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Full Report
Republic of Iraq
Did You Know
When engaged in conversation, Iraqis tend to stand close to one another and use a good deal of physical
contact.
To express respect, especially to an elder, a person will avoid eye contact during conversation.
All meals end with dark, sweet tea.
Early marriage is encouraged, especially in rural Iraq, where dating is rare and boys and girls are usually
segregated in schools and elsewhere.
Flag
The flag of Iraq, most recently adopted in 2008, features three horizontal bands of red, white, and black. Written
in green on the white band is the Arabic phrase Allahu akbar, which translates as “God is great.”
Official Name
The common name of the country is Iraq. The official name is the Republic of Iraq (Jumhuriyah al-ʿIraq).
Anthem
The national anthem of Iraq is “Mawtini” (“My Homeland”), adopted in 2003. Lyrics by Ibrahim Touqan. Music by
Muhammad Fuliefil.
Country and Development Data
Capital
Baghdad
Population
37,056,169 (rank=36)
Area (sq. mi.)
169,235 (rank=58)
Area (sq. km.)
438,317
Human Development Index
120 of 187 countries
Gender Inequality Index
120 of 152 countries
GDP (PPP) per capita
$14,100
Adult Literacy
86% (male); 74% (female)
Infant Mortality
37.53 per 1,000 births
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Life Expectancy
66 (male); 73 (female)
Currency
Iraqi dinar
Background
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.) (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=15)
169,235
Area (sq. km.) (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=15)
438,317
Iraq is roughly the same size as Morocco or the U.S. state of California. The nation has three major types of
terrain: sparsely inhabited deserts in western Iraq, mountains along the northern and eastern borders, and fertile
valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates river systems in central Iraq. The Tigris and the Euphrates are the nation's
vital water sources; most of Iraq's farmland and urban centers depend on these rivers or their tributaries. The
rivers converge in southern Iraq to form the navigable Shatt al-Arab Waterway, which flows into the Arabian Gulf.
Iraq has a 36-mile (58-kilometer) coastline on the Gulf. In the 1990s, the Iraqi government drained huge areas of
marshland in southern Iraq to deprive political opponents of their land. Today, the marshlands are recovering,
with many of the area's original residents, known as Marsh Arabs, returning to their land. The marshlands were
declared Iraq's first official national park in 2013.
Most of Iraq experiences two seasons: summer (May to October) and winter (November to April). Summers are
characterized by average daily high temperatures well over 100°F (38°C) and by high humidity (particularly in the
south). Sandstorms are common in the summertime. Winter brings thunderstorms and average daily highs of
70°F (21°C). Mountainous northern Iraq has four distinct seasons and moderate winter snowfall.
History
Early Empires
Modern Iraq occupies much of the same territory as the ancient region of Mesopotamia (Greek for “between the
rivers”). Located in the Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia gave rise to a succession of influential civilizations,
including the Sumerians (who established the area's first cities around 3000 BC), the Babylonians, and the
Assyrians. Because the region produced humanity's first known agriculture and written language, it is often
referred to as the “cradle of civilization.” The Greeks and Persians controlled the area at various times from the
sixth century BC until the seventh century AD, when Muslim Arabs established Damascus, and later Baghdad, as
the center of an Islamic empire (the Abbasid Dynasty) that stretched from Europe to India. The empire gradually
fell into decline, allowing Mongol invaders to conquer Baghdad in 1258.
British Mandate
By the 16th century, Baghdad had become part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, which ruled the region until its
defeat in World War I. Iraq then passed to British control under a League of Nations mandate. In 1932, Iraq was
granted independence under the leadership of the Hashemites (a ruling family from present-day Saudi Arabia)
and became a constitutional monarchy.
Ba‘athist Iraq and Saddam Hussein
Popular discontent with the Hashemites led to a number of attempted uprisings. Revolutionary forces
successfully overthrew the monarchy in 1958. However, political instability continued, and a 1968 coup put the
socialist and Arab nationalist Baʿath Party in power. The Baʿath Party eliminated all opposition to its policies and
established one-party rule. Longtime Baʿath leader Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq in 1979 and
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ordered the execution of many of his rivals. In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran after a territorial dispute intensified
longstanding tensions. The mutually devastating eight-year war killed hundreds of thousands and ended in a
stalemate.
