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This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008


Map of Iraq



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Iraq Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 military 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. Coalition forces remain in Iraq under a UNSC mandate, helping to provide security and to support the freely elected government. The Coalition Provisional Authority, which temporarily administered Iraq after the invasion, transferred full governmental authority on 28 June 2004 to the Iraqi Interim Government, which governed under the Transitional Administrative Law for Iraq (TAL). Under the TAL, elections for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were held in Iraq on 30 January 2005. Following these elections, the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) assumed office. The TNA was charged with drafting Iraq's permanent constitution, which was approved in a 15 October 2005 constitutional referendum. An election under the constitution for a 275-member Council of Representatives (CoR) was held on 15 December 2005. The CoR approval in the selection of most of the cabinet ministers on 20 May 2006 marked the transition from the ITG to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half-century.
   Geography    Iraq Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 437,072 sq km
land: 432,162 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3,650 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
58 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 13.12%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 86.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
35,250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
96.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 42.7 cu km/yr (3%/5%/92%)
per capita: 1,482 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
dust storms, sandstorms, floods
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
government water control projects have 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:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf
   People    Iraq Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27,499,638 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 39.4% (male 5,509,736/female 5,338,722)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 8,018,841/female 7,812,611)
65 years and over: 3% (male 386,321/female 433,407) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 20 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 20 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.618% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
31.44 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.26 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.032 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.026 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.891 male(s)/female
total population: 1.024 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 47.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 69.31 years
male: 68.04 years
female: 70.65 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.07 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.1%
male: 84.1%
female: 64.2% (2000 est.)
   Government    Iraq Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al-Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 23 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 1 October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 region*; Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Kurdistan Regional Government*, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
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-controlled Government
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was celebrated under the SADDAM Husayn regime; the Government of Iraq has yet to declare a new national holiday
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum )
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Vice Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22 April 2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the Presidency Council)
head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Barham SALIH (since 20 May 2006); second deputy prime minister positon vacant
cabinet: 34 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI, and Deputy Prime Minister Barham SALIH; second deputy prime minister position vacant
elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
Council of Representatives (consisting of 275 members elected by a closed-list, proportional representation system)
elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of Representatives; the Council of Representatives elected the Presidency Council and approved the prime minister and two deputy prime ministers
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Unified Iraqi Alliance 41%, Kurdistan Alliance 22%, Tawafuq Coalition 15%, Iraqi National List 8%, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 4%, other 10%; number of seats by party (as of November 2007) - Unified Iraqi Alliance (including the Sadrist bloc with 30 and Fadilah with 15) 130, Kurdistan Alliance 53, Tawafuq Front 44, Iraqi National List 25, Fadilah 15, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 11, other 12
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
the Iraq Constitution calls for the federal judicial power to be comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Federal Supreme Court, Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in accordance with the law
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI]; General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid MAJEED]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Abd al-Aziz al-HAKIM]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Kurdistan Islamic Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN]; National Reconciliation and Liberation Party [Mishan al-JABBURI]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR] (not an organized political party, but it fields independent candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmed al-RISAWHI]
note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq Front, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
an insurgency against the Government of Iraq and Coalition forces is primarily concentrated in Baghdad and in areas north, northeast, and west of the capital; the diverse, multigroup insurgency consists principally of Sunni Arabs with a shared desire to oust the Coalition, end US influence in Iraq, and reassert Sunni Arab dominance; a number of predominantly Shia militias, some associated with political parties, challenge governmental authority in Baghdad and southern Iraq
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500 (Consular section)
FAX: [1] (202) 333-1129
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 1-240-553-0589 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular Section
FAX: NA
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; 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; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors; Council of Representatives approved this flag as a compromise temporary replacement for Ba'athist Saddam-era flag
   Economy    Iraq Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Although looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined economy rebuilding efforts, economic activity is beginning to pick up in areas recently secured by the US military surge. Oil exports are around levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom, and total government revenues have benefited from high oil prices. Despite political uncertainty, Iraq is making some progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy and has negotiated a debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club and a new Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF. The International Compact with Iraq was established in May 2007 to integrate Iraq into the regional and global economy, and the Iraqi government is seeking to pass laws to strengthen its economy. This legislation includes a hydrocarbon law to establish a modern legal framework to allow Iraq to develop its resources and a revenue sharing law to equitably divide oil revenues within the nation, although both are still bogged down in discussions. The Central Bank has been successful in controlling inflation through appreciation of the dinar against the US dollar. Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, will be key to Iraq's economic success.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$100 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$55.44 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3,600 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 5%
industry: 68%
services: 27% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.4 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18% to 30% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.7% (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $42.3 billion
expenditures: $48.4 billion (FY08 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33.53 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
35.84 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
2.315 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.11 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
295,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.67 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
115 billion bbl (1 January 2007 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.5 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
980 million cu m
note: 1.48 billion cu m were flared (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.17 trillion cu m (1 January 2007 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7.802 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$34.04 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5%
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 46.7%, Italy 10.7%, Spain 6.2%, Canada 6.2% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$23.09 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
food, medicine, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Syria 26.5%, Turkey 20.5%, US 11.8%, Jordan 7.2% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$21.65 billion $13.5 billion pledged in foreign aid for 2004-07 from outside of the US, over $33 billion pledged total (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$21.26 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$56.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
New Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Iraq Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.547 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.9 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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 has expanded rapidly with an estimated 10.9 million current users
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 continue; additional switching capacity is improving access; cellular service is available and centered on 3 GSM networks which are being expanded beyond their regional roots, improving country-wide connectivity; wireless local loop licences have been issued with the hope of overcoming the lack of fixed-line infrastructure
international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 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; planned international fiber-optic connections to Iran (terrestrial) with a link to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine fiber-optic cable (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations (types NA) on the air inside Iraq (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
21 (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.iq
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
36,000 (2004)
   Transportation    Iraq Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
110 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 76
over 3,047 m: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 34
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
17 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 2,250 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,509 km; refined products 1,637 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,272 km
standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 45,550 km
paved: 38,399 km
unpaved: 7,151 km (1999)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,279 km
note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2006)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,796 GRT/101,317 DWT
by type: cargo 11, petroleum tanker 2 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr
   Military    Iraq Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18-40 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 5,870,640
females age 18-49: 5,642,073 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 4,930,074
females age 18-49: 4,771,105 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 198,518
females age 18-49: 289,879 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.6% (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Iraq Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring internal and cross-border security; approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan, and lesser numbers to Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Turkey; 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:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 15,000 (Palestinian Territories), 11,960 (Iran), 16,110 (Turkey)
IDPs: 1.9 million (ongoing US-led war and Kurds' subsequent return) (2007)

This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008


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