Iraq, officially Republic of Iraq, also Irak, republic in the Middle East, bordered on the north by Turkey; on the east by Iran; on the south by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the Persian Gulf; and on the west by Jordan and Syria. Iraq has a total area of 437,072 sq km (168,754 sq mi), taking into account the adjustments made to the border with Kuwait under the UN demarcation, which Iraq formally accepted in November 1994; the unadjusted area is 438,317 sq km (169,235 sq mi). These figures exclude Iraq’s share of the Neutral Zone (3,522 sq km/1,360 sq mi), an area with no permanent inhabitants lying between Iraq and Saudi Arabia that is jointly administered by the two governments, and through which nomads can move freely. Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait in August 1990, occupying it until expelled by a UN-led coalition in February 1991, during the Gulf War.
POPULATION
Iraq has a population of 25,374,691 (2004 estimate). The estimated overall population density was about 59 people per sq km (152 per sq mi). The density varies markedly, with the largest concentrations of people in the area of the river systems. The population is about 67 per cent urban; many people have had to move to the cities in recent years.
LANGUAGE
Standard Arabic is the primary official language, while Kurdish (or “Kurdi”), an Indo-Iranian language, shares official status in Kurdish areas (mainly Sulamanya) of Iraq. Standard Arabic is a second language, learnt in schools and used in official domains. The more popular forms of Arabic are Mesopotamian Spoken and North Mesopotamian Spoken Arabic, which combined are mother tongues for the majority of the population. Several minority languages are spoken, including South Azerbaijani, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Western Farsi, and Domari.
RELIGION
Approximately 95 per cent of the people of Iraq are Muslims. About 60 to 65 per cent of them adhere to Shiism and the rest to the Sunni creed. The Shiites mostly live in central and southern Iraq, the Sunni principally in the north. Despite their numerical superiority, the Shiites, unlike in neighbouring Iran, had hardly any influence on government in the period before the War on Iraq. Several of the holy cities of the Shiites, notably An Najaf and Karbalā’, are situated in Iraq. Many Shiites of Iranian origin live in these shrine cities. Among the few Christian sects in Iraq, which comprise 2.7 per cent of the population, are communities practising Nestorianism; the Jacobite Church; offshoots of these two sects, respectively known as Chaldean and Syrian Catholics; and a group known as the Mandaean Baptists living in Baghdad and Amara. In total there are about 519,000 Christians in Iraq. The former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz is a Christian. Smaller religious groups include the Yazidis (150,000), a uniquely Kurdish syncretic sect who live in the northern mountains.
POPULATION
Iraq has a population of 25,374,691 (2004 estimate). The estimated overall population density was about 59 people per sq km (152 per sq mi). The density varies markedly, with the largest concentrations of people in the area of the river systems. The population is about 67 per cent urban; many people have had to move to the cities in recent years.
LANGUAGE
Standard Arabic is the primary official language, while Kurdish (or “Kurdi”), an Indo-Iranian language, shares official status in Kurdish areas (mainly Sulamanya) of Iraq. Standard Arabic is a second language, learnt in schools and used in official domains. The more popular forms of Arabic are Mesopotamian Spoken and North Mesopotamian Spoken Arabic, which combined are mother tongues for the majority of the population. Several minority languages are spoken, including South Azerbaijani, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Western Farsi, and Domari.
RELIGION
Approximately 95 per cent of the people of Iraq are Muslims. About 60 to 65 per cent of them adhere to Shiism and the rest to the Sunni creed. The Shiites mostly live in central and southern Iraq, the Sunni principally in the north. Despite their numerical superiority, the Shiites, unlike in neighbouring Iran, had hardly any influence on government in the period before the War on Iraq. Several of the holy cities of the Shiites, notably An Najaf and Karbalā’, are situated in Iraq. Many Shiites of Iranian origin live in these shrine cities. Among the few Christian sects in Iraq, which comprise 2.7 per cent of the population, are communities practising Nestorianism; the Jacobite Church; offshoots of these two sects, respectively known as Chaldean and Syrian Catholics; and a group known as the Mandaean Baptists living in Baghdad and Amara. In total there are about 519,000 Christians in Iraq. The former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz is a Christian. Smaller religious groups include the Yazidis (150,000), a uniquely Kurdish syncretic sect who live in the northern mountains.
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