Although Saddam Hussein enjoyed the support of the United States in the war with Iran, he alienated the United
States and most of the world when, pressing claims to Kuwaiti territory, he ordered an invasion of Kuwait in
August 1990. The Persian Gulf War followed, and a U.S.-led military coalition forced Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait
in February 1991. A Shi‘i Muslim rebellion hoped to take advantage of the Iraqi forces' defeat in the war, but the
Iraqi military crushed it. The United Nations imposed economic sanctions against Iraq in order to force Saddam
Hussein into compliance with UN resolutions, and the coalition enforced no-fly zones in northern and southern
Iraq to contain the Iraqi military.
War in Iraq
One of the conditions of the cease-fire that ended the Persian Gulf War was that Iraq should rid itself of all
weapons of mass destruction, a process that was overseen by UN weapons inspectors. In 1998, when Saddam
Hussein's government failed to cooperate with the inspectors, they were withdrawn. Following another round of
inspections in 2002 and 2003, the United States and Britain charged Saddam Hussein with violating a UN
Security Council resolution; they invaded Iraq in March 2003. Within weeks, the U.S.-led coalition forces had
taken control of most of the country. The coalition arrested senior Baʿath Party officials, including Saddam
Hussein, who was captured in December 2003.
The coalition transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government in June 2004, and Iraqis elected a full-term
government in December 2005. However, stability remains out of reach. Coalition troops have struggled against
a brutal insurgency since the invasion, and sectarian violence has threatened to escalate into civil war. In
November 2006, an Iraqi court sentenced Saddam Hussein to death after finding him guilty of crimes against
humanity for the killing of 148 Shi‘i Muslims in 1982. His execution in December 2006 deepened the nation's
sectarian divisions. In an attempt to improve security, the U.S. military increased troop numbers, a strategy that
was generally viewed as successful.
Withdrawal and Transition
In February 2009, President Obama announced that U.S. troops would leave the country by the end of 2011, with
the first phase of U.S. withdrawal, a retreat from Iraqi streets to bases, completed in June 2009. Renewed
sectarian violence followed. The 2010 elections failed to result in a majority in parliament for any coalition, and
political uncertainty led to an upsurge in violence.
After a delay of roughly 10 months, parliament reappointed Jalal Talibani as president of Iraq and Nouri al-Maliki
as the prime minister. In early 2011, Iraq experienced some protests similar to those happening elsewhere in the
Middle East, but to a smaller degree. Late 2011 saw the completion of the U.S. troop withdrawal plan agreed on
in 2009. In August 2014, President Fouad Massoum appointed Haidar al-Abadi as the new prime minster,
replacing Nouri al-Maliki. The security situation in Iraq deteriorated further with the rise of the extremist militant group, Islamic State,
formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In 2014, ISIS began seizing control of cities in
northern Iraq in order to establish an Islamic caliphate. The group has targeted the country's ethnic and religious
minority groups, including Shi‘i Muslims, Kurds, and Yazidis. Over a million Iraqis have fled their homes, and
thousands have been killed as a result of ISIS's campaign in Iraq. In 2016, the civilian death toll from violence
connected to military action from the international coalition, in addition to ISIS and other insurgent groups, was
estimated between 150,000 to 175,000. Since the withdrawal of the bulk of US troops, Iraq has faced serious
challenges as the citizens and government fight to end corruption and violence and redefine themselves as a
country.
Recent Events and Trends
• Mustard gas: In February 2016, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed
that mustard gas had been used by the Islamic State (ISIS) against Kurdish forces in 2015. This is the first
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known use of chemical weapons in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The OPCW had confirmed in
November 2015 that mustard gas was also used in Syria; ISIS militants were suspected in this incident.
• Storming of the Green Zone: In May 2016, anti-government protesters stormed Baghdad's fortified Green Zone,
which houses the Iraqi parliament, government offices, and many foreign embassies. At least four were killed
and 90 injured in the clashes with security forces. The protesters, who were mostly Shi‘i Muslims, were
demonstrating against corruption and the government's security failures. In August 2015, Prime Minister alAbadi implemented a series of reforms aimed at transforming Iraq's corrupt political system. However,
corruption remains a major problem, as do sectarian tensions and political partisanship.
• Ramadan suicide bombing: Toward the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in July 2016, a massive
suicide truck bomb in a Baghdad market left nearly three hundred people dead. It was the deadliest single
suicide bombing since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. While the explosion itself killed many, the wall of fire
that resulted from the bomb left many people trapped in shops. The government declared a three-day period of
official mourning. Following the attack, Prime Minister al-Abadi dismissed Baghdad's security chief, and the Iraqi
minister of the interior resigned, citing a lack of coordination between security apparatuses to prevent the
attack.
