Country Guide • Iraq
Iraq is located in the Middle East. It is bound by Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the north west, Jordan to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south west and south as well as Kuwait and the Persian Gulf to the south east.
| Official Name | Republic of Iraq |
|---|---|
| Area | 434,925km² (167,925mile²) |
| Population | 24,682,000 |
| Continent | Middle East |
| Population per mile² | 146 |
| Capital City | Baghdad |
| Religions | Islamic Shiite Muslims 52%, Sunni Muslims 42%. The remainder are small Christian and Jewish minorities |
| Language | 80% Arabic and 15 % Kurdish |
| Government | In transition |
| Currency | Dinar |
| GDP | $58 billion |
| GDP per Head | $2,400 |
| Natural Resources | Petroleum, natural gas, phosphates and sulphur |
| Land Use | Arable Land 12% |
| Agriculture | Barley, wheat, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton, cattle and sheep |
| Industry | Chemicals, Food Processing, Leather, Oil and Gas Production and Refining, Textiles |
| Tourism | The British and Foreign Commonwealth office advise against all but the most essential travel to Iraq. The security situation in Iraq remains dangerous. We continue to receive information, which indicates that terrorists are actively targeting UK and US interests in Iraq. The threat to British nationals remains high |
| Natural Hazards | Dust storms, sandstorms, floods |
| Health Risks | Current Situation |
| Climate | Iraq has an arid climate with hot dry summers from May - October and cold winters from December - March with most of the rainfall occurring between December - March. In Baghdad the average annual rainfall is 6 inches but in the north east where it is highest, it can be as much as 23 inches annually. Generally rainfall is low elsewhere.Average temperature ranges in Baghdad are from 4 to 16°C in January to 24 to 50°C in July or August |
| Time | GMT/UTC+3 hours (+ 4 hours from 1 May to 30 September) |
| National Days | July 14 |
| Visas | British nationals must have a visa before travelling to Iraq. You can apply for a visa at Iraqi missions overseas, including the Iraqi Embassy in London. See the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. For British nationals travelling only to Kurdistan Region, a visa may be obtained on arrival |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.
