Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.
Countries of Asia
On the heels of my posts 21 Must-Know Facts about Israel, & 20 Must-Know Facts about Gaza Strip + Map.
I thought it might be interesting to take a look at Iran as I continue on my journey to investigate the countries on this list of countries in Asia.
So, what do we know about Iran?
1. Iran has about 66 million people equal to the population of California + Texas and Tennessee. It’s number 18 on the list of countries in the world by population between Turkey and France. Two-thirds of all Iranians are under the age of 25.
2. Iran is # 18 in size of countries between Libya and Mongolia and equal to the size of Alaska. Or equal to Texas + New Mexico + Oklahoma + Kansas + Colorado.
3. Iran‘s neighbors are Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km. (1.62Km = 1 mile).
4. Iran was formerly known as Persia.
5. Iran‘s history dates back to 4000BC.
6. Iran is second in the world in natural gas AND oil reserves. It is OPEC’s second largest oil exporter.
7. Iran‘s second largest export commodity are carpets. (the flying kind?)
8. Iran is one of 8 countries that begins with the letter “I”. Can you name the other seven? Answer at the bottom.
9. Iran is made up of Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchi (2%), Lurs (2%), Turkmens (2%), Laks, Qashqai, Armenians, Persian Jews, Georgians, Assyrians, Circassians, Tats, Mandaeans, Gypsies, Brahuis, Hazara, Kazakhs and others (1%).
10. Almost nine in 10 Iranians belong to the Twelver Shi’a branch of Islam. Eight percent are Sunni.
11. Iran suffers from air pollution, deforestation, overgrazing, oil pollution in the Persian Gulf, drought, soil degradation and water pollution from raw sewage.
12. Three of four Iranians over 15 can read and write.
13. Unemployment in Iran is about 12%.
14. IIran‘s top export partners are – China 15%, Japan 14.3%, Turkey 7.4%, South Korea 7.3%, Italy 6.4%.
15. Iran‘s top import partners are – China 14.2%, Germany 9.6%, UAE 9.1%, South Korea 6.3%, Russia 5.7%, Italy 5%.
16. There is one telephone for every three Iranians and one mobile phone for every two. One in three Iranians is online.
17. Iran has 331 airports. Six are international.
18. Iran is on the soon-to-be ex-president’s ‘dirt’ list – the axis of evil.
19. There are at three Iranian English Dailies –
- Tehran Times – English-language daily, published by state-run body
- Iran Daily – English-language, published by official news agency IRNA
- Iran News – English-language
20. Before traveling to Iran – travel to http:www.travel.state.gov, Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings.
Please be sure to Sign my Iran Guestbook and sign my Asia guestbook, too.
You might also be interested in:
21 Must Know Facts about India + Map
Answer to #8 – India, Iraq, Iceland, Ireland, Indonesia, Italy, Israel, …and Iran.
source, source, source, source, source, and source
Ivory Coast is properly called “Cote D’Ivoire” so it shouldn’t be on the list.
Awesome article — keep it up! I am loving this series.
Your write-up is great value.But would be interested in knowing more about the people and what’s happening inside country culturally, politically,socially and particularly about women and amount of freedom they enjoy.
I write a regular blog “ANYTHING WHICH INTERESTS ME” and is available on http://www.blog.co.in and also write ablog on bollywood films made in Mumbai”KARENGE JAMKAR BOLLYWOOD BLOGGING” and is avilable on http://www.blogger.com
what about ivory coast
And the truth shall set you free Yankee Doodle! Love the truth, love the article, please do more!
Ivory Coast is not the name of the country any longer. It is globally recognized as Côte d’Ivoire.
So many innacuracies I can’t even be bothered to list them
I’m Iranian, by the way. Under 25, over 15, able to read and rite. Dammit.
Hey Dude! Very Nice 1! Actually I didnt know some of the above although am Iranian lol [my bad presumably]//Uh! And, if you still wondering no we do not make Flying Carpets lol//Ok I gotta hit the road now, Keep up with the good posts n Ill be comin back…
I REALLY like your series on the differentt countries. Keep it up!!!
Hey! Great blog! I really enjoyed all of it ..even the comments. Please continue with it.
In addition that it is the NUMBER 1 TERRORIST COUNTRY in the world and supports and trains terrorist in it’s land.
I haven’t read any of your other sections besides this one, but i would like to say that you largely leave out any political or social commentary, which is a little dissapointing, considering how much you could be saying, regardless of which way you swing.
Alma,
If you read carefully, you’ll know which way I swing.
Bill
Hey Joe,
The country is not a terrorist country. Country is different from government. You cannot judge any country by it’s government. Politics has nothing to do with the culture. You guys just keep on watching your TV Reality shows and don’t worry about commenting!!
azerbaycan
Iranian people are good. Just watch the movie”Children of Heaven”. such a nice piece of art!.
Regards
aftab1.com
hey, IRAN ROCKS!!!
i am making a website about iran myself:
I am iranian by the way, and iran is NOT a terrorist place, and the government has done a lot to help Iran, and the votes were right too.
Not everyone living in iran is a brainwashed radical fundamentalist murderer.Look at how far back those hijabs are on the women! Around 40% of Iran is young people who couldn’t give a flip about jihad and hate their government MUCH MORE than we do.THEY , the majority of the citizens, feel sorry for us! They hate that 9/11 happened too! Not all the Germans embraced Hitler. They just didn’t have as much choice at the time! Iran just wants the same freedom that every human being on the planet does. You can’t steryotype them into murderers though. The general population is normal families trying to live decent lives like the rest of us.
Joe, well thank god for your sake all the iranians in the USA have their fancy cars and fancy houses in Beverley Hills and other rich places, too busy eating caviar and partying to even care what you say.
The nation of of terrorits, more like the nation of NOSE JOBS!!! HAHAHA
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