The People
Population
Population (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=14)
37,056,169
Population Growth Rate (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=38)
2.93%
Urban Population (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=37)
69.36%
Between 75 and 80 percent of Iraq's population is Arab. Kurds (15 to 20 percent) live in Iraqi Kurdistan, a semiautonomous region in northern Iraq. There are also Turkoman and Iranian communities. Emigration over the past
25 years has created large populations of Iraqis outside Iraq.
Baghdad is Iraq's capital and largest city, with about six million people. Other major cities are Basra, a historic
port city on the Shatt al-Arab Waterway in the south, and Mosul, in the upper Tigris river basin. Most of the
population is located in the fertile area between Baghdad and Basra. Bedouin nomads live and travel in different
parts of Iraq's desert. Language
Arabic is Iraq's official language. Modern Standard Arabic is used for education, written communication, formal
speeches, and radio and television broadcasts; for informal communication, several regional Arabic dialects are
spoken. Arabic uses an alphabet of 28 letters, written and read right to left. Although Iraqi Kurds use an Arabicbased alphabet, Kurdish is an Indo-European language, not a Semitic language like Arabic. Assyrian and
Chaldean Christians as well as the Mandaeans use a dialect derived from Aramaic in their religious rites and, to a
limited extent, in their daily communication. Turkomans speak a Turkish dialect called Turkmen, and Armenians
speak Armenian.
Religion
Islam is the official religion of Iraq, and 99 percent of the population is Muslim. Although Iraqi governments have
promoted secularization, religious traditions remain strong. Iraq is home to both Shiʿi and Sunni Muslims; the
groups differ on the question of Islam's leadership after the prophet Muhammad died. Shiʿi Muslims constitute
roughly 60 percent of the population and predominate in southern and eastern Iraq. Karbala and al-Najaf are
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revered as holy cities by Shiʿi Muslims worldwide. Sunni Muslims make up about 35 percent of the population
and live primarily in the area around Baghdad and to the north, as well as in some southern areas such as Basra.
Most Muslim men go to the mosque at sunset and again at early evening (75 to 80 minutes after sunset) to pray.
Some men gather after prayers to listen to sermons and discuss religious and social issues.
After Saddam Hussein was removed from power, the majority Shiʿi, who had long been oppressed by Hussein,
demanded more political involvement. After years of sectarian violence, power is now shared between Shiʿi and
Sunni.
Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims. Iraq also contains small minorities of Orthodox Christians (Assyrians and
Armenians), Catholic Christians (Chaldeans), Mandaeans, and Yazidis.
General Attitudes
Iraqis are devoted to family, value a good education, and respect those who achieve material success through
hard work. They are friendly and hospitable, despite the hardships brought about by years of war and economic
sanctions. Individual Iraqi identities are complex and based on affiliation with members of the same religious
group (predominantly Sunni and Shi‘i), ethnicity (including Arab and Kurd, among others), and tribe (of which
there are over 150). Tribal loyalty plays an important role in Iraqi society, and tribal leaders still maintain great
influence, especially in rural areas. Even though differences between Iraq’s ethnic, religious, and tribal groups
have often threatened national cohesion, many Iraqis place great importance on national honor—a patriotism
that stems in part from their heritage in the Arab-Islamic and Mesopotamian civilizations.
Personal Appearance
Although Western clothing styles have been widely adopted in urban areas, many rural women continue to wear
traditional dress, which consists of long flowing gowns and scarves or veils (hijab). According to religious and
personal preference, women may wear a scarf or veil over their hair, cover the entire head except the eyes, or
wear no veil at all. Some women cover their clothes with a black cloak (ʿabaya) whenever they leave the house or
find themselves in the presence of men other than close relatives. Makeup and gold jewelry are very popular for
women; silver rings are common among men.
Urban men wear Western clothing. Laborers and village men wear a long cotton garment (dishdasha), a jacket, a
light wool cloak (ʿaba), and a checkered headscarf (keffiyah, or shemagh) held in place with a cord (aqal). Many
men have mustaches, and members of the older generation may grow a light beard in keeping with religious
tradition.
Kurdish clothing styles differ from those of Iraqi Arabs. Kurdish women wear pants under their dresses, while
men wear baggy trousers tied with sashes. Among Kurds, Arab villagers, and Bedouins, sleeveless embroidered
jackets and khanajar (ornamental curved daggers) are common.
