30. Pack your bags: Which country is slightly larger than Alaska in land area, with a population of 65.4 million in July 2007, a median age of 25.8 years, a life expectancy of 70.5 years and a literacy rate of 79.4% of those over age 15?
From Quiz The "I"s have it...
Answer:
Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran is often in our newspapers and television news reports for its intransigence over it use of nuclear power. It is a theocratic republic - the elected rulers can be overruled by the mullahs - with 30 districts and its capital at Tehran. Most of its economy is based on oil and is controlled by the state. Economic reforms have faltered, and 40% of the population live below the poverty line. Infant mortality is high, with 38.12 deaths per 1,000 live births. The country is predominantly Muslim. Under 10% of the land is arable.
The Republic of Indonesia is an archipelagio of 17,508 islands (6,000 of which are inhabited) between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Again a majority Muslim nation, it is not ruled as an Islamic state, although some extremist groups seek to bring Sharia law to the country. It is almost three times the size of Texas in land area, with a population of 234.7 million in July 2007, a median age of 26.9 years, a life expectancy of 70.16 years and a literacy rate of 87.9% of those over age 15. Its capital is Jakarta.
The Republic of Iraq is a country undergoing major changes in 2007. It is a little more than twice the size of Idaho in land area, with a population of 27.5 million in July 2007, a median age of 20 years, a life expectancy of 69.3 years and a literacy rate of 40.4% of those over age 15. Its capital is Baghdad. Its economy is oil-based. The country was created at the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and comprises traditional areas of the Kurds, the Sunni Muslims and the Shi'a Muslims. Tensions are high between the three groups, and the country's future was still up in the air as of May 2007.
Italy is about the size of Arizona. It has a population of 58 million in July 2007, a median age of 42.5 years, a life expectancy of 80 years and a literacy rate of 98.6% of those over age 15. Its capital is Rome. As a member of the European Union, it is part of a vigorous economic bloc, but it still has internal challenges with corruption and high unemployment, especially in the south.