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March 2008: In parliamentary elections, conservatives maintain their 70 percent majority, despite inflation that has reached 19 percent. Iranians are supporting what they see as their nation under attack. Liberal reformers, who dominated the political scene from the late 1990s to 2004 win ten more seats, to 50 -- 17.2 percent of the 290 seats.
Between Iraq and Pakistan. Size equivalent to 1,284 by 1,284 kilometers, or roughly 800 by 800 miles. 2440 kilometers of coastline along the Persian Gulf. A lot of desert and mountains. Capital: Teheran.
ear-an, not eye-ran
Called Persia until 1935. Became an Islamic republic in 1979 with the overthrow of what had been Iran's monarchy.
Sex outside of marriage is illegal. Punishment by death can be imposed, or the lash.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Factbook: "Iran's economy is marked by an inefficient state sector, reliance on the oil sector, which provides the majority of government revenues, and statist policies, which create major distortions throughout the system. Most economic activity is controlled by the state. Private sector activity is typically limited to small-scale workshops, farming, and services."
Estimated per capita GDP:
2008 $12,800 (ranks 87th, less than half that of Israel and more than twice Egypt or Iraq)
2007 $12,100
2006 $11,300
GDP annual growth rate
2008: 6.5%
2007: 7.8%
2006: 5.8%
Unemployment estimate for 2008: 12.5 %
Military expenditures as a percentahe of GDP: 2.5 (2006).
Deaths 5.69. Births 16.89. Up from 16.83 in 2005.
Estimate for July 2008: 65.875 million. Growth rate: 0.792 percent per year.
More leaving than arriving, a net loss of 3.28 persons per 1,000 population. Down from 4.29 in 2007.
Infant mortality for 2008: 36.93. Down from 38.12 in 2007. (Deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births.)
Average life expectancyat birth estimated for 2008: 70.86. Up from 70.56 in 2007
Iran is one of three countries with a law against flag desecration.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.