Customs and Courtesies
Greetings
In some (especially urban) segments of Iraqi society, men and women may shake hands, kiss on the cheeks, or
hug when greeting. However, in conservative sectors, men do not touch women unless they are close relatives, in
which case they greet with a handshake. Family members of the same sex greet with a handshake and hug. In
rural areas, greetings between men include handshaking and kissing three times on the cheeks (right, left, and
right again). A son may kiss his mother's head as a sign of respect. Children show respect by kissing the hand of
an elder.
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It is customary for people in public places to greet one another, even if they are not acquainted. A typical greeting
is Assalaam ‘alaikum (May peace be upon you). Young Iraqis greet with the less-formal word Marhaba (Hi) and a
wave. When meeting a friend or relative, people usually begin their conversation by asking about the welfare of
family members.
It is considered impolite to address a person by his or her first name unless the individual is a close friend and
from the same generation and social class. A man is commonly addressed as abu (father of), followed by his
oldest son's first name. A woman likewise might be addressed by her oldest son's name, as in Um Abbas (Mother
of Abbas). Even a husband and wife refer to each other in this way, both in public and in private. An individual
with no sons is addressed by his or her oldest daughter's first name, and an individual with no children is called
abu ghayib or um ghayib (“awaiting father” or “awaiting mother”). In an uncertain situation, one may address an
older person as ʿam (uncle) or khalah (aunt). The structure of a person's name is generally formed by the first
name, followed by the father's first name, and then the family name, which could reflect a person's tribe or city of
origin. Women do not change their names after marriage.
Gestures
When engaged in conversation, Iraqis tend to stand close to one another and use a good deal of physical
contact. Body language is an important method of expression. In keeping with Islamic custom, Iraqis use the
right hand to pass items to another person; they use the right hand or both hands to receive items. To express
respect, especially to an elder, a person will avoid eye contact during conversation. Likewise, men and women
will not maintain eye contact with each other. Traditions like these are observed less and less in modern Iraq, as
behavior is increasingly influenced by Western culture.
Visiting
Visiting among Iraqi relatives and friends is a common social occurrence. Typically, extended family members
visit each other at least once a week, and people usually come unannounced. Visits tend to be arranged only for
formal matters, such as business transactions. A visit may last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours,
depending on the closeness of the relationship between the guest and host. Relatives and close friends usually
bring sweets, food, fruit, or other gifts with them. During the two major Muslim holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid alAdha, guests may bring money for adults and sweets and money for children.
If only women are at home at the time of a visit, a male visitor is expected to leave and return later when a male
is present. When families visit each other, men and women usually congregate on separate sides of the room or
home. Visitors are expected to accept refreshments such as tea, coffee, or juice. If visitors arrive during
mealtime, the host is required by custom to provide them with a meal. Therefore, unless a meal has been
prearranged, visiting is usually done after lunch or, most commonly, after dinner, when the visit involves lengthy
socializing, watching television, and sharing refreshments.
Eating
Iraqis eat three meals every day: riyuq (breakfast), or futur, in the early morning; ghadaʾ (lunch) at around 2 p.m.;
and ʿashaʾ (dinner) at around 7 or 8 p.m. Lunch is considered the most important meal of the day. All meals end
with dark, sweet tea. Traditionally, all members of the family gathered on the matted floor of the living room to
eat from a communal dish with their hands, but this practice is less frequent today. Most people now use
utensils and individual plates and gather at a dining table. In traditional segments of society, the presence of
guests may change seating arrangements, in which case men and their male guests eat before women and
children. Street foods such as shawarma (roasted meat sandwiches) are popular.
Lifestyle
Family
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Structure
The family is viewed as the nucleus of society, and marriage and family are respected. Men and women share in
the responsibilities of building a strong family unit. Traditionally, Iraqis had large families; however, today both
urban and rural families limit the number of children they have to between two and four. Households often
include extended family members of several generations.
Parents and Children
Both parents are responsible for teaching their children politeness, engendering curiosity, and encouraging
education. Daughters are taught how to cook and take care of the home while assisting their mothers with these
tasks; boys tend to not have chores. Family members are expected to take care of each other. If a mother works
outside the home, children are cared for by grandmothers or placed in daycare facilities.
Most young men and virtually all young women live with their parents until marriage. Occasionally, a son who
has graduated from college will move out of the family house with the financial support of his parents.
Unmarried women live with their families for life. Although young couples are increasingly inclined to live apart
from their parents, maintenance of family ties remains important. Children are expected to care for their aging
parents, as there are few nursing or retirement homes in Iraq.
