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Middle East :: Iraq

- ## Introduction :: IRAQ

- Background:
  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. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three 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. In April 2014, Iraq held a national legislative election and expanded the COR to 328 legislators. Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI dropped his bid for a third term in office, enabling new Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI, a Shia from Baghdad, to win parliamentary approval of his new cabinet in September 2014. Since early 2015, Iraq has been engaged in a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country.

- ## Geography :: IRAQ

- Location:
  Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
  Geographic coordinates:
  33 00 N, 44 00 E
  Map references:
  Middle East
  Area:
  total: 438,317 sq km
  land: 437,367 sq km
  water: 950 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Area - comparative:
  slightly more than three times the size of New York state
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 3,809 km
  border countries (6): Iran 1,599 km, Jordan 179 km, Kuwait 254 km, Saudi Arabia 811 km, Syria 599 km, Turkey 367 km
  Coastline:
  58 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  continental shelf: not specified
  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 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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 18.1%
  arable land 8.4%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.2%
  forest: 1.9%
  other: 80% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  35,250 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  89.86 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 66 cu km/yr (7%/15%/79%)
  per capita: 2,616 cu m/yr (2000)
  Natural hazards:
  dust storms; sandstorms; floods
  Environment - current issues:
  government water control projects 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:
  party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
  Geography - note:
  strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

- ## People and Society :: IRAQ

- Nationality:
  noun: Iraqi(s)
  adjective: Iraqi
  Ethnic groups:
  Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
  Languages:
  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:
  Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian 0.8%, Hindu <.1, Buddhist <.1, Jewish <.1, folk religion <.1, unafilliated .1, other <.1
  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 (2010 est.)
  religious affiliation:
  Population:
  37,056,169 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 40.25% (male 7,615,835/female 7,300,957)
  15-24 years: 18.98% (male 3,576,740/female 3,454,768)
  25-54 years: 33.49% (male 6,276,669/female 6,132,968)
  55-64 years: 3.95% (male 693,629/female 771,624)
  65 years and over: 3.33% (male 549,034/female 683,945) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 78.7%
  youth dependency ratio: 73.2%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.5%
  potential support ratio: 18.3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 19.7 years
  male: 19.4 years
  female: 20 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.93% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Birth rate:
  31.45 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Death rate:
  3.77 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Net migration rate:
  1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 69.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.01% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BAGHDAD (capital) 6.643 million; Mosul 1.694 million; Erbil 1.166 million; Basra 1.019 million; As Sulaymaniyah 1.004 million; Najaf 889,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  50 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 37.49 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 34.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.85 years
  male: 72.62 years
  female: 77.19 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Total fertility rate:
  4.12 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  52.5% (2011)
  Health expenditures:
  5.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Physicians density:
  0.61 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 93.8% of population
  rural: 70.1% of population
  total: 86.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 6.1% of population
  rural: 31.5% of population
  total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 86.4% of population
  rural: 83.8% of population
  total: 85.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13.6% of population
  rural: 16.2% of population
  total: 14.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Major infectious diseases:
  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:
  21.2% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  8.5% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 79.7%
  male: 85.7%
  female: 73.7% (2015 est.)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 715,737
  percentage: 11% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: IRAQ

- Country name:
  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
  etymology: the name probably derives from "Uruk" (Biblical "Erech") the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  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:
  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:
  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:
  Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic Day
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 (2016)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iraq
  dual citizenship recognized: yes
  residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Fuad MASUM (since 24 July 2014); Vice Presidents Ayad ALLAWI (since 9 September 2014), Nuri MALIKI (since 9 September 2014), Usama al-NUJAYFI (since 9 September 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI (since 8 September 2014)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by Council of Representatives
  election results: Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM (PUK) 211, Barham SALIH (PUK) 17; Haydar al-ABADI (Da'wa Party) approved as prime minister
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy (328 seats; 320 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members serve 4-year terms); note - Iraq's constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council, but it has not been instituted
  elections: last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
  election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by coalition/party – State of Law Coalition 95, Sadrist Movement 34, ISCI/Muwatin 30, KDP 25, United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun 23, PUK 21, Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah 19, other Sunni coalitions/parties 15, Al-Arabiyah Coalition 10, Goran 9, other Shia parties/coalitions 9, Fadilah 6, National Reform Trend 6, Iraq Coalition 5, KIU 4, other 17
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government); 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 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; 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 nominally 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:
  note: includes political coalitions
  Al-Arabiyah Coalition [Salih al-MUTLAQ]
  Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]
  Da`wa Party [Vice President Nuri al-MALIKI];; Da`wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI]
  Fadilah Party [Muhammad al-YAQUBI]
  Goran Party [Nawhirwan MUSTAFA]
  Iraq Coalition [Abd al-Salam al-HAMMUDI]
  Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]
  Iraqi Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR]
  Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI/Muwatin Coalition [Ammar al-HAKIM]
  Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI]
  Kurdistan Islamic Union or KIU [Mohammed FARA]
  Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah [Vice President Ayad ALLAWI]
  National Movement for Reform and Development [Muhammad al-KARBULI]
  National Reform Trend [Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI]
  Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [former President Jalal TALABANI]
  Sadrist Movement or Ahrar Bloc [Muqtada al-SADR]
  State of Law Coalition [Vice President Nuri al MALIKI]
  United for Iraq/Muttahidun Party [Vice President Usama al-NUJAYFI]
  United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun [Vice President Usama al-NUJAYFI]
  note: numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority parties
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties
  International organization participation:
  ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, EITI (compliant 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:
  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: Detroit, Los Angeles
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart E. JONES (since 2 October 2014)
  embassy: Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad
  mailing address: APO AE 09316
  telephone: 0760-030-3000
  FAX: NA
  Flag description:
  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):
  golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black
  National anthem:
  name: "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
  lyrics/music: Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL
  note: adopted 2004; following the ouster of SADDAM Husayn, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world; also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people

