Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 61,087,521 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 35,804,125 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 2,268,638 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $959.7 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Indonesian sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province), which is not recognized by the UN, is the subject of discussions between the UN, Indonesia, and Portugal; two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin
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@Iran ——
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the PersianGulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 1.648 million sq kmland: 1.636 million sq kmwater: 12,000 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 5,440 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline: 2,440 kmnote: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: natural prolongationexclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines inthe Persian Gulfterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium,copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 27%forests and woodland: 7%other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 94,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
Environment—current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
People
Population: 65,179,752 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (male 11,963,438; female 11,447,191)15-64 years: 60% (male 19,549,935; female 19,276,784)65 years and over: 4% (male 1,561,877; female 1,380,527) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.71 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.76 years male: 68.43 years female: 71.16 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Iranian(s)adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki andMazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%,other 1%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian,Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%
Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkicdialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish1%, other 2%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 72.1%male: 78.4%female: 65.8% (1994 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iranconventional short form: Iranlocal long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iranlocal short form: Iran
Data code: IR
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: Tehran
Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular—ostan);Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, ChaharMahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va BuyerAhmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan vaBaluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjannote: there may be three new provinces named Golestan, Qom, andQazvin
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers ofthe presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles ofgovernment
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah AliHoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)head of government: President (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since3 August 1997); First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NAAugust 1989)cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president withlegislative approvalelections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life bythe Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for afour-year term; election last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NAMay 2001)election results: (Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani elected president;percent of vote—(Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 69%
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly orMajles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (270 seats; members elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms)elections: last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NAMarch 2000)election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: since President KHATAMI's electionin May 1997, several political parties have been licensed includingExecutives of Construction, Islamic Iran Solidarity Party, andIslamic Partnership Front; other important political groupings are:MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA]; Islamic
Political pressure groups and leaders: groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the Society for the Defense of Freedom
International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP,FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Iran has anInterests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by FariborzJAHANSUZAN; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,965-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—protectingpower in Iran is Switzerland
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
Economy
Economy—overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI and has indicated that he will pursue diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy although he has made little progress toward that goal. In the early 1990s, Iran experienced a financial crisis and was forced to reschedule $15 billion in debt. The strong oil market in 1996 helped ease financial pressures on Iran and allowed for Tehran's timely debt service payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997 and deteriorated further in 1998 because of lower oil prices. As a result Iran has begun to cut imports and fall into arrears on its debt payments.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$339.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -2.1% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: 53% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 15.4 millionnote: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%(1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: more than 30% (January 1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $34.6 billionexpenditures: $34.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.8billion (FY96/97)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity—production: 79.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 90.57% hydro: 9.43% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 79.5 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: petroleum 80%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, steel
Exports—partners: Japan, Italy, Greece, France, Spain, South Korea
Imports: $13.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products
Imports—partners: Germany, Italy, Japan, UAE, UK, Belgium
Debt—external: $21.9 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $116.5 million (1995)
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note—domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1—1,754.63 (January 1999), 1,751.86 (1998), 1,752.92 (1997), 1,750.76 (1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994); black market rate: 7,000 rials per US$1 (December 1998); note—as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750 rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services and for oil exports, whereas the "official export rate" of 3,000 rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered by the official rate
Fiscal year: 21 March—20 March
Communications
Telephones: 8,991,797 (1997 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: 25 regional telecommunications authorities created in1996; these authorities are responsible for implementing pagingservices and cellular systems; microwave radio relay extendsthroughout the country with the system centered in Tehran; system ismoving toward digitization and direct-dial capability; 255long-distance circuits (1999 est.); 366 telephone exchanges (1995est.); 204,400 microwave channels (1996 est.); 230,000 cellulartelephone subscribers (1997 est.); 3,930 pager subscribers (1995est.)international: 13,985 international circuits (1999 est.) with a planto reach 14,000 by March 1999; satellite earth stations—9 Intelsat(with 50 terminals) and 4 Inmarsat; HF radio and microwave radiorelay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan,Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-opticcable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe(FLAG); Trans Asia Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs fromAzerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan withexpansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; four Internet service providersas of 1997 with the number increasing (service limited to electronicmail to promote Iranian culture)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 72, FM 6, shortwave 5 (1998 est.)
