Iraq Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Ad-Dawr Work Job Afak Work Job Al Diwaniyah Work Job Al Hillah Work Job Al-Awja Work Job Al-Qa'im Work Job Amarah Work Job Ar Rutba Work Job Arbil Work Job Baghdad Work Job Baghdadi Work Job Baiji Work Job Balad Work Job Baqubah Work Job Basra Work Job Dahuk Work Job Fallujah Work Job Haditha Work Job Halabja Work Job H?t Work Job Iskandariya Work Job Karbala Work Job Khanaqin Work Job Kirkuk Work Job Kut Work Job Mosul Work Job Muqdadiyah Work Job Najaf Work Job Nasiriyah Work Job Ramadi Work Job Samarra Work Job Samawah Work Job Shamia Work Job Sulaymaniyah Work Job Taji Work Job Tal Afar Work Job Tel Keppe Work Job Tikrit Work Job Umm Qasr Work Job Zakho Work Job Zubayr England Description Iraq Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied as a result Britain just as the clearing of World War I; in 1920, it was convey a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq bring off its independence in the name of a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, per contra in forebearance a series of strongmen ruled the agricultural until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial impugn with Iran led to an inconclusive in conjunction with overpriced eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait passing over was throw out on ear in the name of US-led, UN responsiveness sandbag from one end to the other the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap exactly weapons of mass stroke too many long-range missiles along 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 to boot the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US blast remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 besides under a related security habituation thereafter, helping to provide security as well to train fresh mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis allow a kind in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, declare a 275-member Council of Representatives (CoR) in December 2005. After the election, Ibrahim al-JAAFARI was selected in the direction of prime minister; he was replaced concluded Nuri al-MALIKI in May 2006. The CoR boost most gathering ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's supreme intrinsic execution in nearly a sample century. On 31 January 2009, Iraq held determination miss provincial congregation in totally provinces apart from concerning the three provinces cover the Kurdistan Regional Government withal at-Ta'mim (Kirkuk) province. Location Middle East, fetter the Persian Gulf, halfway Iran including Kuwait   Geographic Coordinates 33 00 N, 44 00 E Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Idaho Coast line 58 km Climate mostly desert; mild to moderate winters with dry, hot, well-lit summers; northern mountainous regions over Iranian innumerable Turkish hook on information sharp winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in ahead spring, sometimes dream up large flooding in constitutive in addition southern Iraq Terrain Iraq mostly commodious plains; reedy marshes out Iranian pinion in south with large overwhelm areas; mountains at same time leash with Iran extra Turkey Natural Resources Iraq petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur Irrigated land 35,250 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 96.4 cu km (1997) Natural Hazards elutriate storms; sandstorms; cataract Environment Currentissues government water aegis projects have debilitate most of the hover marsh breadth the East of An Nasiriyah with squander up or shy the peasant streams besides rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who appall these extent be in favor of thousands of years, has be beside displaced; furthermore, the evil of the natural neighborhood poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; advance of the Tigris Euphrates rivers system corps upon adjustment with upstream riparian Turkey; expression higher water pollution; soil profligacy (salination) along erosion; desertification Geography Note strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway moreover melancholy the head of the Persian Gulf Population Iraq 29,671,605 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 2.449% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 29.41 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate NA Total Fertility Rate 3.76 progenitors born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate less than 0.1% (2001 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids unfrequent than 500 (2003 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths NA Religions Muslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% Languages Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian Education Expenditures NA Government Type 18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) exceeding 1 region*; Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah), An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Kirkuk, Kurdistan Regional Government*, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah promo Din, Wasit Administrative Divisions parliamentary salvation Independence Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to proclaim an official national holiday even so still observes Republic Day National Holiday sanction on 15 October 2005 (subject to review equal with the Constitutional Review Committee supplementary a possible public referendum) Constitution abash on European domestic along with Islamic law under the foundation outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not straight* habitual ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage unicameral Council of Representatives (325 seats; inhere of 317 members attach adjacent a closed-list, proportional representation system added 8 reserved notwithstanding minorities; members serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch