Republic of Iraq is located in the Middle East of the Asian Continent, with a population of 31,129,225, making it the 39th
largest national population. Its capital and largest city is Baghdad with a total population of 7,216,040. The country
encompasses 437,317 square kilometers making it the 59th largest country in total area. It shares boundaries with Turkey,
Iran, Persian Gulf, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria.
President Jalal Talabani is recognized as the Chief of State and along with Vice Presidents Tariq al-Hashimi and Khudayr
Musa Jafar Abbas al-Khuzai, achieves that status by securing a ¾ majority vote through election of the National Assembly
and holds that position for four years and selects his vice presidents from the other two major ethnic groups. Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki is recognized as the Head of Government, and along with Deputy Prime Ministers Rowsch Nuri
Shaways, Husayn Ibrahim Salih al-Shahristrani and Salih al-Mutlaq achieves that status as leader of the majority party in the
National Assembly and holds that position for four years and selects his Deputy Prime Ministers from the two other major
ethnic groups. Its form of government is a parliamentary democracy and they celebrate the creation of their constitution on
15 October 2005.
The languages commonly or officially spoken are Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian and Armenian. It counts among its major
religions Muslim, Christian and other faiths. As sources of mass communication it has 80 radio stations and 21 Television
stations.
Major geographical features are unnamed peak (though called Cheekha Dar by the local Kurds)in the Zagros Mountains, its
highest point at 3,611 meters and the Persian Gulf, its lowest point at 0 meters. Its principal waterways are the Euphrates
River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) which measure 5279 meters.
Major industries providing for the bulk of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather,
construction materials, food processing, fertilizer and metal fabrication/processing. Its official currency is New Iraqi Dinar.
Here’s something you may not know about Iraq. Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain
during the course of World War I. The area was formerly known as Mesopotamia.
Ancient site of Ali Ibn Talib Masque, Al Basrah, Iraq
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Downtown Baghdad- Iraq's capital and largest city
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Basrah, Iraq with Saddam's sunken yacht
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Halgurd Mountain in the Zagros Mountains- Iraq's highest point
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Shrine of Husyan Bni Ali in Karbala
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IRAQ
Updated 02 January 2013
Adult Prevalence Rate:
People Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS Deaths:
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less then 0.1%
less then 500
N/A (2003 est.)
Al Faw Peninsula- the easternmost point of Iraq on the border with Iran
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De-militarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait
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Dura Abukamal on Iraq's border with Syria
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Great Zab River- Iraq's northernmost point on the border with Turkey
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Kurdish women in traditional dress
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Lake Dokan in Kurdish Iraq
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Zakho on Iraq's border with Turkey
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Shat Al Arab in Iraq's Port of Basra
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Iraq's southernmost point looking towards Ar Ruq, Saudi Arabia
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Tepsi Baytinijan- an Iraqi meat and vegetable casserole
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Tirbil- Iraq's westernmost point on the border with Jordan
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Umm Qasr on the Persian Gulf- Iraq's lowest point
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Read about human rights in Pax
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