Radios: 13 million (1999 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28 (in addition, there are 450 low-power repeaters, all government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: 7 million (1999 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 7,286 kmbroad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gaugestandard gauge: 7,192 km 1.435-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1996est.)
Highways:total: 162,000 kmpaved: 81,000 km (including 470 km of expressways)unpaved: 81,000 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use
Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km;natural gas 4,550 km
Ports and harbors: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr,Bandar-e Imam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-eTorkaman, Chabahar (Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-yeLavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation sinceNovember 1992), Now Shahr
Merchant marine:total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,238,293GRT/5,658,259 DWTships by type: bulk 46, cargo 35, chemical tanker 4, combinationbulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, multifunctionlarge-load carrier 6, oil tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 10, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 288 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 110over 3,047 m: 382,438 to 3,047 m: 181,524 to 2,437 m: 25914 to 1,523 m: 23under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 178over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 14914 to 1,523 m: 126under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 11 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces(includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces),Revolutionary Guards (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, andBasij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Military manpower—military age: 21 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 17,203,360 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 10,217,269 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 767,152 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $5.787 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran)—over which Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island; the UAE has garnered significant diplomatic support in the region in protesting these Iranian actions; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic consumption of narcotics remains a persistent problem and Iranian press reports estimate that there are at least 1.2 million drug users in the country
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@Iraq ——
Introduction
Background: Iraq lies in the lower part of the Tigris-Euphrates valley, the heart of one of the four great ancient civilizations. The area was overrun by Arab, Mongol, and Turkish conquerors and became a British mandate following World War I. Independence came in 1932. Iraq's pro-Western stance ended in 1958 with the overthrow of the monarchy. Its subsequent turbulent history has witnessed the dictatorship of SADDAM Husayn, civil war with the Kurds, a bloody conflict with neighboring Iran, and, in 1990, an invasion of Kuwait, swiftly turned back by a Western coalition led by the US. Noncooperation with UN Security Council resolution obligations and the UN's inspection of Iraq's nuclear, chemical, biological, and long-range missile weapons programs remain major problems.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 437,072 sq kmland: 432,162 sq kmwater: 4,910 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:total: 3,631 kmborder countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, SaudiArabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
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 borderin south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iranand Turkey
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 mhighest point: Gundah Zhur 3,608 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:arable land: 12%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 9%forests and woodland: 0%other: 79% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 25,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms, floods
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 Shi'a Muslims, who have 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 Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification
Environment—international agreements: party to: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
People
Population: 22,427,150 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (male 4,982,510; female 4,825,129)15-64 years: 53% (male 6,030,417; female 5,889,543)65 years and over: 3% (male 326,223; female 373,328) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.41 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.52 years male: 65.54 years female: 67.56 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.12 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Iraqi(s) adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrianor other 5%
Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christianor other 3%
Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 58%male: 70.7%female: 45% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Iraqconventional short form: Iraqlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyahlocal short form: Al Iraq
Data code: IZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Baghdad
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat,singular—muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah,An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk,Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandateunder British administration)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970(provisional Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but notadopted
Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); VicePresident Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); VicePresident Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991)head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since 29 May1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979);Deputy Prime Minister Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since NA May 1994); DeputyPrime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since NA May 1994)cabinet: Council of Ministersnote: there is also a Revolutionary Command Council; Chairman SADDAMHusayn, Vice Chairman Izzat IBRAHIM al-Durielections: president and vice presidents elected by a two-thirdsmajority of the Revolutionary Command Council; election last held 17October 1995 (next to be held NA 2002)election results: SADDAM Husayn reelected president; percent ofvote—99%; Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF and Taha Yasin RAMADAN electedvice presidents; percent of vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (250 seats; 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent the three northern provinces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah; 220 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 24 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Ba'th Party [SADDAM Husayn, central party leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders: any formal political activity must be sanctioned by the government; opposition to regime from Kurdish groups and southern Shi'a dissidents
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Iraq has anInterest Section in the Algerian Embassy headed by Dr. Khairi ALZUBAYDI; address: Iraqi Interests Section, Algerian Embassy, 2118
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—the US has anInterests Section in the Polish Embassy in Baghdad; address: P. O.
