Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

8 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ir

Internet users [time series]

420,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios [time series]

17 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: inadequate but currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several thousand villages, not presently connected domestic: as a result of heavy investing in the telephone system since 1994, the number of long-distance channels in the microwave radio relay trunk has grown substantially; many villages have been brought into the net; the number of main lines in the urban systems has approximately doubled; and thousands of mobile cellular subscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of the system has been raised by the installation of thousands of digital switches international: 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; satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat; Internet service available but limited to electronic mail to promote Iranian culture

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

6.313 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

265,000 (August 1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

4.61 million (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $24 billion expenditures: $22 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Iranian rial (IRR)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

IRR

Debt - external [time series]

$8.2 billion (2002 est.)

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

$129 million (1995) (2000 est.)

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. 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. Subsequent rises in oil prices have afforded Iran fiscal breathing room but do not solve Iran's structural economic problems, including the encouragement of foreign investment and the containment of inflation.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

111.907 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

120.33 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 94% hydro: 6% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

from 1997 to 2001, Iran had a multi-exchange-rate system; one of these rates, the official floating exchange rate, by which most essential goods were imported, averaged 1,750 rials per US dollar; in March 2002, the multi-exchange-rate system was converged into one rate at about 7,900 rials per US dollar

Exports [time series]

$24 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits and nuts, iron and steel, chemicals

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 20.5%, Italy 7%, UAE 5.9%, France 4.7%, China 4.1% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

21 March - 20 March

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

purchasing power parity - $456 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 19% industry: 26% services: 55% (2002 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2001 est.)

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

5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$19.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany 11%, Italy 8.3%, China 6.1%, Japan 5.3%, UAE 5% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.5% excluding oil (2001 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]

17.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

18 million note: shortage of skilled labor (1998)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

53% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

14% (1999 est.)

Area [time series]

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

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: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m

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; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

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

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport

Irrigated land [time series]

75,620 sq km (1998 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: 10.17% permanent crops: 1.16% other: 88.67% (1998 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 territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: natural prolongation exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

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 short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran former: Persia

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; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) 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 8 June 2001 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani reelected president; percent of vote - (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 77% cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since 3 August 1997); First Vice President Dr. Mohammad Reza AREF-YAZDI (since 26 August 2001)

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 the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) 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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, 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 (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats with the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 February-NA April 2000 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - reformers 170, conservatives 45, and independents 10, 65 seats up for runoff; note - election on 5 May 2000 (reformers 52, conservatives 10, independents 3)

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

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

the following organizations appeared to have achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majlis in early 2000: Assembly of the Followers of the Imam's Line, Freethinkers' Front, Islamic Iran Participation Front, Moderation and Development Party, Servants of Construction Party, Society of Self-sacrificing Devotees

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

active student groups include the pro-reform "Organization for Strengthening Unity" and "the Union of Islamic Student Societies'; 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

Background [time series]

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces subsequently crushed westernizing liberal elements. Militant Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq over disputed territory. Key current issues affecting the country include the pace of accepting outside modernizing influences and reconciliation between clerical control of the regime and popular government participation and widespread demands for reform.

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

Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Command), Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Qods [special operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army] forces), Law Enforcement Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$9.7 billion (FY00)

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

3.1% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 18,868,571 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 11,192,731 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

21 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 823,041 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31.6% (male 10,753,218; female 10,273,015) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 21,383,542; female 21,096,307) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 1,633,016; female 1,483,606) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.39 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

28.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 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: 70.25 years female: 71.69 years (2002 est.) male: 68.87 years

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]

-4.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

66,622,704 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.77% (2002 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: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.01 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

despite restored diplomatic relations in 1990, Iran lacks maritime boundary with Iraq and disputes land boundary, navigation channels, and other issues from eight-year war; UAE seeks United Arab League and other international support against Iran's occupation of Greater Tunb Island (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran) and Lesser Tunb Island (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and attempts to occupy completely a jointly administered island in the Persian Gulf (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran); Iran insists on division of Caspian Sea into five equal sectors while Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan have generally agreed upon equidistant seabed boundaries; Iran threatens to conduct oil exploration in Azerbaijani-claimed waters, while interdicting Azerbaijani activities

Illicit drugs [time series]

despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic narcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and Iranian press reports estimate at least 1.8 million drug users in the country

Airports [time series]

322 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 122 over 3,047 m: 39 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 187 under 914 m: 39 (2002) over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 138 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

Heliports [time series]

13 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 140,200 km paved: 49,440 km (including 470 km of expressways) unpaved: 90,760 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,136,971 GRT/7,166,703 DWT ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 36, chemical tanker 4, container 10, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, petroleum tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 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 Emam 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: 6,130 km broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge standard gauge: 6,036 km 1.435-m gauge (187 km electrified) note: broad-gauge track is employed at the borders with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan which have broad-gauge rail systems; 41 km of the standard-gauge, electrified track is in suburban service at Tehran (2001)

Waterways [time series]

904 km note: 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