Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Middle East
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 438,317 sq km
country comparison to the world: 59
land: 437,367 sq km
water: 950 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
58 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent"); 3,611 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 9.19%
permanent crops: 0.48%
other: 90.33% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
35,250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
89.86 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 66 cu km/yr (7%/15%/79%)
per capita: 2,616 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
dust storms; sandstorms; floods
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31,858,481 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 76.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 70.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 %
potential support ratio: 17.8 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 21.3 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 21.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.29% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.51 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.65 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 66.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.05% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
BAGHDAD (capital) 5.751 million; Mosul 1.447 million; Erbil 1.009 million; Basra 923,000; As Sulaymaniyah 836,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
63 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 99
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 71.14 years
country comparison to the world: 147
male: 69.67 years
female: 72.67 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.5 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
51.2% (2011)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 58
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.61 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 42
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.1% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 75
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.5%
male: 86%
female: 71.2% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2004)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 715,737
percentage: 11 % (2006 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 24 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic Day
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]
note:
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Sunni militias
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
golden eagle
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
lyrics/music: Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL
note: adopted 2004; following the ousting of Saddam HUSSEIN, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world, which also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$236 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$209.6 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 64.9%
services: 31.7% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.9 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 21.6%
industry: 18.7%
services: 59.8% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.7% (2007 est.)
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $103 billion
expenditures: $88.33 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
49.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6% (December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 59
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$54.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$71.48 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-3.981 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4 billion (9 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 93
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$29.54 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$94.21 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food and live animals
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 21.1%, India 20.2%, China 13.6%, South Korea 11%, Canada 4.7%, Italy 4.4%, Spain 4.2% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$50.16 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Turkey 27.5%, Syria 16.2%, China 12.5%, US 5.2%, South Korea 4.7% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$70.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$60.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
47.4 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
35.12 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.28 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.11 million kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
69% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.987 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.6 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
141.4 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 5
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
492,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
818,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,832 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
172,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
880 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.158 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 12
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
139.4 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.87 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 62
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.76 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 40
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.iq
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 218
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
325,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 126
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
102 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 55
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1,637 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,370 km
country comparison to the world: 66
standard gauge: 2,370 km 1.435-m gauge (2012)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 59,623 km
country comparison to the world: 71
paved: 59,623 km (includes Kurdistan Region) (2012)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 142
by type: petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
river port(s): Al Basrah (Shatt al-'Arab); Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 7,767,329
females age 16-49: 7,461,766 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 6,591,185
females age 16-49: 6,421,717 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 332,194
female: 322,010 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.88% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 54
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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