Republic of Iraq
Estimated population 29 million
Population density (people per square mile) 181
Population doubling time 27 years
GDP per capita US$ 6,862
Benchmark approximations
Population doubling time in years:
USA 79. Canada 81. Germany declining. UK 248. Russia declining. China 110. Philippines 41.
Population density (people per square mile)
USA 85. Canada 9. Germany 593. UK 660. Russia 21. China 368. Philippines 795.
GDP per capita in US$:
USA 53,000. Canada 52,000. Germany 46,200. UK 41,800. Russia 14,600. China 6,800. Philippines 2,770
RECENT HISTORY
The modern nation-state of Iraq was created following World War I (1914–18) from the Ottoman provinces of Baghdad, Al-Baṣrah, and Mosul. Iraq gained formal independence in 1932 but remained subject to British imperial influence during the next quarter century of turbulent monarchical rule.
Political instability on an even greater scale followed the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958.
With proven oil reserves second in the world only to those of Saudi Arabia, the Ba’th regime was able to finance ambitious projects and development plans throughout the 1970s and to build one of the largest and best-equipped armed forces in the Arab world. The Ba’th party leader Saddam Hussein, a ruthless autocrat, embarked on a series of disastrous military adventures leaving the country isolated, and socially and financially drained. With the 2003 American / British invasion of Iraq, the execution of Saddam, and the following 8 year occupation, Iraq now continues to suffer from religiously divisive political instability and armed insurgencies.
Currently basically a bankrupt economy, with little infrastructure left, mainly supported by foreign owned companies (who can export all profits) with only the poorly performing petroleum industry under state control.
EDUCATION
Education in Iraq is free. Six years of primary education (6-12) are compulsory, but many children do not attend school as they must work to help support their families. Secondary education (ages 12 to 18) is widely available.Instruction is in Arabic, although in much of the Kurdish-inhabited northern region, which has been autonomous since 1991, Kurdish is used in all levels of education alongside Arabic.
Beginning in the early 1990s, however, enrolment, for both boys and girls, fell considerably at all levels as many were forced to leave school and enter the workforce. Moreover, lacking access to the latest texts and equipment, Iraqi schools slowly fell behind those of other countries in the region in terms of the quality of education they offered. The educational system had formerly been highly politicized, and, following the fall of the Baʿth Party, an entirely new approach was encouraged by the CPA and the Iraqi Governing Council.
Iraq has a number of large universities, including the University of Baghdād (founded in 1957), the University of Al Başrah (1964), and the University of Mosul (1967). The country also has about 20 technical institutes.
Only 41 percent of Iraqis aged 15 or older are literate.