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script—Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star—was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: Iraq's economy has been 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 of at least $100 billion from the war. After the end of hostilities 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 embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity and increased prices. The Iraqi Government has been unwilling to abide by UN resolutions so that the economic embargo could be removed. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. The implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program in December 1996 has helped improve economic conditions. For the first three six-month phases of the program, Iraq was allowed to export $2 billion worth of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods. The UN allowed Iraq to export $5.2 billion of oil beginning with the fourth phase of the program in May 1998. At an average volume of 1.9 million barrels per day during the last half of 1998, oil exports are about three-quarters their prewar level. Per capita food imports have increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services are steadily improving. Per capita output and living standards are still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$52.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 10% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4.4 million (1989)
Labor force—by occupation: services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22% (1989)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 27.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.83% hydro: 2.17% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 27.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep
Exports: $5 billion (1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: crude oil
Exports—partners: Russia, France, China, Turkey (1998)
Imports: $3 billion (1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: food, medicine, manufactures
Imports—partners: Russia, France, Jordan, Australia, China (1998)
Debt—external: very heavy relative to GDP but the exact amount is unknown (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $327.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1—0.3109 (fixed official rate since 1982); black market rate—Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1—1,810 (December 1998), 1,530 (December 1997), 3,000 (December 1995); subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 632,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: reconstitution of damaged telecommunicationfacilities began after the Gulf war; most damaged facilities havebeen rebuiltdomestic: the network consists of coaxial cables and microwave radiorelay linksinternational: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Oceanand 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay toJordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probablynonoperational
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.7 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (government controlled) (1997)
Televisions: 1 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 2,032 km standard gauge: 2,032 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 47,400 km paved: 40,764 km unpaved: 6,636 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines: crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; naturalgas 1,360 km
Ports and harbors: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, and Al Basrah havelimited functionality
Merchant marine:total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 456,845 GRT/780,318 DWTships by type: cargo 14, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, passenger-cargo1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 109 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 77over 3,047 m: 202,438 to 3,047 m: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 32over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Republican Guard and Special RepublicanGuard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard Force,Internal Security Forces
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 5,459,998 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,058,098 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 259,915 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands although the government continues periodic rhetorical challenges; dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
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@Ireland ———-
Introduction
Background: Growing Irish nationalism resulted in independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, with six largely Protestant northern counties remaining within the UK. After World War II bloody strife between Catholics and Protestants over the status of Northern Ireland cost thousands of lives. In 1998, substantial steps toward peace were agreed to by the British and Irish governments and the Roman Catholics and Protestants of Northern Ireland.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island ofIreland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 70,280 sq kmland: 68,890 sq kmwater: 1,390 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: UK 360 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Carrauntoohill 1,041 m
Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper,gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:arable land: 13%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 68%forests and woodland: 5%other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes,from agricultural runoff
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species,Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
Geography—note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin
People
Population: 3,632,944 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 399,379; female 377,366)15-64 years: 67% (male 1,232,072; female 1,213,364)65 years and over: 12% (male 174,519; female 236,244) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.58 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.39 years male: 73.64 years female: 79.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups: Celtic, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Anglican 3%, Islamic 0.11%,Jehovah's Witness 0.1%, Jewish 0.04%, other 4.75% (1991)
Languages: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic)spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98% (1981 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland
Data code: EI
Government type: republic
Capital: Dublin
Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare,Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois,Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly,Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite
Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nominationby the prime minister and approval of the House of Representativeselections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 31 October 1997 (next to be held NA November2004); prime minister nominated by the House of Representatives andappointed by the presidentelection results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent ofvote—Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consistsof the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats—49 elected by theuniversities and from candidates put forward by five vocationalpanels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members servefive-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis ofproportional representation to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate—last held NA August 1997 (next to be held NA2002); House of Representatives—last held 6 June 1997 (next to beheld NA 2002)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—NA; House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—Fianna Fail 76, Fine Gael 53, Labor Party 19,Progressive Democrats 4, Democratic Left 4, Greens 2, Sinn Fein 1,independents 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the presidenton the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Labornote: Prime Minister AHERN heads a two-party coalition consisting ofFianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats; Democratic Left mergedinto the Labor Party on 1 February 1999
