996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.95 years
male: 65.92 years
female: 68.03 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi

Ethnic divisions: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman,
Assyrian or other 5%

Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or
other 3%

Languages: Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions),
Assyrian, Armenian

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 58%
male: 70.7%
female: 45%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq

Data code: IZ

Type of government: 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 mandate under
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 not
adopted

Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts,
civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice
President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice
President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991) were elected by a
two-thirds majority of the Revolutionary Command Council
head of government: Prime Minister SADDAM Husayn (since NA May
1994); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mikhail AZIZ (since NA 1979)
Revolutionary Command Council: Chairman SADDAM Husayn, Vice Chairman
Izzat IBRAHIM al-Duri
cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani): elections last held 24 March
1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats -
(250 total, 30 appointed by SADDAM Husayn to represent three
northern provonces of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah)
note: in n