Area: 1.648 million sq km (636,296 sq miles)
Population: 70 million (UN estimate for 2000)
Capital City: Tehran (population: approx 12-15 million)
People: The majority are Persian, but there is a significant Azeri minority. Other ethnic groups include Kurds, Arabs, Lurs, Baluchis and Turkmen
Languages: Persian (Farsi) is the national language. Azeri is the next most widely spoken language, most Azeri speakers living in the northwest around Tabriz. Other minority languages include Kurdish, Arabic, Luri and Baluchi
Religion(s): The official religion is Shi'a Islam. The majority of the population are Muslims, approximately 91% are Shi'a, 8% are Sunni. The rest are mainly Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian or Bahá'í
Currency: £1 = 15,525 (April 2004) Iranian Rials (10 Rials=1 Toman)
Government: Islamic Republic
Head of State: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i
President: Dr Mahmud Ahmadinejad
Foreign Minister: Manuchehr Mottaki