Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being Saddam Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-1988). In August 1990 Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during January-February 1991. The victors did not occupy Iraq, however, thus allowing the regime to stay in control. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. UN trade sanctions remain in effect due to incomplete Iraqi compliance with relevant UNSC resolutions.
Demographic Data
Capital: Bagdad
Government type: Military Dictatorship
Government stability: 71.1%
Government efficiency: 61.4%
Population's support to government: 70.5%
Area: 432,162 square kilometers
Habitable land: 25.0%
Farmable land: 12.0%
Total population: 20,643 thousands
Population's growth: 3.7%
Country's development level: 5,990
Economic Data
GNP: 376,600,000,000
Industralisation: 74.6%
International funding: 0
Political Data
Secret services efficiency: 5,525
Military Data
Technological generation: 1
Number of rebels: 7,018
Rebels development: 5,391
Rebels technological access: 4,192