Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
the number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003; government-owned TV and radio stations are operated by the publicly funded Iraqi Public Broadcasting Service; private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to an estimated 70% of viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.iq
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
26 (2012) country comparison to the world: 218
Internet users [time series]
325,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 126
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications through fiber optic links are in progress; the mobile cellular market has expanded rapidly to some 27 million subscribers by the end of 2012 domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; 3 GSM operators since 2007 have expanded beyond their regional roots and offer near country-wide access to second-generation services; third-generation mobile services are not available nationwide; wireless local loop is available in some metropolitan areas and additional licenses have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; international terrestrial fiber-optic connections have been established with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iran; links to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the Gulf Bridge International (GBI) submarine fiber-optic cables have been established (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
1.87 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 62
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
26.76 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 40
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry
Budget [time series]
revenues: $103 billion expenditures: $88.33 billion (2012 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Central bank discount rate [time series]
6% (December 2012) country comparison to the world: 59 6% (December 2011)
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
6% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 6% (31 December 2011 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
$29.54 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 $26.13 billion (2011 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$60.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $61 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
An improving security environment and foreign investment are helping to spur economic activity, particularly in the energy, construction, and retail sectors. Broader economic development, long-term fiscal health, and sustained improvements in the overall standard of living still depend on the central government passing major policy reforms. Iraq's largely state-run economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides more than 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Iraq in 2012 boosted oil exports to a 30-year high of 2.6 million barrels per day, a significant increase from Iraq's average of 2.2 million in 2011. Government revenues increased as global oil prices remained persistently high for much of 2012. Iraq's contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil exports and revenues, but Iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their economic potential. The Iraqi Kurdistan Region's (IKR) autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) passed its own oil law in 2007, and has directly signed about 50 contracts to develop IKR energy reserves. The federal government has disputed the legal authority of the KRG to conclude most of these contracts, some of which are also in areas with unresolved administrative boundaries in dispute between the federal and regional government. Iraq is making slow progress enacting laws and developing the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and political reforms are still needed to assuage investors' concerns regarding the uncertain business climate, which may have been harmed by the November 2012 standoff between Baghdad and Erbil and the removal of the Central Bank Governor in October 2012. The government of Iraq is eager to attract additional foreign direct investment, but it faces a number of obstacles including a tenuous political system and concerns about security and societal stability. Rampant corruption, outdated infrastructure, insufficient essential services, skilled labor shortages, and antiquated commercial laws stifle investment and continue to constrain growth of private, nonoil sectors. Iraq is considering a package of laws to establish a modern legal framework for the oil sector and a mechanism to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although these reforms are still under contentious and sporadic negotiation. Under the Iraqi Constitution, some competencies relevant to the overall investment climate are either shared by the federal government and the regions or are devolved entirely to the regions. Investment in the IKR operates within the framework of the Kurdistan Region Investment Law (Law 4 of 2006) and the Kurdistan Board of Investment, which is designed to provide incentives to help economic development in areas under the authority of the KRG. Inflation has remained under control since 2006 as security improved. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into an improved standard of living for the Iraqi populace. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country despite a bloated public sector. Encouraging private enterprise through deregulation would make it easier for Iraqi citizens and foreign investors to start new businesses. Rooting out corruption and implementing reforms - such as restructuring banks and developing the private sector - would be important steps in this direction.
Exchange rates [time series]
Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar - 1,166.2 (2012 est.) 1,170 (2011 est.) 1,170 (2010 est.) 1,170 (2009) 1,176 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$94.21 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $79.68 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food and live animals
Exports - partners [time series]
US 21.1%, India 20.2%, China 13.6%, South Korea 11%, Canada 4.7%, Italy 4.4%, Spain 4.2% (2012)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$209.6 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$236 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $217.7 billion (2011 est.) $200.5 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 3.4% industry: 64.9% services: 31.7% (2012 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$7,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $6,700 (2011 est.) $6,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
8.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 8.6% (2011 est.) 5.9% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 25.7% (2007 est.)
Imports [time series]
$50.16 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $40.63 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners [time series]
Turkey 27.5%, Syria 16.2%, China 12.5%, US 5.2%, South Korea 4.7% (2012)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
10.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Industries [time series]
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
6.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 5.6% (2011 est.)
