Iraq

Iraq, officially Republic of Iraq, is a country in the Middle East located in Western Asia. It borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west. The capital is Baghdad. Iraqi culture is one of the oldest in the world, with roots dating back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, including the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Iraq was a major center of culture and science during the Abbasid Caliphate. The predominant religion is Islam, with significant presence of both Sunni and Shia Muslims. Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil resources, but also has sectors like agriculture and industry. The country has a recent turbulent history, including the long dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the Gulf Wars, and conflict with the Islamic State. Famous places in Iraq include the ancient city of Babylon and the holy city of Najaf. Population of Iraq from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Approximately 38 million inhabitants. 2019: Approximately 39 million inhabitants. 2020: Approximately 40 million inhabitants. Capital (Baghdad): Population in 2020: About 7.7 million inhabitants. Top 10 cities by number of inhabitants in 2020: (Figures are approximate) Baghdad: ~7.7 million Mosul: ~1.8 million Basra: ~1.5 million Erbil: ~1.5 million Sulaymaniyah: ~1.6 million Kirkuk: ~1 million Najaf: ~1.3 million Karbala: ~0.7 million Nasiriyah: ~0.6 million Amarah: ~0.5 million Administrative Divisions: Iraq is divided into 19 governorates. Some governorates: Baghdad, Basra, Dhi Qar, Erbil, Kirkuk, etc. GDP in millions of dollars from 2018 to 2020: 2018: About $230 billion. 2019: About $234 billion. 2020: Approximately $172 billion (estimate, considering the impact of COVID-19). Public deficit in millions of dollars from 2018 to 2020: 2018-2020: (Data not available at the time of the last update) % GDP/government debt ratio from 2018 to 2020: 2018-2020: (Data not available at the time of the last update) Unemployment rate % from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Approximately 12.9%. 2019: Approximately 13.0%. 2020: Approximately 14.1% (estimate). Inflation Rate from 2018 to 2020: 2018: Around 0.4%. 2019: Approximately 0.2%. 2020: Estimated to be around 1.1%.