- ## Economy :: IRAQ

- Economy - overview:
  During 2014, worsening security and financial stability throughout Iraq - driven by an ongoing insurgency, decreasing oil prices, and political upheaval - decreased the prospects for improving the country's economic environment and securing much-needed foreign investment. Long-term fiscal health, a strengthened investment climate, 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. Oil exports in 2014 remained relatively flat at 2.4 million barrels per day on average, despite new production coming online at the West Qurna 2 and Badrah oilfields, because repeated attacks on the Iraq-Turkey pipeline reduced export capacity. During the second half of 2014, government revenues decreased as global oil prices fell by more than 30%. 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. In December, the federal government and the KRG agreed to sell oil exports from Kurdish-controlled oil fields under the federal oil ministry, in exchange for the central government paying $1 billion to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and resuming budget transfers to the KRG that amount to 17% of Iraq's national budget. 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.. 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. 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 local governments. 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. 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):
  $526.1 billion (2014 est.)
  $537.5 billion (2013 est.)
  $504.3 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 37
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $223.5 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -2.1% (2014 est.)
  6.6% (2013 est.)
  13.9% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $15,300 (2014 est.)
  $15,700 (2013 est.)
  $14,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Gross national saving:
  23.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  28.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
  28.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 55.5%
  government consumption: 21.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 16.5%
  investment in inventories: 2%
  exports of goods and services: 40.8%
  imports of goods and services: -36.3%
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.2%
  industry: 59.5%
  services: 36.3% (2013 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry
  Industries:
  petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -2.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Labor force:
  8.9 million (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 21.6%
  industry: 18.7%
  services: 59.8% (2008 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  16% (2012 est.)
  15% (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Population below poverty line:
  25% (2008 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.6%
  highest 10%: 25.7% (2007 est.)
  Budget:
  revenues: $86.03 billion
  expenditures: $97.57 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  38.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -5.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.2% (2014 est.)
  1.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Central bank discount rate:
  6% (December 2012)
  6% (December 2011)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  6% (31 December 2014 est.)
  6% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Stock of narrow money:
  $62.31 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $63.32 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Stock of broad money:
  $78.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $75.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $-359,300 (31 December 2014 est.)
  $-898,500 (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $4 billion (9 December 2011)
  $2.6 billion (31 July 2010)
  $2 billion (31 July 2009 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Current account balance:
  -$6.208 billion (2014 est.)
  $3.024 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Exports:
  $83.98 billion (2014 est.)
  $89.77 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Exports - commodities:
  crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food and live animals
  Exports - partners:
  China 23.8%, India 18.4%, US 15.7%, South Korea 7.7%, Greece 5.9%, Italy 4.9% (2014)
  Imports:
  $45.2 billion (2014 est.)
  $49.98 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Imports - commodities:
  food, medicine, manufactures
  Imports - partners:
  Turkey 23.3%, Syria 17.3%, China 16.6%, US 4.5% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $57.07 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $66.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Debt - external:
  $58.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $59.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Exchange rates:
  Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -
  1,213.7 (2014 est.)
  1,213.72 (2013 est.)
  1,166.17 (2012 est.)
  1,170 (2011 est.)
  1,170 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: IRAQ

- Electricity - production:
  62.3 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Electricity - consumption:
  53.41 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Electricity - imports:
  8.201 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  11.2 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  92% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  7.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Crude oil - production:
  3.368 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Crude oil - exports:
  2.39 million bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  144.2 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  590,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  750,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  2,153 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  242,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Natural gas - production:
  1.18 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Natural gas - consumption:
  1.179 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  3.158 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  130.7 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38

- ## Communications :: IRAQ

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.95 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 33 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Telephone system:
  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 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:
  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 Media Network; 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 (2015)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  55 (station frequency types NA) (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  28 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .iq
  Internet users:
  total: 2.8 million
  percent of population: 7.8% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87

- ## Transportation :: IRAQ

- Airports:
  102 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Airports - with paved runways:
  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:
  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:
  16 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1,637 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 2,272 km
  standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Roadways:
  total: 59,623 km
  paved: 59,623 km (includes Kurdistan Region) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Waterways:
  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: 22
  Merchant marine:
  total: 2
  by type: petroleum tanker 2
  registered in other countries: 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Ports and terminals:
  river port(s): Al Basrah (Shatt al-'Arab); Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)

- ## Military :: IRAQ

- Military branches:
  Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army (includes Army Aviation Directorate), Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force; Counterterrorism Service (2015)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 7,767,329
  females age 16-49: 7,461,766 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,591,185
  females age 16-49: 6,421,717 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 332,194
  female: 322,010 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  8.7% of GDP (2014)
  3.4% of GDP (2013)
  2.88% of GDP (2012)
  3.27% of GDP (2011)
  2.88% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 2

- ## Transnational Issues :: IRAQ

- Disputes - international:
  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:
  refugees (country of origin): 16,637 (Turkey); 11,053 (Iran); 9,246 (West Bank and Gaza Strip) (2014); 244,642 (Syria) (2015)
  IDPs: 4,149,518 (since 2006 due to ethno-sectarian violence; includes 3,195,390 displaced in central and northern Iraq since January 2014) (2015)
  stateless persons: 120,000 (2014); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, 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 persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless

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