Iran, known historically as Persia and officially as the Islamic Republic of Iran is a country in the Middle East. Historical records date some civilizations in the territory as far back as 7000 BC. Persian empires and their influences on Islamic culture and religion are clearly visible to this day. Iran is a regional power due to its large petroleum and natural gas reserves. Tehran is the nation’s capital, as well as the cultural, industrial, commercial and political seat of power. In the past decades Iran has been mired in certain clashes with other regional neighbors as well as the US. That being said, however, Iran is still an interesting destination with a lot of history and influence in the Middle East.
Whenever you travel to a new place it can be intimidating and because of this it is essential to have some background information on where you travel. This is why we have provided below a basic overview of Iran. Please keep in mind that the overview shown in this page is subject to revision without prior knowledge or notice, thus you should also consult with an expert for the most relevant and recent information.
Official Name: Known as the Islamic Republic of Iran or simply Iran. The country was formerly known internationally as Persia until 1935.
Capital: The capital of Iran is Tehran. It is the largest city in the country. It is also the seat of government and is the cultural, commercial and political center of the country. Tehran is situated in the Northern part of the country and is close to the Caspian Sea.
Location: Iran is located in Central Eurasia, although some maps place it within the Middle East. It is situated in between the nations of Iraq and Pakistan. Three bodies of water surround the nation as well. These include the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf in the south and the Caspian Sea in the north.
Size: The total area of Iran is approximately 1.65 million square kilometers. This area ranks 25th globally and is comparable to the size of the US state of Alaska.
Climate: Given Iran’s geography comprising of the Iranian plateau and very mountainous regions, Iran’s climate varies typically form arid to semiarid, with a mild subtropical climate being found on the Caspian coast. The mountainous regions in the west typically experience harsher winters with temperatures falling well below freezing, although the summers are typically mild with temperatures never going above 30 degrees Celsius. The southern arid desert and coastal regions, on the other hand, can experience very hot and humid summers with temperatures rising to 38 degrees Celsius, while their winters typically mild.
Population: The population of Iran is 66.43 million, and this ranks 20th globally. Iran has, in recent years, experienced one of the highest urban growth rates in the world, with the percentage of people living in urban area rising from 27% in 1950 to 60% in 2002. This figure will continue to grow as many Iranians are flocking to the urban centers of Tehran, Isfahan and Ahvaz to name of few. Tehran is the largest city in the Middle East with close to 8 million inhabitants, or 11% of the population.
Life expectancy at birth: The average life expectancy at birth in Iran is 71.1 years, this ranks fairly low in the worldwide comparison, ranking 132nd. According to a 2009 estimate, there is a 3 year gap between males and females, with females typically living to an average of 72.7 years in comparison to males at 69.7 years.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: Approximately 0.2% of Iran’s population has HIV/AIDS. This translates to around 86,000 people that are living with the illness, ranking 49th in the world.
Major illnesses: The degree of major illness in Iran is moderate. The most common food or waterborne illness is bacterial diarrhea. Other vector borne diseases include Malaria and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever. The country has also seen cases of H5N1 influenza, although these cases have been very rare.
Ethnic Groups: Iran consists of a diverse set of ethnic groups, all of which are united under the Persian culture. The main ethnic groups in Iran include Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Mazandarani and Gilaki (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchi (2%), Lurs (2%), Turkmens (2%) and others (1%).
Languages: The official language of Iran is Mandarin Chinese. Iran Min Nan is also spoken by the majority of inhabitants, and this language is a variant of Min Nan which is spoken in the Fujian province of China.
Religion:The main religion of Iran is Islam. 98% of Iranians are Muslim, with the breakdown within this being 89% Shi’a (the official language of the country) and Sunni at 9%. Other languages comprise the remaining 2% and include Zoroastrian, Christian, Jewish and Baha’i.
Government: Iran is a theocratic republic that is based on the constitution that was drawn up in 1979. A theocratic republic is a system where the supreme leader is thought to have divine guidance. The system is composed of interconnected governing groups. Second in command is the President of Iran, who is elected by universal suffrage, and is the highest state leader.
Head of State: The Iranian Head of State is Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei who has ruled since June 4th, 1989. Khamenei is the highest political and religious authority and is in charge of appointing very high positions within the government. These include commanders of the armed forces, director of the national television and radio network, heads of key religious organizations and the Chief Judge of Iran.
Head of Government: The head of the Government in Iran is the President. The current president of Iran is Mahmoud Ahmadi-nejad who was elected to the office in 2005. The president is in charge of implementing the constitution and for exercising executive powers. The president oversees the Council of Ministers and handles much of the day to day decision making, with the help of a 22 member cabinet and 8 vice presidents. Ahmadi-nejad, a conservative hardliner, has been a controversial figure on the world stage, as he has promoted the continual development of Iranian nuclear capabilities against the wishes of the UN, US and EU, as well as many other international governing bodies.
Military: There is compulsory military service for all males who have reached the age of 19, while males as young as 16 years of age can volunteer, with other age requirements being 17 years for law enforcement forces and 15 years for Basij Forces (also known as the Popular Mobilization Army). This military service is for a minimum of 18 months. The government spends around 2.5% of its GDP on military expenditures and this figure ranks 67th in the world.
Economy: Iran’s economy is a combination of state ownership of oil, central planning, village agriculture and other large organizations. The state sector of Iran is largely inefficient, and generally relies on its oil reserves for government revenues. Since oil accounts for the majority of the country’s earnings, most private enterprises are fairly limited. Oil accounted for 45% of the budget, with another 31% coming from fees and taxes. While the economy has grown in the past decades, Iran is still subject to high inflation, close to 28%, and double digit unemployment. During the high oil prices of 2007, Iran saw close to $100 billion in foreign exchange reserves due to crude oil exports. As the price on oil has fallen to $40 a barrel, however, the government has had to rethink its budget for the current fiscal year. As a result of rapid unemployment, many young and educated Iranians have left the country for international opportunities, thus creating a vacuum of talent in the country.
GDP: Iran has a GDP purchasing power parity of US$ 842 billion with real growth rate of about 6.5%, and ranks 18th worldwide in terms of this GDP figure. This is largely due to its strong reliance on petroleum and its importance worldwide.
Iran is a regional power in the Middle East. It is a large and vast country that holds many architectural and cultural treasures from its long and storied past. For more information about travel within Iran, the international health insurance plans and programs that we can provide there, or to receive a free quote, please contact our friendly experts for advice today.
For more information about travel within Iran, the international health insurance plans and programs that we can provide there, or to receive a free quote, please contact contact our friendly experts for advice today. |
