IRAN
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| (See reference map VI) |
LAND
1,647,240 km2; 14% agricultural, 11% forested, 16% cultivable with adequate irrigation, 51% desert, waste, or urban, 8% migratory grazing and other
Land boundaries: 5,318 km (including areas belonging to Iran and now occupied by Iraq during continuing border war)
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (fishing 50 nm)
Coastline: 3,180 km, including islands, with 676 km
PEOPLE
Population: 41,203,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 3.1%
Nationality: noun—Iranian(s); adjective—Iranian
Ethnic divisions: 63% ethnic Persians, 3% Kurds, 13% other Iranian, 18% Turkic, 3% Arab and other Semitic, 1% other
Religion: 93% Shia Muslim; 5% Sunni Muslim; 2% Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians and Baha'is
Language: Persian, Turkish dialects, Kurdish, Arabic
Literacy: about 37% of those seven years of age and older (1976 est.)
Labor force: 12.0 million, est. (1979); 33% agriculture, 21% manufacturing; shortage of skilled labor substantial
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Islamic Republic of Iran
Type: republic
Capital: Tehrān
Political subdivisions: 23 provinces, subdivided into districts, subdistricts, counties, and villages
Legal system: the new constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
National holiday: Shia Islam religious holidays observed nationwide
Branches: Ayatollah ol-Ozma Khomeini, the leader of the revolution, provides general guidance for the government, which is divided into executive, legislative, and Judicial branches
Government leaders: Ayatollah ol-Ozma Ruhollah KHOMEINI, President Ali KHAMENEI (cleric), Prime Minister Mir Hosein MUSAVI-KHAMENEI, Speaker of Islamic Consultative Assembly Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI (cleric)
Suffrage: universal, age 18 and over
Elections: elections to endorse new constitution were held in late 1979; those to select a president in January 1980 and July and November 1981, and those to select the parliament (two rounds) in March and May 1980; several parliamentary by elections were held in 1980 and 1981
Political parties and leaders: Islamic Republic Party (IRP), Ali Khamenei; Tudeh Party, Nur-ed-Din Kianuri
Voting strength: reliable figures not available; IRP and sympathizers dominate the parliament
Communists: 1,000 to 2,000 est. hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est. sympathizers
Other political or pressure groups: People's Strugglers (Mojahedin), People's Fedayeen, and Kurdish Democratic Party are armed political groups; other ethnic minorities, local leaders and Islamic Committees enforce their political views through armed militia
Member of: Colombo Plan, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMCO, IMF, IPU, ISCON, ITU, NAM, OPEC, RCD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WSG, WTO; continued participation in some of these organizations doubtful under the new Islamic constitution
ECONOMY
GNP: $81.7 billion (1979), $2,170 per capita; 1979 real GNP growth, -24%
Agriculture: wheat, barley, rice, sugar beets, cotton, dates, raisins, tea, tobacco, sheep, and goats
Major industries: crude oil production (1.4 million b/d in 1981) and refining, textiles, cement and other building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating (steel and copper)
Electric power: 9,614,600 kW capacity (1980); 16.843 billion kWh produced (1980), 431 kWh per capita
Exports: $11 billion (est., 1981); 97% petroleum; also carpets, fruits, and nuts
Imports: $15 billion (est., 1981); foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, machinery, military supplies
