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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 72, FM 6, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)

Radios [time series]

13 million (1999 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: 25 regional telecommunications authorities created in 1996; these authorities are responsible for implementing paging services and cellular systems; microwave radio relay extends throughout the country with the system centered in Tehran; system is moving toward digitization and direct-dial capability; 255 long-distance circuits (1999 est.); 366 telephone exchanges (1995 est.); 204,400 microwave channels (1996 est.); 230,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1997 est.); 3,930 pager subscribers (1995 est.) international: 13,985 international circuits (1999 est.) with a plan to reach 14,000 by March 1999; satellite earth stations--9 Intelsat (with 50 terminals) and 4 Inmarsat; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans Asia Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; four Internet service providers as of 1997 with the number increasing (service limited to electronic mail to promote Iranian culture)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

8,991,797 (1997 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

28 (in addition, there are 450 low-power repeaters, all government controlled) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

7 million (1999 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Budget [time series]

revenues: $34.6 billion expenditures: $34.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.8 billion (FY96/97)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note--domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$21.9 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$116.5 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI and has indicated that he will pursue diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy although he has made little progress toward that goal. In the early 1990s, Iran experienced a financial crisis and was forced to reschedule $15 billion in debt. The strong oil market in 1996 helped ease financial pressures on Iran and allowed for Tehran's timely debt service payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997 and deteriorated further in 1998 because of lower oil prices. As a result Iran has begun to cut imports and fall into arrears on its debt payments.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

79.5 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

79.5 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 90.57% hydro: 9.43% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Iranian rials (IR) per US$1--1,754.63 (January 1999), 1,751.86 (1998), 1,752.92 (1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994); black market rate: 7,000 rials per US$1 (December 1998); note--as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750 rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services and for oil exports, whereas the "official export rate" of 3,000 rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered by the official rate

Exports [time series]

$12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

petroleum 80%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, steel

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, South Korea

Fiscal year [time series]

21 March--20 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$339.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

-2.1% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$13.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Germany, Italy, Japan, UAE, UK, Belgium

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.7% (FY95/96 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

24% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

15.4 million note: shortage of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21% (1988 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

53% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

more than 30% (January 1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1.648 million sq km land: 1.636 million sq km water: 12,000 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Alaska

Climate [time series]

mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Coastline [time series]

2,440 km note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

32 00 N, 53 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

94,000 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,440 km border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 27% forests and woodland: 7% other: 55% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in the Persian Gulf territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Terrain [time series]

rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

25 provinces (ostanha, singular--ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan note: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, and Qazvin

Capital [time series]

Tehran

Constitution [time series]

2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran local short form: Iran

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none; note--protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none; note--Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by Fariborz JAHANSUZAN; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 965-4990

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since 3 August 1997); First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA May 2001) election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani elected president; percent of vote--(Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 69%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

Government type [time series]

theocratic republic

Independence [time series]

1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

International organization participation [time series]

CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (270 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--NA

National holiday [time series]

Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

since President KHATAMI's election in May 1997, several political parties have been licensed including Executives of Construction, Islamic Iran Solidarity Party, and Islamic Partnership Front; other important political groupings are: MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA]; Islamic

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the Society for the Defense of Freedom

Suffrage [time series]

15 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces), Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$5.787 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.9% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 17,203,360 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 10,217,269 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

21 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 767,152 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36% (male 11,963,438; female 11,447,191) 15-64 years: 60% (male 19,549,935; female 19,276,784) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,561,877; female 1,380,527) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.71 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

29.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.76 years male: 68.43 years female: 71.16 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.1% male: 78.4% female: 65.8% (1994 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Iranian(s) adjective: Iranian

Net migration rate [time series]

-4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

65,179,752 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.07% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)--over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan

Illicit drugs [time series]

despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic consumption of narcotics remains a persistent problem and Iranian press reports estimate that there are at least 1.2 million drug users in the country

Transportation

Airports [time series]

288 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 110 over 3,047 m: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 178 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 126 under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

11 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 162,000 km paved: 81,000 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 81,000 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,238,293 GRT/5,658,259 DWT ships by type: bulk 46, cargo 35, chemical tanker 4, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; natural gas 4,550 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Imam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr

Railways [time series]

total: 7,286 km broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge standard gauge: 7,192 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1996 est.)

Waterways [time series]

904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use