Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Iraq (2008) - French Polynesia (2001)

Compare Iraq (2008) z French Polynesia (2001)

 Iraq (2008)French Polynesia (2001)
 IraqFrench Polynesia
Administrative divisions 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 none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent

note:
Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Age structure 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.)
0-14 years:
29.74% (male 38,473; female 36,925)

15-64 years:
65.17% (male 86,128; female 79,076)

65 years and over:
5.09% (male 6,481; female 6,423) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products
Airports 110 (2007) 45 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways 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)
total:
32

over 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
19

under 914 m:
6 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways 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)
total:
13

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
Area total: 437,072 sq km


land: 432,162 sq km


water: 4,910 sq km
total:
4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)

land:
3,660 sq km

water:
507 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Idaho slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Background 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. The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
Birth rate 31.44 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 18.6 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $42.3 billion


expenditures: $48.4 billion (FY08 est.)
revenues:
$1 billion

expenditures:
$900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
Capital 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
Papeete
Climate 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 tropical, but moderate
Coastline 58 km 2,525 km
Constitution ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum ) 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Iraq


conventional short form: Iraq


local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al-Iraqiyah


local short form: Al Iraq
conventional long form:
Territory of French Polynesia

conventional short form:
French Polynesia

local long form:
Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise

local short form:
Polynesie Francaise

former:
French Colony of Oceania
Currency - Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Death rate 5.26 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $56.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.) $NA
Dependency status - overseas territory of France since 1946
Diplomatic representation from the US 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
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
none (overseas territory of France)
Disputes - international 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 none
Economic aid - recipient $21.65 billion $13.5 billion pledged in foreign aid for 2004-07 from outside of the US, over $33 billion pledged total (2005) $367 million (1997)
Economy - overview 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. Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs.
Electricity - consumption 35.84 billion kWh (2007 est.) 399.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2007) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 2.315 billion kWh (2007 est.) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 33.53 billion kWh (2007 est.) 430 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
51.16%

hydro:
48.84%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes 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
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Environment - current issues 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 NA
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
-
Ethnic groups Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5% Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Exchange rates New Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 1,255 (2007), 1,466 (2006), 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half, 2003) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 127.11 (January 2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996); note - pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Executive branch 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
chief of state:
President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994)

head of government:
President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers

elections:
French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
Exports 1.67 million bbl/day (2007 est.) $205 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live animals 5% cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997)
Exports - partners US 46.7%, Italy 10.7%, Spain 6.2%, Canada 6.2% (2006) Japan 62%, US 21% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description 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 two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 5%


industry: 68%


services: 27% (2006 est.)
agriculture:
4%

industry:
18%

services:
78% (1997)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2007 est.) 2.5% (1997 est.)
Geographic coordinates 33 00 N, 44 00 E 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Geography - note strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
Heliports 17 (2007) -
Highways - total:
792 km

paved:
264 km

unpaved:
528 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports NA $749 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities food, medicine, manufactures fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
Imports - partners Syria 26.5%, Turkey 20.5%, US 11.8%, Jordan 7.2% (2006) France 53%, US 13%, Australia 10% (1999)
Independence 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 none (overseas territory of France)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (2007 est.) NA%
Industries petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 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.)
9.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.7% (2007 est.) 1.5% (1994)
International organization participation 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) ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 35,250 sq km (2003) NA sq km
Judicial branch 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 Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Labor force 7.4 million (2004 est.) 70,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Land boundaries 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
0 km
Land use arable land: 13.12%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 86.27% (2005)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
6%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
31%

other:
57% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian French (official), Tahitian (official)
Legal system based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on French system
Legislative branch 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
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4

note:
one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.31 years


male: 68.04 years


female: 70.65 years (2007 est.)
total population:
75.01 years

male:
72.67 years

female:
77.46 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 74.1%


male: 84.1%


female: 64.2% (2000 est.)
definition:
age 14 and over can read and write

total population:
98%

male:
98%

female:
98% (1977 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Map references Middle East Oceania
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,796 GRT/101,317 DWT


by type: cargo 11, petroleum tanker 2 (2007)
total:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches 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) French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 8.6% (2006) -
National holiday 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 Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: Iraqi(s)


adjective: Iraqi
noun:
French Polynesian(s)

adjective:
French Polynesian
Natural hazards dust storms, sandstorms, floods occasional cyclonic storms in January
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 3.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines gas 2,250 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,509 km; refined products 1,637 km (2007) -
Political parties and leaders 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
Centrist Union or UC [leader NA]; Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]
Political pressure groups and leaders 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 NA
Population 27,499,638 (July 2007 est.) 253,506 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.618% (2007 est.) 1.72% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Radio broadcast stations after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations (types NA) on the air inside Iraq (2004) AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios - 128,000 (1997)
Railways total: 2,272 km


standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
0 km
Religions Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Sex ratio 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.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.09 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.01 male(s)/female

total population:
1.07 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system 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)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 1.547 million (2005) 52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 10.9 million (2007) 5,427 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 21 (2004) 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Total fertility rate 4.07 children born/woman (2007 est.) 2.23 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 18% to 30% (2006 est.) 15% (1992 est.)
Waterways 5,279 km


note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2006)
none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.