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I RAQ

an, was quoted as saying, “Hardly any language seems capable of exercising over the minds of its users such influence as Arabic. Modern audiences in Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo can be stirred to the highest degree by the recital of poems only vaguely compre- hended, and by the delivery of orations in the classical tongue, though only partially understood.” Traditionally, Kurds have been organized by tribes, although trib- al affiliation has become less important in recent years. Kurdish vil- lages and cities have grown in the highlands and mountain valleys of northern Iraq, particularly in the three provinces of As Sulaymaniyah,

Quick Facts: The People of Iraq

Population: 32,585,692 (rank 40th in the world) Ethnic groups: Arab, 75%–80%; Kurdish, 15%–20%; Turkomen, Assyrian, or other, 5% Religions: Islam (official), 99% (Shia 60%–65%, Sunni 32%–37%); Christian, 0.8%; other, 0.2% Language: Arabic (official); Kurdish (official); Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic) are official in areas where they constitute a majority of the population); Armenian Age structure:

0–14 years: 36.7% 15–24 years: 19.6% 25–54 years: 36.3% 55–64 years: 4.2% 65 years and over: 3.2% Population growth rate: 2.23% (rank 42nd in the world)

Birth rate: 26.85 births/1,000 population (rank 46nd in the world) Death rate: 4.57 deaths/1,000 population (rank 200th in the world) Infant mortality rate: 37.53 deaths/ 1,000 live births (rank 62nd in the world) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.42 years (rank 146th in the world)

males: 69.93 years females: 72.99 years Literacy: 78.5% (2011 est.)

All figures are 2014 estimates unless otherwise indicated. Source: Adapted from CIA World Factbook, 2015.