Labor force [time series]
8.9 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 21.6% industry: 18.7% services: 59.8% (2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$4 billion (9 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 93 $2.6 billion (31 July 2010) $2 billion (31 July 2009 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
25% (2008 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$70.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $61.04 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$71.48 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $61.81 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$-3.981 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 $-962,200 (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$54.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $53.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
49.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Unemployment rate [time series]
16% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 15% (2010 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
139.4 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Crude oil - exports [time series]
2.6 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Crude oil - production [time series]
2.987 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
141.4 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - consumption [time series]
35.12 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
69% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
31% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - imports [time series]
12.28 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
10.11 million kW (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - production [time series]
47.4 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
1.3 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - production [time series]
880 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
3.158 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 12
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
818,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
3,832 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
172,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
492,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Geography
total: 438,317 sq km country comparison to the world: 59 land: 437,367 sq km water: 950 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Climate [time series]
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
Coastline [time series]
58 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent"); 3,611 m; note - this peak is neither Gundah Zhur 3,607 m nor Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]
total: 66 cu km/yr (7%/15%/79%) per capita: 2,616 cu m/yr (2000)
Geographic coordinates [time series]
33 00 N, 44 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf
Irrigated land [time series]
35,250 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 3,650 km border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 9.19% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 90.33% (2011)
Location [time series]
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Map references [time series]
Middle East
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: not specified
Natural hazards [time series]
dust storms; sandstorms; floods
Natural resources [time series]
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Terrain [time series]
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
Total renewable water resources [time series]
89.86 cu km (2011)
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah (Arabic); parezgakan, singular - parezga (Kurdish)) and 1 region*; Al Anbar; Al Basrah; Al Muthanna; Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah); An Najaf; Arbil (Erbil) (Arabic), Hewler (Kurdish); As Sulaymaniyah (Arabic), Slemani (Kurdish); Babil; Baghdad; Dahuk (Arabic), Dihok (Kurdish); Dhi Qar; Diyala; Karbala'; Kirkuk; Kurdistan Regional Government*; Maysan; Ninawa; Salah ad Din; Wasit
Capital [time series]
name: Baghdad geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 24 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 (2013)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq local short form: Al Iraq/Eraq
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Stephen BEECROFT (since 9 October 2012) embassy: Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad mailing address: APO AE 09316 telephone: 0760-030-3000 FAX: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Luqman Abd al-Rahim FAYLI (since 31 May 2013) chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 742-1600 FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006) cabinet: The Council of Ministers consists of the prime minister and cabinet ministers the prime minister proposes; approved by an absolute majority vote by the Council of Representatives (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by Council of Representatives (parliament) to serve a four-year term (eligible for a second term); presidential election in parliament last held on 11 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014) election results: President Jalal TALABANI reelected on 11 November 2010; Council of Representatives vote count on second ballot - 195 votes; Nuri al-MALIKI reelected prime minister
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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'athist Saddam-era flag note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy
Independence [time series]
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges) judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Higher Juridical Council, a 26-member independent committee of judicial officials; FSC members appointed for life ; Court of Cassation judges appointed for 1-year probationary period and upon satisfactory performance may be confirmed for permanent tenure until retirement at age 63 subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); courts of first instance; personal status, labor, criminal, juvenile, and religious courts
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Council of Representatives (325 seats consisting of 317 members elected by an optional open-list and representing a specific governorate, proportional representation system and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members serve four-year terms); note - Iraq's Constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council elections: last held on 7 March 2010 for an enlarged 325-seat parliament (next to be held in 2014) election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by coalition - Iraqi National Movement 25.9%, State of Law coalition 25.8%, Iraqi National Alliance 19.4%, Kurdistan Alliance 15.3%, Goran (Change) List 4.4%, Tawafuq Front 2.7%, Iraqi Unity Alliance 2.9%, Kurdistan Islamic Union 2.3%, Kurdistan Islamic Group 1.4%; seats by coalition - NA
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
National holiday [time series]
Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic Day
National symbol(s) [time series]
golden eagle