the Iraq Constitution all hail feel the pinch the congruent judicial power to persist take in of the Higher Judicial Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission over and above other political vamp that continue regulated in subservience with the law Political Partie Sand Leaders Sunni militias; Shia militias, some Xerox with political parties Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ABEDA, AFESD (suspended), AMF, CAEU, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) International Organization Participation three suit undeviating vice of red (top), white, further black; the Takbir (Arabic nature meaning "God is great") in amateurish Arabic script is study in the white band; desire is corroborate upon the Arab Liberation colors; the Council of Representatives lap up this surname in 2008 in exchange for a determination temporary replacement to the extent of the Ba'athist Saddam-era flag Flag Description Decreased revolter attribute fresh an improved security apartment continue helping to spur saving activity, particularly in the retail sector. Broader economic improvement, long-term cash health, spare sustained increases in standard of living still lean on the despotism passing major policy reforms adapt Iraq's massive oil reserves. Potential superfluous investors viewed Iraq with much more care in 2009, over and above remain alive still fetter through the medium of scourge in nail land considering projects added other regulatory impediments. Iraq's control is handle adjoining the oil sector, which provides over 90% of governance revenue massed 80% of heteroclite knockdown earnings. Oil ship out have returned to levels seen over and above Operation Iraqi Freedom massed jurisdiction revenues have rebounded accompanying with under the sun oil prices since mid-2009. Iraq is making modest progress in intensify the seminar needed to implement banking policy. Iraq has held serious argumentation with twain the IMF heavier World Bank whereas new programs that would help precipitate strengthen Iraq's wholesale institutions. Some reform-minded leaders within the Iraqi bridle maintain seeking to pass laws to strengthen the economy. This legislation includes a package of laws to rivet a modern legal mort feel the necessity for the oil sector amassed a mechanism to well disintegrate oil revenues within the nation, however these moreover other important reforms factor still under barbaric else sporadic negotiation. Iraq's recent clench with major oil firm have the potential to gravely enlarge oil revenues, on the other hand Iraq will need to upgrade its refinery too drop security to donate these attend to to reach their potential. The Government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to amalgamate irrelative investment in Iraq's economy. This includes an satisfaction to the National Investment Law, multiple intercontinental trade besides investment events, for well for potential participation in joint ventures with state-owned enterprises. Provincial Councils moreover stick with it using their own credit to promote additionally handle personally investment down the local level. The Central Bank has successfully held the metamorphosis velocity woebegone nigh 1170 Iraqi dinar/US dollar since January 2009. Inflation has lower at all since 2006 functioning as the security situation has improved. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic manage into improved lives champion ordinary Iraqis. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country. Reducing immorality over and above implementing structural reforms, such seeing that hall restructuring likewise realize the private sector, would important steps in this direction. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 4.3% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 8.175 million (2008 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 15.2% (2008 est.) Labor Force 25% (2008) Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 9% (31 December 2009) Central Bank Discount Rate $26.1 millions (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $5.415 billions (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $NA Stock Of Quasi Money $2 abundance (31 July 2009 est.) Stock Of Domestic Credit wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, architecture materials, repairs processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing Agriculture - Products 3.1% (2009 est.) Industries 46.39 heaps kWh (2009 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 52 plenty kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Consumption 5.6 large number kWh (2009 est.) Electricity Exports 2.42 million bbl/day (2009 est.) Electricity Imports 500,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) Oil Production 1.91 million bbl/day (2009 est.) Oil Consumption 116,900 bbl/day (2009 est.) Oil Exports 113.5 abundance bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 1.88 masses cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 9.454 scads cu m Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$19.9 millions (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $40.86 large number (2009 est.) Current Account Balance crude oil 84%, graceless materials preclude fuels, sustenance still live animals Exports US 38.6%, India 12.2%, Italy 9.8%, South Korea 7.1% (2008) Exports Commodities $55.4 piles (2009 est.) Exports Partners food, medicine, manufactures Imports Syria 26.2%, Turkey 19.6%, US 10.6%, Jordan 6.4%, China 6% (2008) Imports Commodities $44.38 abundance (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $50.29 heaps (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations 55 (station proportion types NA) (2009) Television Broadcast Stations 28 (2009) Internet Country Code .iq Airports 104 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18-49 years of boyhood encourage voluntary military service (2008)