About Iran

Iran is the largest country in the Middle East and the 18 th largest country in the world. Due to the economic reforms and emerging prosperity of the Middle Eastern markets more and more foreign nationals and corporations are being drawn to the nation. To help you understand more about Iran we have provided a general outline of the country below.

Please be advised that the information contained below is liable to change without warning. For more up to date information it is suggested that you consult a professional.

Official Name: The Islamic Republic of Iran, or simply Iran, was known for much of its history as Persia. Local nationals call the country Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran, or simply Iran for short.

Capital: The capital of Iran and the biggest city in the country is Tehran.

Location: Iran is located in the Middle East and shares a land border with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. The country also has water borders on the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Caspian Sea . Due to its central location between Europe and Asia, Iran was historically thought of as the most strategically situated country in the world.

Size: Iran occupies a total area of 1.648 million square kilometers, making the country slightly larger than the US state of Alaska.

Climate: The climate in Iran is typically described as arid, or semi arid; however the Caspian coast can be subtropical at times. It is important to note that the temperature can be extremely low for most of the year, and that the average high during the summer is only 29 degrees Celsius.

Population: Iran boasts a population of approximately 65.397 Million People. In terms of overall population Iran is the 18 th most populated country in the world.

Life expectancy at birth: There is an average life expectancy in Iran of 70.56 years at birth. While not extremely high, this life expectancy is close to the global average. Women in Iran are expected to live approximately 3 years longer than men.

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: There is a low prevalence of HIV/Aids throughout Iran with only roughly 0.1% of the total population living with the disease. This means that there are only about 31,000 people in Iran who have HIV/Aids, one of the lowest rates of the disease in the world.

Major illnesses: The main illness risks in Iran come from environmental factors. Visitors are cautioned to properly hydrate as the dry arid conditions can lead to severe dehydration. There have been cases of Bird Flu in more remote parts of the country but these are said to have been contained.

Ethnic Groups: Iran is home to a number of ethnic groups. Of the ethnicities represented in Iran Persian represent the largest ethnic group comprising approximately 51% of the total population. The other major ethnicities in the country are Azeri (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurd (7%), Arab (3%), Lur (2%), Baloch (2%), Turkmen (2%), Other (1%).

Languages: The language mainly spoken in Iran is Persian (approximately 51% of the population), however each ethnic group will speak their own dialect. The second most widely spoken language in Iran after Persian is Turkish.

Religion: 98% of the Iranian population are Muslims, and of these approximately 89% are Shi'a and 9% Sunni. The remaining 2% of the population practices a number of diverse religions including Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Judaism, however these are not practiced openly.

Government: Iran is a Theocratic Republic. This means that the country is run by the religious establishment (mosques and clergy) with the Iranian population having very little input towards government officials. As a republic, Iran is a nation that incorporates a number of self governing (or autonomous) states underneath a single federal government.

Head of State: Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini-Khamenei.

Head of Government: President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad. The head of the Iranian government has very little power in terms of political reform. All true power in Iran lies with the Imams (or high clergy).

Military: Iran has a large military and enforces a mandatory conscription for all males over 18 years of age. The length of service for a conscript is 18 months minimum. The country spends approximately 2.5% of its total GDP on the military.

Economy: The Iranian economy is extremely dependant on the nations oil production capabilities. This has caused the economy to become stagnated and has lead to the over nationalization of many key industries. However, in recent years the Iranian government has instituted policies to move the economy away from its dependence on oil and to create modern technological industries. With the creation of free trade zones, innovative tax reforms, and wide spread privatization, Iran is beginning to emerge as a major middle eastern economic power.

GDP: Iran has a purchasing power parity GDP of US$599.2 billion and an actual exchange rate of US$ 193.5 billion.

For more information about Iran expat insurance, the international health insurance plans that we can offer there, or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our expert advisers today.

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