General background: Formerly part of the Ottoman
Empire, Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932.
A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in
actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled
the country since then, the latest being 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 during the past 12 years resulted in the
US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster
of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain
in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure
and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected
government.
Area comparative: Slightly
more than twice the size of Idaho
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.
Terrain: Mostly broad
plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south
with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with
Iran and Turkey .
Population: 24,001,816 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%,
Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni
32%-37%), Christian or other 3%
Language: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish
regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Government type: In transition following April
2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition.
Capital: Baghdad
Legal system: In transition following April
2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition
Economic overview: Iraq's economy is dominated
by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided
about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s
financial problems caused by massive expenditures
in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil
export facilities by Iran led the government to implement
austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule
foreign debt payments; Iraq suffered economic losses
from the war of at least $100 billion. After hostilities
ended in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with
the construction of new pipelines and restoration
of damaged facilities. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in
August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions,
and damage from military action by an international
coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced
economic activity. Although government policies supporting
large military and internal security forces and allocating
resources to key supporters of the regime have hurt
the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food
program beginning in December 1996 helped improve
conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was
allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange
for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare
parts. In December 1999 the UN Security Council authorized
Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required
to meet humanitarian needs. Oil exports have recently
been more than three-quarters prewar level. However,
28% of Iraq's export revenue under the program have
been deducted to meet UN Compensation Fund and UN
administrative expenses. The drop in GDP in 2001-02
was largely the result of the global economic slowdown
and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports increased
significantly, while medical supplies and health care
services steadily improved. Per capita output and
living standards were still well below the prewar
level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.
The military victory of the US-led coalition March-April
2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central
economic administrative structure and the loss of
a comparatively small amount of capital plant.
Communication/Telephone system: An unknown
number of telecommunication facilities were damaged
during the March-April 2003 war
Places of interest:
Travel tips: The almost constant threat of
military action by the United States (sometimes even
with UN support), combined with a turbulent and extreme
domestic situation, makes Iraq one of the most dangerous
places in the world to be at the moment.
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