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG,OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer),WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sean O'HUIGINNchancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael SULLIVANembassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublinmailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed—orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red
Economy
Economy—overview: Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging 9.5% in 1995-98. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 39% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment. Over the past decade, the Irish government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation, reduce government spending, and promote foreign investment. Although the unemployment rate has been halved, it remains high, and job creation is a primary concern of government policy. Recent efforts have concentrated on improving workers qualifications and the education system. Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with 10 other EU nations.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$67.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 9.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$18,600 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 39% services: 54% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 27.4% (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1998)
Labor force: 1.52 million (1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 62.1%, manufacturing and construction 27%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, utilities 0.9% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $23.5 billionexpenditures: $20.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998)
Industries: food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal
Industrial production growth rate: 15.8% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 17.843 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 95.83% hydro: 3.99% nuclear: 0% other: 0.18% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 17.743 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 200 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 100 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products
Exports: $60.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: chemicals, data processing equipment,industrial machinery, live animals, animal products (1997)
Exports—partners: EU 67% (UK 24%, Germany 12%, France 8%), US 11%(1997)
Imports: $43.7 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing (1997)
Imports—partners: EU 55% (UK 34%, Germany 6%, France 6%), US 15% (1997)
Debt—external: $11 billion (1998)
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $153 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Irish pound (LIr) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Irish pounds (LIr) per US$1—0.6815 (January1999), 0.7014 (1998), 0.6588 (1997), 0.6248 (1996), 0.6235 (1995),0.6676 (1994)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a commoncurrency that is now being used by financial institutions in somemember countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixedrate of 0.78764 Irish pounds per euro; the euro will replace thelocal currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 900,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern digital system using cable and microwaveradio relaydomestic: microwave radio relayinternational: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 45, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.2 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (in addition, there are 36 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.025 million (1990 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 1,947 kmbroad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (38 km electrified; 485 kmdouble track) (1996)
Highways:total: 92,500 kmpaved: 87,042 km (including 80 km of expressways)unpaved: 5,458 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines: natural gas 225 km
Ports and harbors: Arklow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Foynes,Galway, Limerick, New Ross, Waterford
Merchant marine:total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,284 GRT/117,652 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 28, container 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 44 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps),National Police (Garda Siochana)
Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 974,226 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 790,155 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 33,810 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $771 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Northern Ireland issue with the UK(historic peace agreement signed 10 April 1998); Rockall continentalshelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland andthe UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of hashishfrom North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-producedsynthetic drugs; transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destinedfor Western Europe
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@Israel ———
Introduction
Background: The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below, unless otherwise noted. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, and Israel and Syria, to achieve a permanent settlement between them. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenEgypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 20,770 sq kmland: 20,330 sq kmwater: 440 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 1,006 kmborder countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km,Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: to depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desertareas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; centralmountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Dead Sea -408 mhighest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources: copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay,sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas andcrude oil
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 4%permanent pastures: 7%forests and woodland: 6%other: 66% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
Environment—current issues: limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine LifeConservation
Geography—note: there are 216 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 5,749,760 (July 1999 est.) note: includes about 166,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 19,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, about 6,000 in the Gaza Strip, and about 176,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 822,192; female 783,905)15-64 years: 62% (male 1,792,062; female 1,783,755)65 years and over: 10% (male 244,438; female 323,408) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.81% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.61 years male: 76.71 years female: 80.61 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Israeli(s)adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups: Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%,Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.)
Religions: Judaism 80.1%, Islam 14.6% (mostly Sunni Muslim),Christian 2.1%, other 3.2% (1996 est.)