An Iran/Iraq Comparison
By Jill Konieczko
Posted 1/18/07
Compiled by the U.S. News library staff
| Country Name | IRAN | IRAQ |
|---|---|---|
| conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran local short form: Iran former: Persia |
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq |
|
| Total Area | 1.648 million sq km | 437,072 sq km |
| Land | 1.636 million sq km | 432,162 sq km |
| Water | 12,000 sq km | 4,910 sq km |
| Comparatively sized | slightly larger than Alaska | slightly more than twice the size of Idaho |
| Bordering countries include | Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan | Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey |
| Coastline | Caspian Sea | Persian Gulf |
| Terraine | rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts | mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey |
| Total population | 68,688,433 (July 2006 est.) | 26,783,383 (July 2006 est.) |
| Population breakdown | 0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,204,785/female 8,731,429) 15-64 years: 69% (male 24,133,919/female 23,245,255) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 1,653,827/female 1,719,218) (2006 est.) |
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 5,398,645/female 5,231,760) 15-64 years: 57.3% (male 7,776,257/female 7,576,726) 65 years and over: 3% (male 376,700/female 423,295) (2006 est.) |
| Median age (total) | total: 24.8 years | total: 19.7 years |
| Median age (male) | 24.6 years | 19.6 years |
| Median age (female) | 25 years (2006 est.) | 19.8 years (2006 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1% | Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% |
| Religious affiliations | Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2% | Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% |
| Languages | Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2% | Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian |
| Religious affiliations | Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2% | Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% |
| Government type | theocratic republic | transitional democracy |
| Economy Summary | Iran's economy is largely dictated by statist policies and directives, hindering its ability to relieve economic hardships such as extremely high unemployment and inflation. Dependent on the oil industry, Iran has recently generated $40 billion in foreign exchange reserves, derived from recent high oil prices. Private-sector activities are limited in fields such as small-scale farming and services. | Traditionally, Iraq's economic has been overwhelmingly dependent on its oil industry, which has accounted for 95% of its foreign exchange reserves. After the 2003 invasion by U.S. and coalition forces, the ensuing instability -- including insurgent attacks on key economic facilities, especially oil pipelines and infrastructure -- has prevented Iraq from reaching anticipated export volumes, but total government revenue has been higher than expected because of high oil prices. |
| Unemployment rate | 11.2% (2004 est.) | 25 to 30% (2005 est.) |
| Key industries | petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments | petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing |
| Agricultural products | wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool, caviar | wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry |
| Oil production | 3.979 million bbl/day (2005 est.) | 2.093 million bbl/day; note - prewar production (in 2002) was 2.03 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil consumption | 1.425 million bbl/day (2003 est.) | 351,500 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Oil exports | 2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.) | 1.42 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas production | 79 billion cu m (2003 est.) | 1.5 billion cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas consumption | 79 billion cu m (2003 est.) | 1.5 billion cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas exports | 3.4 billion cu m (2003 est.) | 0 cu m (2004 est.) |
| Natural gas reserves | 26.62 trillion cu m (2005) | 3.115 trillion cu m (2005) |
| Export partners | Japan 16.6%, China 11%, Italy 5.8%, South Korea 5.7%, South Africa 5.7%, Turkey 5.6%, Netherlands 4.5%, France 4.3% (2005) | US 49.3%, Italy 10.3%, Spain 6.2%, Canada 5.6% (2005) |
| Import partners | Germany 13.8%, UAE 8.3%, China 8.3%, Italy 7%, France 6.2%, South Korea 5.4%, Russia 4.8% (2005) | Turkey 23.2%, Syria 23%, US 11.6%, Jordan 5.1% (2005) |
| Available military manpower | males age 18-49: 18,319,545 females age 18-49: 17,541,037 (2005 est.) |
males age 18-49: 5,870,640 females age 18-49: 5,642,073 (2005 est.) |
| Military service obligations | 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited extensively during the Iran-Iraq War; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004) | volunteer military service |
| Military expenditures | 3.3% (2003 est.) | no data |
| Nuclear armaments | 26.62 trillion cu m (2005) | 3.115 trillion cu m (2005) |
| Natural gas reserves | Iran's current nuclear program includes several research facilities, a nuclear reactor, and uranium processing facilities and capabilities. In December 2006, the U.N. Security Council voted to impose sanctions against Iran for its refusal to cease its uranium enrichment program. With the passage of Resolution 1737 (Article 41), U.N. members are directed to "prevent the supply, sale or transfer ... of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems." | Throughout the 1990s, the International Atomic Energy Agency investigated Iraq's efforts toward nuclear armament, with activites from mining to production. The U.N. consequently imposed economic sanctions against Iraq for its continued programs towards nuclear arms. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq by U.S. and coalition forces, the IAEA suspended its investigations of Iraq's nuclear armament productions but continues to monitor conditions persuant to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. |
Sources:
CIA World Fact Book
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Associated Press
BBC