Middle East Governments SS7CG4; SS7CG5

IRAN

IRAN Form of Govt: Theocratic Republic (Theocracy) Government ruled by a religion. Chief of State: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei Leader: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Religions: Muslim 98% (Official), Other 2% (includes Zoroastrianism, Jewish, Christian, and Baha’i) Shia 89%, Sunni 9%

IRAN Population: 78,868,711 Unemployment Rate: 15.3% Ethnic groups: Persians 61%, Azeri 16%, Kurd 10%, Lur 6%, Baloch 2%, Arab 2%, Turkmen and Turkic Tribes 2%, Other 1% Life Expectancy: 70 yrs.

IRAQ

IRAQ Form of Govt: Parliamentary Democracy Parliament selects leaders from the political party currently in control. Chief of State: President Jalal Talabani Leader: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Religions: Muslim 97% (Official), Christian/Other 3%. Shia 65%, Sunni 32%

IRAQ Population: 31,129,225 Unemployment Rate: 15% Ethnic groups: Arab 80%, Kurdish 15%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or Other 5% Life Expectancy: 70 yrs.

SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA Form of Govt: Monarchy Government controlled by a King/Queen. Chief of State: King and Prime Minister Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud. Leader: King and Prime Minister Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud. Religions: Muslim 100% (Official)

SAUDI ARABIA Population: 26,534,504 Unemployment Rate: 11% Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10% Life Expectancy: 74 yrs.

TURKEY

TURKEY Form of Govt: Republican Parliamentary Democracy Parliament is elected, and then they select the leaders. Chief of State: President Abdullah Gul Leader: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Religions: Muslim 99.8% (Mostly Sunni), Other 0.2% (Mostly Christian and Jew)

TURKEY Population: 79,749,461 Unemployment Rate: 9.8% Ethnic groups: Turkish 75%, Kurdish 18%, Other 7% Life Expectancy: 72 yrs.

QUICK REVIEW ______________________’S Chief of State and Leader are the same person. Which 3 countries have Islam (Muslim) as their “Official” religion? ___________________________

QUICK REVIEW _________________ has the highest unemployment rate out of all the countries we have just studied. __________________ has the highest population out of all the countries we have just studied.

ISRAEL

ISRAEL Form of Govt: Parliamentary Democracy Chief of State: President Shimon Peres Leader: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Religions: Jewish 75.6%, Muslim 16.9%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.7%, Other 3.8%

ISRAEL Population: 7,590,758 Unemployment Rate: 5.6% Ethnic Groups: Jewish 76.4%, Non-Jewish 23.6% (Mostly Arab) Life Expectancy: 81 yrs.

KUWAIT

KUWAIT Form of Govt: Constitutional Emirate Power of the Emir (King) is limited by a Constitution. Chief of State: Amir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah Leader: Prime Minister Jabir al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah Religions: Muslim 85% (Official), Other 15% (Includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi)

KUWAIT Population: 2,646,314 Unemployment Rate: 2.2% Ethnic Groups: Kuwaiti 45%, Other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, Other 7% Life Expectancy: 77 yrs.

AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN Form of Govt: Islamic Republic Theocracy based strictly on Islam. Chief of State: President Hamid Karzai Leader: President Hamid Karzai Religions: Sunni 80%, Shia 19%, Other 1%

AFGHANISTAN Population: 30,419,928 Unemployment: 35% Ethnic Groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, Other 4% Life Expectancy: 49 yrs.

QUICK REVIEW This country has an unemployment rate of just 5.6% and a life expectancy rate of 81 years. A) Kuwait B) Israel C) Afghanistan D) Turkey

QUICK REVIEW This country’s government is ruled by an Emir (King) who is limited by a constitution. A) Israel B) Iraq C) Afghanistan D) Kuwait

QUICK REVIEW ___________________ has the highest unemployment rate AND lowest life expectancy rate of all the countries we have studied.