About Iraq
Geography
 Location
International location: Middle East.
Iraq is bordered by six countries:
North: Turkey
Northwest: Syria
West: Jordan
East: Iran
South: Kuwait
Southwest: Saudi Arabia
The country slopes from mountains over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft.) above sea level along the border with Iran and Turkey to the remnants of sea-level, reedy marshes in the southeast.
Area -Total : 437,072 sq. km.
-Land : 432,162 sq. km.
-Water: 4,910 sq. km.
Land boundaries 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
Climate
mostly desert: mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers. Northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in the winter season and early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq.
Terrain
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey.
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur and iron raw materials.
Natural hazards dust storms, sandstorms, floods.
Demography
Iraq's two largest ethnic groups are Arabs and Kurds. Other distinct groups are Turkomans, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Iranians, Lurs, and Armenians. Arabic is the most commonly spoken language. Kurdish is spoken in the north.
Population 24,001,816 (July 2002 est.).
Age structure 0-14 years 41.1% (male 5,003,755; female 4,849,238) 15-64 years 55.9% (male 6,794,265; female 6,624,662) 65 years and over 3% (male 341,520; female 388,376) (2002 est.).
Population growth rate 3 %
Average age between 15-64
55.9%
Languages
Arabic, Kurdish ( official in Kurdish regions ‘ federal system’),
Turkoman, Assyrian, Armenian.
Literacy
Since 1913 education has been free and in 1976 compulsory education was announced (law No. 118) to eradicate illiteracy between the ages of 15-45.
Capital Baghdad
Administrative divisions
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit. International organization participation
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, EAPC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WtoO.
|
