Debt - external:
$92.33 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
more than $33 billion in foreign aid pledged for 2004-07 (2004)
Currency (code):
New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004
Currency code:
NID, IQD prior to 22 January 2004
Exchange rates:
New Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 1,475 (2005), 1,890 (second half,
2003), 0.3109 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,034,200 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
574,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: the 2003 war severely disrupted
telecommunications throughout Iraq including international
connections; USAID is overseeing the repair of switching capability
and the construction of mobile and satellite communication facilities
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during the 2003
war continue, but sabotage remains a problem; additional switching
capacity is improving access; cellular service is available and
centered on three regional GSM networks, improving country-wide
connectivity
international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable
and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey;
despite a new satellite gateway, international calls outside of
Baghdad remain problematic