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NAVIGATION
Republic of Iraq
Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq |
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Government type:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Capital:
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Baghdad |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) |
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National holiday:
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Revolution Day, 17 July (1968) |
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Constitution:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Legal system:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Suffrage:
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formerly 18 years of age; universal; note - in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Legislative branch:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Judicial branch:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Political parties and leaders:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, 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, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria which has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports have recently been more than three-quarters prewar level. However, 28% of Iraq's export revenues under the program have been deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund and UN administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure and the loss of a comparatively small amount of capital plant. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $58 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-3% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 6%
industry: 13% services: 81% (1993 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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70% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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6.5 million (2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
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Industries:
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petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1% NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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36.01 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 98.4%
hydro: 1.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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33.49 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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2.452 million bbl/day; note - production was disrupted as a result of the March-April 2003 war (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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113.8 billion bbl (January 2002 est.) |
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Natural Gas - proved reserves:
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3.149 trillion cu m (January 2002 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep |
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Exports:
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$13 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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crude oil |
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Exports - partners:
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US 60.6%, France 8.5%, Netherlands 7.4%, Italy 5.8% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$7.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food, medicine, manufactures |
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Imports - partners:
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France 19.4%, Australia 14.4%, Italy 10.7%, Germany 9.9% (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$120 billion (2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$327.5 million (1995) |
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Currency:
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Iraqi dinar (IQD) |
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Currency code:
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IQD |
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Exchange rates:
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Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 0.3109 (2002), 0.3109 (2001), 0.3109 (2000), 0.3109 (1999), 0.3109 (1998), note: fixed official rate since 1982; market rate subject to wide fluctuations |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |