million)

Other Cities:
Basrah, Mosul, Kirkuk, As Sulaymaniyah, Irbil

Government:
The Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) assumed sovereign authority for governing Iraq on
28 June 2004.
Independence: 1932 (from British mandate)
Constitution: Interim constitution, 8 March 2004:
"The National Assembly shall write the draft of the permanent constitution by no later than
15 August 2005."

Geography:
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait.
Area: 438,317 km²; about the size of California. Terrain: Alluvial plains, mountains, and desert, with many holes caused by various organizations in search for weapons of mass destruction.

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.

People:
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Iraqi(s)
Population: 44.4 million (2024)
Real GDP per capita: $12,600 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurd 15%-20%, Turkman, Chaldean, Assyrian, or others less than 5%
Religions: Shia Muslim 60%, Sunni Muslim 32%-37%, Christian 3%, Jewish and Yezidi less than 1%
Languages: Arabic (official); more than 70% are Arabic speakers, Kurdish (official since 28 June 2004), Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy: 87% (est. 2023).

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur.
Agriculture products: Wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep.

Industries: Petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing.

Exports - commodities: crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food, live animals

Exports - partners: India 32%, China 28%, United States 8%, South Korea 7%, Greece 5%, Italy 4.7%(2022)
China 22.6%, India 21.1%, 11.2%, US 7.8%,, 6% (2015)

Imports - commodities: food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners: UAE 32%, China 21%, Turkey 20%, India 4%, South Korea 2% (2022)

Currency: New Iraqi Dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004.

Iraq in Figures
Iraq key statistical data.

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Iraqi Presidency
Official site of Iraq's president.

Prime Minister
Official website of Iraq's Prime Minister.

Iraqi Cabinet
Website with information about the activities of the Iraqi Government.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Official site with news, speeches and documents on Iraqi foreign policy.

Diplomatic Missions
Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations in New York
Foreign missions in Iraq
List of foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq
Iraqi's Missions Abroad
List of Iraq's diplomatic missions abroad.

Statistics
Central Organization for Statistics Iraq
A department of the Ministry of Planning.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
KRG is the authority that rules over much of the liberated area of Iraqi Kurdistan, and now also the official voice of the Kurds.

Maps

Political Map of Iraq
Detailed Map of Iraq.

Google Earth Iraq
Searchable map/satellite view of Iraq.

Google Earth Baghdad
Searchable map/satellite view of Iraq's capital city.

Map of Northern Africa and the Middle East
Political Map of of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.

Map of Western Asia
Map of Western Asia and the Middle East region.

News

Al Bawaba
Iraq and Middle East news.

Aljazeera.Net
Provides comprehensive information about Iraq and the Middle East.

Iraq Arabic News:

Al-Sabaah
State-run, the official newspaper of Iraq.

Azzaman
London-based daily, a domestic edition is printed in Baghdad and Basra, its English-language pages offers heavy but naive critic on operations of the allied forces in Iraq and elsewhere.

Al-Mada
Baghdad daily.

Al-Manarah
Basra daily.

Al-Mashriq
(English: Where the Sun Rises) a Baghdad daily.

Ad-Dustur
Baghdad daily.

Nahrain
Radio Free Iraq

International News Sources
BBC News Country Profile: Iraq
Provides also links to Iraq related news and background information.
??Guardian Unlimited (UK) - Special report: Iraq
Iraq special report and latest news.
Iraq: The war logs
Guardian Unlimited series of leaked reports on the war in Iraq is based on 391,832 previously secret US military field reports and details the unvarnished and often unknown realities of the war in Iraq.
Iraq Daily
Iraq news from WorldNews Network.
IRINnews Iraq
UN humanitarian news and analysis.
Middle East Times
Egypt based - with Middle East news.
Reuters AlertNet - Iraq in turmoil
Reuters news.
UN News Center
UN News about the situation in Iraq.
??Yahoo! News Full Coverage-Iraq
Press agencies news on Iraq.


Arts & Culture iNCiA - Strokes of Genius - Contemporary Iraqi Art Iraqi artists from around the world. Iraq Foundation Non-profit, non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Iraq. Iraqi Art Page Presents Iraqi art, music, poetry and culture.	Bookmark/share this page


Business & Economy Central Bank of Iraq Iraqi Ministry of Trade Official site - the Minister has announced a new simplified procedure for the export of scrap metal.	Baghdad - Who will rule Dim Moon City in the future? Image source: IRIS

Travel and Tour Consumer Information

Country Guides

Baghdad Burning
Girl Blog from Iraq... let's talk war, politics and occupation.

Iraq Tourism - An Introduction
Page about Iraq's Tourist Attractions by IRFAD.

Iraq Travel Advisory
US Government travel warnings related to Iraq.

Iraq Lonley Planet


History History of Iraq Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


Additional Information on Iraq Human Rights Amnesty International: Iraq Amnesty International Reports. Human Rights Watch: Iraq Background Briefings. The New Humanitarian - Iraq Iraq news and analysis by the independent, non-profit news agency. Press freedom Reporters sans frontières - Iraq Annual report about Press freedom in the country. Other Sites: BBC Country Profile: Iraq Wikipedia: Iraq US Department of State - Iraq The CIA World Factbook -- Iraq

Countries and territories in the Middle East
Bahrain | Cyprus | Egypt | Gaza Strip | Iran | Israel | Jordan | Kuwait | Lebanon | Oman |
Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Syria | Turkey | United Arab Emirates | West Bank | Yemen