Gender Roles
Men have control over family finances and act as the head of the family. In cities, it is common for middle-class
women, in addition to men, to work to support the family. Women wield substantial influence within the family by
mediating family disputes and making marriage arrangements. An Islamic hadith (saying of the prophet) says,
"Paradise is under the mother's feet," and mothers are greatly respected. In urban areas, both single and married
women may work, pursue higher education, and hold government posts. Women of poorer families, especially
those with a large number of children, generally work only in the home. Rural women tend subsistence crops and
sell produce.
Generally, women enjoy equal status with men. Women work in fields such as health care, education, law, and the
arts. Today, women occupy roughly a fourth of the seats in parliament, though they are largely unrepresented in
cabinet positions. Women have held leadership positions in political parties and actively participated in
demonstrations. Nevertheless, conservative Islamic customs such as purdah (seclusion)—which dictates that
women should be shielded from non-family members through separate spaces and through concealing clothing
—are practiced to varying degrees in Iraq.
Housing
In predominantly Kurdish northern Iraq, most homes are made of stone. In the central and southern parts of the
country, fired bricks are more often used. The girls in the family sleep in one room and the boys in another.
Before pollution and traffic noises reached high levels, Iraqis used to escape particularly hot nights by sleeping
on roofs.
Most Iraqi homes are decorated with religious art. For Muslims, this art includes Qurʾanic verses written in
Arabic calligraphy; religious icons (especially popular among the Shiʿi), which often feature the martyred Imam
Hussein; and pictures of the holy Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia. Depictions of Jesus, the
Virgin Mary, and the Last Supper are common among Iraqi Christians and some Shiʿi. Many Iraqi homes also
have culturally significant decorations, such as ceramic objects thought to ward off the “evil eye.”
Dating and Marriage
Dating and Courtship
Dating in the Western sense is rare. Couples meet through family acquaintances or at work. Recently, couples
have also begun interacting through cell phones, internet chatting, and social networking websites. Urban youth
may socialize together at family events such as weddings, or public venues like universities and social clubs.
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Unmarried daughters and sisters are carefully protected to prevent accusations of impropriety. A relationship
that does not result in marriage can leave the girl's reputation suspect in the view of her family and society. In
rural areas, women may be subject to honor killings (generally carried out by a male family member in an effort
to restore the family honor) for even suspected inappropriate relationships.
Engagement
Once a potential wife has been identified (by the young man's mother or by the young man himself), the mother
visits the young woman's family to get a sense of the woman's reputation and that of her family. If her
investigation returns satisfactory results, she approaches the young woman's parents to discuss the prospect of
marriage between the couple. The young woman's mother will likewise investigate the reputation of the potential
husband and his family. When the parents of both parties are content, the man's father announces the
engagement. After a couple is engaged, they are free to meet each other openly and make arrangements for their
marriage.
Marriage in Society
Marriages are a contract not only between individuals but also families. Early marriage (17–18 for men and
14–17 for women) is encouraged in rural areas. In urban areas, men and women marry during or after the college
years. Marriage between first cousins is regarded favorably. Under Islamic law, men may have as many as four
wives, if they can be provided for equally. Although fully arranged marriages are becoming less common, parents
continue to suggest and approve marriage partners for their children. Mothers are especially influential in the
selection of their children's spouses.
Weddings
Parents and relatives contribute money to cover the cost of wedding celebrations. The groom will also contribute
through his savings. In addition to the cost of the wedding, a groom pays mahr (bride-price) to his future bride,
which can be a gift of gold jewelry, clothing, or a large sum of money. The groom is also responsible for securing
basic living accommodations.
Wedding ceremonies are commonly performed by an imam (religious leader). More secular couples may register
their wedding with an imam and the court, but some elect to only register their marriage with the court. After the
wedding ceremony, a large wedding party is held involving singing, dancing, and plenty of food. In rural areas,
friends and relatives may fire guns in the air during the party. At the conclusion of the party, guests escort the
couple to their home or a hotel in a trail of cars, honking their horns. The marriage is followed by a honeymoon.
Divorce
Divorce is rare and generally considered a last resort. Discord between husband and wife is often mediated by
extended family members; however, deteriorating conditions (especially economic) in the country have increased
instances of divorce. Divorced women are legally allowed to remarry 13 weeks after a divorce or 17 weeks after
the death of their husband. Divorced women face many challenges, including supporting themselves and bearing
the social stigma associated with divorce. A divorced woman legally can ask for custody of her children, but the
father generally takes custody Life Cycle
Birth
Considerable pressure exists for newlywed couples to have children immediately. A newlywed wife faces
frequent questions from her mother and mother-in-law regarding early signs of pregnancy. Pregnancy tends to
ensure that a wife's future is more secure, as she is less likely to be divorced for infertility.
