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Iranology in Brief

Sometimes, a few facts and figures can prove to be more useful than hundreds of pages of detailed description.
To make the Islamic Republic of Iran better known, a
few words may be essential.

Geographical Features: Comprising a land area of 1,648,195 sq. km, Iran is located in the Southwest Asia among the Middle East countries. The land lies between latitudes 25 degree to 39 degree 40' north of equator and between longitudes 44 degree 14' to 63 degree 20' east of Greenwich Meridian. Iran is bounded on the north by Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and Armenia, on the West by Turkey and Iraq, on the south by the Persian Gulf and Oman sea, on the east by Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Totally, Iran has a border of 8731 km of which 2,700 km go for water borders and 6031 km for land borders. About 90% of Iran’s land falls within the boundary of the Iranian Plateau. More than half of the area is worn to mountains and highlands, one fourth of it comprises deserts and arable lands cover less than one fourth of the remaining area. Iran enjoys a vast climatic diversity.

The Superlatives

• The highest point in Iran is Mount Damavand being 5671 meters high .

• The longest river is Karoon being 890 kilometers long (only navigable river).

• The largest lake is the Orumiyeh lake with an area of 4868 kilometers .

• The largest island is Qeshm with an area of 4868 km.

Population and Manpower: According to the 1996 Population and Housing Census (the latest census), total population of the country is 60,055,488. The population density was 36.7 persons per square kilometer. Of the total population, 61.3% and 38.3% lived in urban and rural areas of whom 50.8% and 49.2%s were males and females respectively. Distribution of age groups:

• Infants (under one year): 1.71%

• Young children (1 - 5 years): 11.21%

• School-age children (6 - 10 years): 14.6%

• Young adults (11 - 14 years): 11.99%

• Adults (15 - 24 years): 20.54%

• Middle-aged (25 - 64 years): 35.58%

• Aged (65 years and over): 4.32%

Agriculture: According to the 1996 reports of the Ministry of Agriculture, the most important crops and animal products are as follows:
Crop Production and animal products (1000 tons): Wheat 10,015, barely 2,736, rice 2,685, meat 685, chicken 676, egg 486, milk 4,705. The areas of forests and pastures in Iran are 12.4 and 90 million hectares respectively.

Mining and Manufacturing: The major industries include oil and gas, petrochemical, steel, textile, chemical, food, car manufacturing, electric and electronic equipment, etc. The most important household, hand-made and traditional industries contain carpet, kelim, jajim and zelu, inlaid work and pottery. According to the 1996 Population and Housing Census, a population of about 4.5 million were engaged in different industries. By the end of March 1998, of 2,704 operating mines, 2,137 and 567 mines were run by the private and public sectors respectively. The most important mines include coal, metallic minerals, sand and gravel, chemical minerals, salt, etc.

* Source: Statistical Center of Iran