Introduction: Iraq is located in the Middle East. It is bound by Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the north west, Jordan to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south west and south as well as Kuwait and the Persian Gulf to the south east.

Official Name: Republic of Iraq
Area: 434,925 Sq Km (167,925 Sq Miles)
Population: 24,682,000
Continent: Middle East
Density per square mile: 146
Capital City: Baghdad
Religions: Islamic Shiite Muslims 52%, Sunni Muslims 42%. The remainder are small Christian and Jewish minorities.

Language: 80% Arabic & 15 % Kurdish
Government: In transition.

Currency: Dinar
GDP: $58 billion
GDP Per Head: $2,400

Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, phosphates & sulphur.
Land Use: Arable Land 12%
Agriculture: Barley, wheat, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton, cattle & sheep.
Industry: Chemicals, Food Processing, Leather, Oil and Gas Production and Refining, Textiles.

Tourism: The British & Foreign Commonwealth office advise against all but the most essential travel to Iraq. The security situation in Iraq remains dangerous. We continue to receive information, which indicates that terrorists are actively targeting UK and US interests in Iraq. The threat to British nationals remains high.

Natural Hazards: Dust storms, sandstorms, floods
Health Risks: Current Situation

Climate: Iraq has an arid climate with hot dry summers from May - October and cold winters from December - March with most of the rainfall occurring between December - March. In Baghdad the average annual rainfall is 6 inches but in the north east where it is highest, it can be as much as 23 inches annually. Generally rainfall is low elsewhere.Average temperature ranges in Baghdad are from 4 to 16 degrees Celsius in January to 24 to 50 degrees Celsius in July or August.

Time: GMT/UTC + 3 hours (+ 4 hours from 1 May to 30 September)
National Days: July 14