Country Information

Middle East.

438,317 sq km (169,235 sq miles).

31,858,481 (2013).

72.7 per sq km.

Baghdad.

Republic.

Iraq shares borders with Turkey, Iran, the Gulf of Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic. There is also a neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia administered jointly by the two countries. Iraq's portion covers 3,522 sq km (1,360 sq miles). The country's main topographical features are the two rivers, the Euphrates and the Tigris, which flow from the Turkish and Syrian Arab Republic borders in the north to the Gulf in the south. The northeast is mountainous, while the country in the west is arid desert. The land surrounding the two rivers is fertile plain, but the lack of effective irrigation has resulted in flooding and areas of marshland.

80% Arabic (official). Other languages spoken include Kurdish, Persian, Chaldean, Assyrian and Armenian. English is quite widely spoken in urban centres.

In the northern region known as Iraqi Kurdistan, many people, especially younger Kurds, will speak only Kurdish with no Arabic. Although, English is widely spoken in towns.

Islam. Muslims make up 95% of the population, with considerably more Shiites than Sunni. Others are Christians who belong to various sects, including Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syrian and Roman Catholics, Orthodox Armenians and Jacobites. Other religious minorities are the Yezidis and the Sabaeans, or Mandeans, who are followers of John the Baptist.

GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from 1 April to 1 October).

Owing to a long and varied history, Iraq is a culturally rich country. Today, traditional Islamic culture predominates, with Koranic law playing an active role in the day-to-day life of the country, and visitors should be careful to respect this and act accordingly. Visitors should always address their hosts by full name and title. Traditional Arab hospitality is followed as a rule, in accordance with religious law. Conservative and discreet dress should be worn in observance of local Islamic laws.

Social conventions in Iraqi Kurdistan are more flexible. This northern region of Iraq has been semi-autonomous since 1991. Many women wear western fashions and no headscarves.

Photography: There is a need for extreme caution when photographing anything of a sensitive nature. This includes photographs of local people (the Muslim religion does not allow the representation of human or animal images in any form); and, most importantly, any government installations, buildings or indeed anything else that may be considered off-limits to visitors. If in any doubt, do not take a photo.

230 volts AC, 50Hz. Various two- and three-pin plugs are in use. Electricity supplies were severely affected in the 2003 conflict and are still unreliable.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki since 2006.

President Jalal Talabani since 2005.

Since March 2003 when the US-led coalition declared war on Iraq and successfully ousted the regime of Saddam Hussein, the country has been in a period of transition. The transferral of power was finally granted to a new Iraqi government in 2004. Countrywide elections in 2005 appointed a National Assembly, with the majority of seats assigned to the Shia United Iraqi Alliance. This assembly elected a president, Jalal Talabani, who, in turn, designated Ibrahim Jaafari as prime minister. Parliamentary elections took place in December 2005 and following months of political deadlock, Jaafari withdrew his candidature for prime minister in April 2006, making way for Jawad al-Maliki.

Since 2006 Mr Maliki has become increasingly popular with Iraqis. His tough stance in 2008 during negotiations with the United States over security agreements was popular within Iraq and Washington agreed to pull all US troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011. Since then, the Obama administration has set a new date for withdrawal as the end of August 2010. Mr Maliki was also given credit for successful security operations against Shia militias in Baghdad and around Basra in the south.