For the most part, during the first pregnancy Iraqi women are exempted from household chores. A woman’s
mother typically attends the birth, which usually takes place in a hospital. Although modern facilities enable
families to know their baby’s gender (and an increasing number of families chose to find out), religiously
conservative families believe that it is forbidden to know the gender of a fetus. These families await news of the
delivery and are especially elated if the child is a boy. After childbirth, women receive assistance from their
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mothers in the home. The majority of women breastfeed their children. Traditionally, Muslim boys are
circumcised at birth. Couples generally choose from family names when naming a child, with the father making
the final decision.
Iraqi women employed by the government enjoy several months of maternity leave, followed by some additional
months at half pay, and generally return to work a year after their baby’s birth.
Milestones
Girls are generally considered adults at age 14 and boys at 18. Even if Iraqis marry very young, they are expected
to act as responsible adults after they get married.
While retirement ages generally vary, Iraqis usually work until they are in their sixties. Government-employed
women with more than three children are allowed to retire earlier than men, who are eligible for retirement after
30 years of employment.
Death
When a person dies, the family takes the body to a hospital, where the cause of death is determined and a death
certificate is issued. The body is then either taken home for a washing ceremony or to a cemetery, where the
body is washed by a family member of the same sex. After the washing, the body is wrapped with a white cloth,
placed in a coffin, and taken—by males only—to the cemetery. The wrapped body is removed from the coffin and
buried on its right side, with the head oriented toward Mecca, Saudi Arabia. According to Islamic custom, burials
should be handled within 24 hours of the death. After burial, a collective prayer seeking forgiveness for the
deceased is offered. The belongings of a deceased man are divided according to Islamic inheritance guidelines;
with some exceptions, women relatives generally receive half the inheritance that men receive.
Diet
Breads such as khubz (flat bread) and samoon (an oval-shaped bread loaf) are staples at every meal. Breakfast
typically includes tea and a light item such as cheese, eggs, or khubz soaked in soup. Lunch is a sizeable meal
that consists of rice and a vegetable stew made of dried beans, eggplant, okra, zucchini, or green beans.
Barbecued lamb, beef, kidney, heart, or liver are favorite dishes, but their expense is prohibitive for many Iraqis
today. Side dishes may include salad, pickles, and liquid yogurt. Dinner is usually light and consists of rice and
kibba (fried cracked wheat dough stuffed with meat or vegetables). Dinner and lunch may sometimes include
seasonal fruits; the most common are oranges in the winter and watermelon, cantaloupe, and fresh dates in the
summer. Observant Muslims do not drink alcohol or eat pork.
Recreation
Sports
Sports remain the most popular form of recreation for males. Soccer is extremely popular, and Iraqis of all ages
play in any open space they can find in their communities. Young people often form their own teams, collect
money to buy a ball, wear uniforms, and practice and compete with other local teams. People also enjoy
watching the national team play in international matches.
Leisure
The political and economic turmoil of recent decades has significantly decreased participation in leisure
activities among Iraqis. People have to spend much of their free time securing basic living essentials and, for
example, no longer visit libraries to read during their non-working hours. Since 2003, curfews have limited
recreational options at night. Environmental damage has affected some previously popular pastimes, such as
fishing in the country's rivers. Nevertheless, Iraqis do still engage in recreation on a limited basis.
Men enjoy going to the cinema and playing backgammon, chess, or dominoes in cafés and coffee shops. Men
often engage in long discussions about religion and politics. Many leisure activities for women take place in the
home and include visiting family, sewing, watching TV, and, for younger women, playing computer games. Girls
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play volleyball and enjoy shopping and visiting each other. Youth swim in the summer to keep cool. Watching
nightly television programming is a common family pastime. In Erbil, in the Kurdish region, night clubs and
shopping malls are popular places to meet up with friends. The Arts
Traditional Arab-Islamic art, modern visual art, music, theater, and crafts are art forms commonly produced by
Iraqis. Specialized schools teach traditional crafts, such as woodwork, copperware, metalwork, carpet weaving,
jewelry, mosaics, ceramics, and calligraphy. The Iraqi Museum in Baghdad contains masterpieces from
Mesopotamian and early Islamic periods. Urban residents often attended musical and theatrical performances
prior to 1990, but performances are less common today. Popular music includes Arabic rock and maqamat, a
blues-like style of classical Arabic music. At weddings, men hold hands in a circle and perform a traditional
group dance called the dabkah to the beat of a drummer (tabbal) and tunes of a flute player (zummar). Different
versions of the dabkah are found among city inhabitants, Bedouins, southern rural populations, Kurds, and
Christians.