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI] Da'wa Party (Islamic) [Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI] Da'wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI branch] Da-wa Tanzim [Abd al-Karim al-ANZI branch] Fadilah Party [Hasan al-SHAMMARI and Ammar TUAMA] Goran (Change) List (also known as the Movement for Change) [Nushirwan MUSTAFA] Iraqi Covenant Gathering [Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur al-SAMARRAI] Iraqi Constitutional Party [Jawad al-BULANI] Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Deputy Prime Minister Salih al-MUTLAQ] Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Usama al-TIKRITI] Iraqi Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR] Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI] Iraqi National Alliance [Ibrahim al-JAFARI] Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI] Iraqi National Movement (see Iraqi National Accord) Iraqi Unity Alliance [Nauaf Saud ZAID] Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Ammar al-HAKIM] Kurdistan Alliance Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI] Kurdistan Islamic Group (also called Islamic Group of Kurdistan) [Ali BAPIR] Kurdistan Islamic Union [ Mohammed FARAI] Future National Gathering [Finance Minister Rafi al-ISSAWI] National Iraqiyun Gathering [Usama al-NUJAYFI] National Movement for Reform and Development [Jamal al-KARBULI] National Reform Trend (part of the National Iraqi Alliance) [former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI] Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [President Jalal TALABANI] Renewal List [Vice President Tariq al-HASHIMI] Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR] Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI] State of Law Coalition [Nouri al-MALIKI] Tawafuq Front (also known as the Iraqi Accord Front) note: numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority parties
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Sunni militias Shia militias, some associated with political parties
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain 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. 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. In January 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates 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. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 7,767,329 females age 16-49: 7,461,766 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 6,591,185 females age 16-49: 6,421,717 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 332,194 female: 322,010 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Counterterrorism Service Forces: Counterterrorism Command; Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF); Ministry of Defense Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Army Aviation Directorate, former National Guard Iraqi Intervention Forces, and Strategic Infrastructure Battalions), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal Defense Force, includes Iraq Marine Force), Iraqi Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya) (2011)
Military expenditures [time series]
8.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 6
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 37.2% (male 6,029,869/female 5,818,752) 15-24 years: 19.6% (male 3,175,754/female 3,082,880) 25-54 years: 35.8% (male 5,823,608/female 5,585,217) 55-64 years: 4.2% (male 637,889/female 698,691) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 467,858/female 537,963) (2013 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
27.51 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 715,737 percentage: 11 % (2006 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
7.1% (2006) country comparison to the world: 75
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
51.2% (2011)
Death rate [time series]
4.65 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 76.2 % youth dependency ratio: 70.6 % elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 % potential support ratio: 17.8 (2013)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 91% of population rural: 56% of population total: 79% of population unimproved: urban: 9% of population rural: 44% of population total: 21% of population (2010 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
8.3% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 58
Hospital bed density [time series]
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 38.86 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 62 male: 42.98 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Languages [time series]
Arabic (official), Kurdish (official), Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic) are official in areas where they constitute a majority of the population), Armenian
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 71.14 years country comparison to the world: 147 male: 69.67 years female: 72.67 years (2013 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.5% male: 86% female: 71.2% (2011 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
BAGHDAD (capital) 5.751 million; Mosul 1.447 million; Erbil 1.009 million; Basra 923,000; As Sulaymaniyah 836,000 (2009)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
63 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 99
Median age [time series]
total: 21.3 years male: 21.2 years female: 21.4 years (2013 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
27% (2008) country comparison to the world: 42
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.61 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Population [time series]
31,858,481 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Population growth rate [time series]
2.29% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Religions [time series]
Muslim (official) 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% note: while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam HUSSEIN regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 76% of population rural: 67% of population total: 73% of population unimproved: urban: 24% of population rural: 33% of population total: 27% of population (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 9 years (2004)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.5 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 66.5% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.05% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 15,496 (Turkey); 11,467 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 8,259 (Iran) (2012); 206,137 (Syria) (2013) IDPs: 1.1 million (since 2006 from ethno-sectarian violence) (2013) stateless persons: 120,000 (2012); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's administration, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees, who were also persecuted under the SADDAM Husayn regime, still remain stateless in Iraq
Transportation
Airports [time series]
102 (2013) country comparison to the world: 55
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 72 over 3,047 m: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 30 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 6 (2013)
Heliports [time series]
16 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 2 country comparison to the world: 142 by type: petroleum tanker 2 registered in other countries: 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1,637 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr
Railways [time series]
total: 2,370 km country comparison to the world: 66 standard gauge: 2,370 km 1.435-m gauge (2012)
Roadways [time series]
total: 59,623 km country comparison to the world: 71 paved: 59,623 km (includes Kurdistan Region) (2012)
Waterways [time series]
5,279 km (the Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) (2012) country comparison to the world: 23