Iraq - Republic of Iraq Observer
Republic of Iraq has arid desert land to the west of the Euphrates, a broad and fertile central valley between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and mountains in the northeast.
Iraq is bounded on the east by Iran, on the north by Turkey, on the west by Syria and Jordan, and in the south by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Two-thirds of the Iraqi economy is powered by oil production. Existing oil fields are widely dispersed throughout fields in the south of the country, amounting to one of the largest reserves in the world.
Iraq has significant gas reserves, usually found in conjunction with oil. Significant amount of these remains untapped but could be exported or used to provide a significant and sustainable energy source for electricity production with the view to drive the domestic manufacturing industry.
Apart from hydrocarbons, Iraq’s other natural resources include phosphates, and sulphur. Agriculture has historically been of a great economic importance for Iraq. Farm management, animal husbandry, and pasture improvement, with livestock including cattle, sheep, goats and poultry, are important industries.
Iraq is a founding member of the UN, OPEC and the Arab League.
Major Indicators
| Land (sq.km) | 435,050 |
| Population (inhabitants) | 41,179,351 |
| Capital | Baghdad |
| Continent | Middle East |
| Language(s) | Arabic (official), Kurdish |
| National currency | Iraqi Dinar |
| Time Zone | GMT+3 |
| Labor force (inhabitants) | 10,718,823 |
| GDP (current billion US$) | 207.89 |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | 5,048.39 |
| GDP growth (percentage) | 2.78 |
| Exports of Goods and Services (current billion US$) | 50.19 |
| Proven natural gas reserves (billion c.m.) | 3,714 |
| Natural gas marketed production (billion c.m.) | 9.59 |
| Domestic natural gas consumption (billion c.m.) | 19.32 |