Holidays
Official public holidays include Independence Day (1 Jan.), Armed Forces Day (6 Jan.), Labor Day (1 May),
Republic Day (14 July), and National Day (3 Oct.). Islamic religious holidays are observed according to the lunar
calendar. Al-Mawlid al-Nabawi (the prophet Muhammad's birthday) is an important holiday, often simply
celebrated with prayers and remembrances of the prophet by mosque congregations.
Ramadan
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting during which Muslims abstain from food, drink, and tobacco from sunrise to
sunset. During Ramadan, most government offices and businesses work shorter hours. In the evenings, family
and friends gather to celebrate and eat. In the middle of the month of Ramadan, children celebrate Qarqe'an by
going door to door and asking neighbors for treats.
Eid al-Fitr A three-day feast called Eid al-Fitr ends Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr is a time when extended family and married children
are reunited in the same house. The first day of Eid begins with morning prayers in a mosque, after which people
gather to listen to a speech given by an imam (religious leader). Both men and women attend the mosque for
prayers, although they pray in separate areas. The celebrations start after the prayer that concludes the speech.
Extended families gather for breakfast, typically at the home of the grandfather or one of his sons. The food is
often served at a low table, close to the floor. After breakfast, the family visits over tea and
homemade kleicha (cookies that include nuts and ground coconut or dates), which are considered Iraq's national
cookie. Children wish their parents a long and healthy life. Extended family members give children gifts of money,
which kids often use at local amusement parks. In suburban areas, men gather in the diwan (a large hall) to talk
and drink Turkish coffee or tea. At noon, guests may dine together or return to their own homes for a meal.
Eid al-Adha Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) is a four-day holiday that commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice
his son and is celebrated at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Celebrations begin with a
speech by an imam at a mosque and an early morning prayer attended by men and women. People who can
afford to do so sacrifice a sheep or a cow. The meat of the sacrificed animals is distributed in three parts: one
third is given to the poor, one third to relatives, and the last part is served at a feast that is open to family and
friends.
Ashura Ashura is observed by Shi‘i Muslims on the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram. The celebration
commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, grandson of the prophet Muhammad. The holiday is a somber
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day and features performances that depict the battle and the martyrdom of Husayn. Some men perform ritual
self-flagellation (whipping themselves) in the streets. Society
Government
Head of State (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=29)
President Fouad Massoum
Head of Government (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=29)
Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi
Capital (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=1)
Baghdad
Structure
Iraq's president is the head of state and serves a largely ceremonial role. The president and vice president
comprise the Presidency Council and are elected by parliament to serve four-year terms. The head of
government is the prime minister, who is appointed by the president and vice president from the largest
parliamentary bloc and is assisted by two deputy prime ministers. Members of the 325-seat parliament, called
the Council of Representatives, are elected by proportional representation and serve four-year terms. Eight of the
seats are reserved for minorities. In addition to having representation in Iraq's national government, the
autonomous Kurdish region has its own government, consisting of a president, prime minister, and 111-seat
legislature.
Political Landscape
A number of political parties are active in Iraq. Currently, no single party or coalition holds a majority of seats in
parliament. Many parties have organized into stronger coalitions. The main coalitions include the main Shi‘i bloc,
the National Alliance Candidates, the Shi‘i Sunni Al-Iraqiyya Alliance, and the Kurdistan Alliance. Former
President Saddam Hussein's Ba‘ath Party is banned from participating in elections. Sectarian violence, similar to
the conflict between rebels and the ruling Alawites in Syria, and instability remain some of the largest issues
affecting Iraq's political progress. Conflict between the Sunni minority and the Shi‘i-led government has
escalated into bloody attacks across the country.
Government and the People
Iraq's constitution limits freedom of press, assembly, association, and expression. In 2013, Sunni protesters held
large anti-government demonstrations, claiming that the government's policies marginalize the minority group.
Voting irregularities and threats of violence often impede elections and discourage voter participation. Voter
turnout has decreased from 79 percent in 2005 to 64 percent in 2010.The voting age is 18.
