Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom 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 Muslim from Baghdad, to win legislative approval of his new cabinet in September 2014. Since 2014, 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.

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

33 00 N, 44 00 E

Middle East

slightly more than three times the size of New York state

58 km

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

mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

arable land 8.4%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.2%

35,250 sq km (2012)

population is concentrated in the north, center, and eastern parts of the country, with many of the larger agglomerations found along extensive parts of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; much of the western and southern areas are either lightly populated or uninhabited

dust storms; sandstorms; floods

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

strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

38,146,025 (July 2016 est.)

Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, other 5%

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

Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian 0.8%, Hindu <0.1, Buddhist <0.1, Jewish <0.1, folk religion <0.1, unafilliated 0.1, other <0.1

2.87% (2016 est.)

30.9 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

population is concentrated in the north, center, and eastern parts of the country, with many of the larger agglomerations found along extensive parts of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; much of the western and southern areas are either lightly populated or uninhabited

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)

50 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

4.06 children born/woman (2016 est.)

52.5% (2011)

5.5% of GDP (2014)

0.61 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 93.8% of population

rural: 70.1% of population

total: 86.6% of population

urban: 6.1% of population

rural: 31.5% of population

total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 86.4% of population

rural: 83.8% of population

total: 85.6% of population

urban: 13.6% of population

rural: 16.2% of population

total: 14.4% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

21.2% (2014)

8.5% (2011)

NA

federal parliamentary republic

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

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

Republic Day, July 14 (1958); note - the Government of Iraq has yet to declare an official national holiday but still observes Republic Day

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 (2016)

mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

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 [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]

Unites for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun [Vice President Usama al-NUJAYFI]

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

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)

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

golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black

During 2015, worsening security and financial stability throughout Iraq - driven by an ongoing insurgency, decreasing oil prices, and political upheaval - decreased 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 a rebound in global oil prices, the central government passing major policy reforms, and finishing the conflict with ISIL.

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 2015 averaged 3.0 million barrels per day, up from 2014, but a failed revenue- and oil-sharing agreement with the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's (IKR) autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) resulted in a loss of exports from northern oil fields. Moreover, falling global oil prices resulted in declining export revenues. 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 IKR's autonomous 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 2014, the federal government and the KRG agreed to sell oil exports from Kurdish-controlled oilfields 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. However, that deal fell apart in 2015.

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.

$544.1 billion (2015 est.)

$531.4 billion (2014 est.)

$542.9 billion (2013 est.)

$169.5 billion (2015 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)

-2.1% (2014 est.)

6.6% (2013 est.)

$15,500 (2015 est.)

$15,500 (2014 est.)

$16,200 (2013 est.)

15% of GDP (2015 est.)

11.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

10% of GDP (2013 est.)

wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

10.8% (2015 est.)

8.9 million (2010 est.)

16% (2012 est.)

15% (2010 est.)

25% (2008 est.)

37.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

-15.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

1.4% (2015 est.)

2.2% (2014 est.)

6% (December 2012)

6% (December 2011)

6% (31 December 2015 est.)

6% (31 December 2014 est.)

$55.36 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$62.34 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$80.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$78.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.773 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$-718,800 (31 December 2014 est.)

$4 billion (9 December 2011)

$2.6 billion (31 July 2010)

$2 billion (31 July 2009 est.)

-$10.82 billion (2015 est.)

-$1.732 billion (2014 est.)

$54.67 billion (2015 est.)

$83.98 billion (2014 est.)

crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food, live animals

China 22.6%, India 21.1%, South Korea 11.2%, US 7.8%, Italy 6.7%, Greece 6% (2015)

$43.84 billion (2015 est.)

$45.2 billion (2014 est.)

food, medicine, manufactures

Turkey 20.7%, Syria 19.6%, China 19.2%, US 4.8%, Russia 4.4% (2015)

$54.06 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$66.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$60.28 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$58.14 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -

1,167.6 (2015 est.)

1,166 (2014 est.)

1,213.72 (2013 est.)

1,166.17 (2012 est.)

1,170 (2011 est.)

64 billion kWh (2014 est.)

42 billion kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

12 billion kWh (2014 est.)

19 million kW (2014 est.)

92% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

7.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

4.054 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

2.462 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

143 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

599,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

807,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

10,240 bbl/day (2013 est.)

256,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

905 million cu m (2014 est.)

905 million cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

3.158 trillion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

137 million Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.iq

YI (2016)

102 (2013)

16 (2013)

gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1,637 km (2013)

5,279 km (the Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) (2012)

Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army (includes Army Aviation Directorate), Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force; Counterterrorism Service (2015)

18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)

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)

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