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Facts about Iran
(Persia) | |
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Background:
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Known as Persia until 1935, Iran
became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling shah was
forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a
theocratic system of government with ultimate political
authority vested in a learned religious scholar. A group of
Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November
1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran
fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq over disputed
territory. Over the past decade, popular dissatisfaction with
the government, driven by demographic changes, restrictive
social policies, and poor economic conditions, has created a
powerful and enduring pressure for political reform. |
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Gulf
of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq
and Pakistan |
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Geographic coordinates:
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32 00 N, 53 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total:
1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Alaska
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Land boundaries:
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total:
5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,
Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km,
Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan
992 km |
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Coastline:
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2,440 km; note - Iran also
borders the Caspian Sea (740 km) |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone:
24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median
lines in the Persian Gulf |
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Climate:
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mostly arid or semiarid,
subtropical along Caspian coast |
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Terrain:
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rugged, mountainous rim; high,
central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous
plains along both coasts |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, coal,
chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
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Land use:
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arable land:
10.17%
permanent crops: 1.16%
other: 88.67% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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75,620 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts, floods; dust
storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in
the northeast |
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Environment - current issues:
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air pollution, especially in
urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and
industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing;
desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland
losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate
supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and
industrial waste; urbanization |
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Environment - international
agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification,
Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on the Persian
Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways
for crude oil transport |
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Population:
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68,278,826 (July 2003 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
29.3% (male 10,279,588; female 9,727,668)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 22,916,431; female 22,095,124)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 1,625,113; female
1,634,902) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
22.9 years
male: 22.7 years
female: 23.2 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.08% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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17.23 births/1,000 population
(2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.54 deaths/1,000 population
(2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
44.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 44.31 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
69.35 years
male: 68.04 years
female: 70.73 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.99 children born/woman (2003
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence
rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with
HIV/AIDS:
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20,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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290 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki
and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%,
Turkmen 2%, other 1% |
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Religions:
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Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim
10%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%
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Languages:
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Persian and Persian dialects 58%,
Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi
1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2% |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 85.6%
female: 73% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran |
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Government type:
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theocratic republic |
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Capital:
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Tehran |
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Administrative divisions:
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28 provinces (ostanha, singular -
ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi,
Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan,
Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah,
Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan,
Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va
Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan |
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Independence:
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1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of
Iran proclaimed) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
note: additional holidays celebrated widely in Iran
include Revolution Day, 11 February (1979); Noruz (New Year's
Day), 21 March; Constitutional Monarchy Day, 5 August (1925)
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Constitution:
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2-3 December 1979; revised 1989
to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime
ministership |
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Legal system:
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the Constitution codifies Islamic
principles of government |
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Suffrage:
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15 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June
1989)
elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed
for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by
popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 8 June
2001 (next to be held June 2005)
election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani
reelected president; percent of vote - (Ali) Mohammad
KHATAMI-Ardakani 77%
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control
over appointments to the more sensitive ministries
head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad
KHATAMI-Ardakani (since 3 August 1997); First Vice President
Dr. Mohammad Reza AREF-YAZDI (since 26 August 2001)
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Islamic Consultative
Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note -
changed from 270 seats with the 18 February 2000 election;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 February 2000 with a runoff
held 5 May 2000 (next to be held February 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party
- reformers 189, conservatives 54, independents 42, seats
reserved for religious minorities 5 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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a loose pro-reform coalition
called the 2nd Khordad front achieved considerable success at
elections to the sixth Majles in early 2000, and groups in the
coalition include: Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF);
Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran); Solidarity
Party; Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO);
and Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); a new apparently
conservative group, the Builders of Islamic Iran, emerged at
the local level in early 2003 |
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Political pressure groups and
leaders:
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active pro-reform student groups
include the "Organization for Strengthening Unity"; groups
that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e
Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam,
Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat), Islamic
Coalition Association, and Islamic Engineers Society;
opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, the
National Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various Monarchist
organizations; armed political groups that have been almost
completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e
Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party
of Iranian Kurdistan, and Komala |
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International organization
participation:
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CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
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Diplomatic representation in
the US:
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none; note - Iran has an
Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian
Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990
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Diplomatic representation from
the US:
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none; note - protecting power in
Iran is Switzerland |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of
green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized
representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a
symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band;
ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated
11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times
along the top edge of the red band |
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Economy - overview:
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Iran's economy is a mixture of
central planning, state ownership of oil and other large
enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private
trading and service ventures. President KHATAMI has continued
to follow the market reform plans of former President
RAFSANJANI and has indicated that he will pursue
diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy although he has
made little progress toward that goal. Relatively high oil
prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass some $15
billion in foreign exchange reserves, but have not solved
Iran's structural economic problems, including high
unemployment and inflation. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $456
billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6.5% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $7,000
(2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
19%
industry: 26%
services: 55% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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40% (2002 est.) |
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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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15.3% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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21 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (1998) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 30%, industry 25%,
services 45% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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16.3% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$29.5 billion
expenditures: $31.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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petroleum, petrochemicals,
textiles, cement and other construction materials, food
processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil
production), metal fabricating, armaments |
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Industrial production growth
rate:
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5.5% excluding oil (2001 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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124.6 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by
source:
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fossil fuel:
97.1%
hydro: 2.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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115.9 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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3.804 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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1.277 million 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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94.39 billion bbl (January 2002
est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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24.8 trillion cu m (January 2002
est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, rice, other grains, sugar
beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
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Exports:
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$24.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits
and nuts, iron and steel, chemicals |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 25%, China 12%, Italy 10%,
South Korea 10%, Greece 5% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$21.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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industrial raw materials and
intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other
consumer goods, technical services, military supplies
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 13%, Italy 10%, France
8%, China 7%, South Korea 7% (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$8.7 billion (2002 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$408 million (2002 est.)
