overview
Republic of Iraq
(Jumhūrīyyat al-'Irāq)
country information
Flag
capital
Baghdad
DRIVING SIDE: Right
INTERNET CODE: .iq
TIME ZONE: UTC + 3
COUNTRY CODE: +964
COASTLINE: Borders on Persian Gulf (58 km)
Neighbours
Iran
Jordan
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
population
38 million
religion
Islam 99%
Other (incl. Christianity, Judaism) <7%
president & parliament
Head of State: Pres. Barham Salih
Prime Minister: Adil Abdul-Mahdi
Ruling Party: Iraqi Islamic Party
minority & majority groups
Majority: Shi’a Arabs, Sunni Arabs, Kurds
Minority: Turkmen
LANGUAGE
Iraqi Arabic/Kurdish
Hello: Marhaba مرحباً
Yes: Na’’am نعم / ’ee إي /balaa بلى
No: La لا
Thank you: Shukran شكرا
C U R R E N C Y &
E X C H A N G E R AT E
Iraqi Dinar (IQD) (ع.د)
1 USD = 1183,25 IQD
1 ZAR = 67,42 IQD
Subject to change
VACCINATIONS
No compulsory vaccinations,
Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Meningitis, Polio, Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR), Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia & Influenza
ELECTRICITY
Voltage Requirements: 230 V
Standard Frequency:
50 Hz
Widespread electricity shortages. Some only receive 2-4 hours per day. Electricity is subsidized, increasing demand. Cost of electricity can be up to 125,000 dinars ($100)/month making it inaccessible to many
TEMPERATURE
Winter: Min. 5 °C – Max. 10 °C
Summer: Min. 24 °C – Max. 39°C
Iraq has a hot, dry climate characterized by hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Iraq’s location between the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the Persian Gulf. About 70 percent of the rainfall in the country falls between November and March; June to August are often rainless.
DIPLOMATIC TIES / AIRPORTS / CARRIERS / NGO’S
EMBASSY / CONSULAR PRESENCE
Currently no residential diplomatic representation for South Africa. South African embassy in Jordan is responsible for all relations with Iraq.
South Africa Embassy in Jordan
15 Al Bashir Al Shuraiqi
North West Abdoun
PO Box 851508
Sweifieh 11185
Amman, Jordan
Website info for above:
https://www.embassypages.com/southafrica-embassy-amman-jordan
MAIN AIRPORT(S)
Baghdad International Airport
Erbil International Airport
Al Najaf International Airport
Sulaymaniyah International Airport
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport for 6 months, Visa (to be obtained prior to arrival/entry). Passport must have sufficient pages (minimum 2 blank pages) for entry and exit stamps.
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS & CARRIERS
Fly Baghdad
Fly Erbil
Iraqi Airways
NGO’S OPERATING IN COUNTRY & CONTACT DETAILS
For a list of all NGO’s operating inside Iraq, visit
Pew Research Center. Iraq. Available from: http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/iraq#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010®ion_name=All%20Countries&restrictions_year=2016
Last Updated 18 May 2020