Economy
GDP (PPP) in billions (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=33)
$505.4
GDP (PPP) per capita (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=33)
$14,100
Iraq’s economy is mainly controlled by the government. Government reforms and political stability are needed to
encourage more foreign investment. Oil makes up about 90 percent of government revenue and more than 80
percent of the country’s exports. Iraq is the second largest oil producer in the world, and holds the fifth largest
reserves. Because of its emphasis on oil, the economy is closely tied to fluctuations in world oil prices. Oil wealth
allowed the government to invest heavily in the country's infrastructure and education in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Iraq also produces barley, wheat, rice, cotton, textiles, and natural gas. Agricultural production does not meet
local needs, and large amounts of food are imported. Despite the large public sector, unemployment is high.
Many Iraqis are dependent on foreign aid programs and services. The currency is the Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Transportation and Communications
Internet Users (per 100 people) (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=23)
11.3
Cellular Phone Subscriptions (per 100 people) (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=23)
94.91
Paved Roads (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=42)
100%
Iraq has an extensive system of paved roads and highways, although much of the infrastructure is in need of
repair. The majority of urban Iraqis rely on buses and taxis; few people own cars. Railways connect Baghdad with
other major cities. In rural areas, people may get around with carts and animals.
Most Iraqis have landline telephones, and post offices and telecommunication centers provide telephones and
faxes. Cellular phones are very common. Almost everyone in major cities has access to television and radio
broadcasts. In addition to locally produced television shows, Egyptian, Syrian, and Lebanese shows are popular.
U.S. and European shows are subtitled in Arabic. Internet use is growing, and many Iraqis have access to the
internet through personal computers or internet cafés. Postal service is fairly reliable.
Education
Adult Literacy (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=18)
80%
Mean Years of Schooling (country_data.php?selected_data_table_category_id=34)
5.6
Structure
Primary school begins at age six and lasts six years. At the end of primary school, a nationwide examination
determines if a child can advance to intermediate school. Students who fail the exam can choose to repeat the
grade, but many students who fail the exam drop out of school. Grade repetition places a strain on the
educational system. At age 12 or 13, most students enter intermediate school, which lasts three years. Another
general exam must be passed to gain entrance to secondary school (also three years long) and determines
whether students will enter a science or arts academic track there. Other options for study include vocational
training in trade, industry, or agriculture. Most secondary school graduates, especially those who graduated from
academic tracks, go on to university education for two to six years of additional study. All schools follow a
unified national curriculum. Students are segregated by gender at some schools.
Access
In the early 1980s, the government's large investments in education dramatically increased literacy rates and the
accessibility of higher education. By the mid-1980s, however, resources were diverted to support the military
during the Iran-Iraq war and, later, the invasion of Kuwait. Economic sanctions after the invasion also decreased
education funding. Schools fell into disrepair, and many teachers were forced to abandon their jobs when
salaries decreased to the equivalent of just a few U.S. dollars a month. Where schools continued to operate,
students had to attend overcrowded classrooms and share the few available books. Impoverished parents often
compelled their children to find work rather than go to school. Although attendance at primary school used to be
compulsory, today security concerns and financial needs prevent an estimated one in six eligible students from
attending primary school. Education is free in public schools, including textbooks and supplementary materials.
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Higher Education
The main universities are Baghdad University, al-Mustansiriya University, and the University of Technology,
Baghdad City. Outside of Baghdad, prominent universities include Mosul and Sulaymaniyyah universities in the
north and al-Basra University in the south. Starting in the mid-1990s—and especially after 2003—an increasing
number of accredited and non-accredited private universities opened throughout Iraq.
Health
Iraq's healthcare system is in disarray, especially in rural areas. Hospitals are understaffed and lack needed
medicine and supplies. Since 2003, the assassinations of prominent Iraqi medical specialists coupled with
political intimidation of medical professionals have prompted many Iraqi physicians to flee Iraq and seek refuge
in neighboring countries, Europe, and the United States. The result has been a severe shortage of physicians and
deterioration in the quality of service. Diseases such as typhoid and cholera are common, in large part due to
contaminated drinking water. These problems, combined with widespread poverty, malnutrition, and pollution,
have contributed to a significant rise in infant mortality in recent years.
At a Glance
Contact Information
Embassy of Iraq, 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; phone (202) 742-1600 Ext. 136; web
site www.iraqiembassy.us.
© 2016 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. (../main/copyright.php)
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