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Currency:
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Iranian rial (IRR) |
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Currency code:
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IRR |
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Exchange rates:
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rials per US dollar 6,906.96
(2002), 1,753.56 (2001), 1,764.43 (2000), 1,752.93 (1999),
1,751.86 (1998)
note: from 1997 to 2001, Iran had a multi-exchange-rate
system; one of these rates, the official floating exchange
rate, by which most essential goods were imported, averaged
1,750 rials per US dollar; in March 2002, the
multi-exchange-rate system was converged into one rate at
about 7,900 rials per US dollar |
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Fiscal year:
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21 March - 20 March |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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6.313 million (1997) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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265,000 (August 1998)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
inadequate but currently being modernized and expanded with
the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing
the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone
service to several thousand villages, not presently connected
domestic: as a result of heavy investing in the
telephone system since 1994, the number of long-distance
channels in the microwave radio relay trunk has grown
substantially; many villages have been brought into the net;
the number of main lines in the urban systems has
approximately doubled; and thousands of mobile cellular
subscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of
the system has been raised by the installation of thousands of
digital switches
international: HF radio and microwave radio relay to
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan,
Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine
fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link
Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic
line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran
to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan;
satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)
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Radios:
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17 million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters)
(1997) |
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Televisions:
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4.61 million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ir |
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Internet Service Providers
(ISPs):
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100 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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1.326 million (2002 est.)
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Railways:
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total:
7,201 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,107 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km
electrified) (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
140,200 km
paved: 49,440 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 90,760 km (1998 est.) |
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Waterways:
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904 km
note: the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by
maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to
3 m and is in use |
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum
products 3,900 km; natural gas 4,550 km |
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Ports and harbors:
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Abadan (largely destroyed in
fighting during 1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e
Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh,
Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar (Bandar
Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye
Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992),
Now Shahr |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
139 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,190,576 GRT/7,276,700 DWT
ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 34, chemical tanker 4,
container 10, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large-load
carrier 6, petroleum tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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309 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
122
over 3,047 m: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 |
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Airports - with unpaved
runways:
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total:
187
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
under 914 m: 39 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 138 |
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Heliports:
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13 (2002) |
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Military branches:
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Islamic Republic of Iran regular
forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air
Defense Command), Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)
(includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Qods [special
operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army] forces),
Law Enforcement Forces |
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Military manpower - military
age:
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21 years of age (2003 est.)
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Military manpower -
availability:
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males age 15-49:
20,343,063 (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for
military service:
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males age 15-49:
12,094,551 (2003 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching
military age annually:
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males:
870,711 (2003 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar
figure:
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$9.7 billion (FY00) |
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Military expenditures - percent
of GDP:
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3.1% (FY00) |
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Transnational Issues |
Iran |
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Disputes - international:
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Iran protests Afghanistan's
limiting flow of dammed waters on Helmand River tributaries in
response to prolonged drought in region; thousands of Afghan
refugees still reside in Iran; despite restored diplomatic
relations in 1990, disputes with Iraq over maritime and land
boundaries, navigation channel, and other issues from
eight-year war persist; UAE engage direct talks and Arab
League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of
Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island; Iran insists on division of
the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors, while other littoral
states have generally agreed to equidistant seabed boundaries
- Iran has threatened Azerbaijanian hydrocarbon exploration in
disputed waters |
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Illicit drugs:
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despite substantial interdiction
efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest
Asian heroin to Europe; domestic narcotics consumption remains
a persistent problem and Iranian press reports estimate at
least 2 million drug users in the country |
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This
page was last updated on 12 August,
2003 |
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