Area: 1,648,000 sq km (642,720 sq mi)
Population: 66 million
Capital city: Tehran
(pop 12 million)
People: Persian (Farsis) (65%), Azari (25%),
Arab (4%), Lors (2%), Turkmen (2%), Kurdish,
Armenian, Jewish
Language: Persian
Religion: Shi'ite Muslim (89%), Sunni Muslim
(10%), Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian
Government: Islamic Republic
Spiritual leader: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali
Khamenei
President: Hojjat-ol-Eslam Seyed Mohammed
Khatami
GDP: US$340 billion
GDP per capita: US$5,000
Annual Growth: 4.2%
Inflation: 19%
Major Industries: Oil, gas, agriculture,
carpets, armaments
Major Trading Partners:
Japan, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom,
United Arab Emirates, Belgium