Head of state: Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseini Khamenei (Supreme Leader of the Revolution)
Head of government: Mahmud Ahmadinejad (President)
Type of state: theocratic republic
Land area: 1,648,000 km2
Capital: Teheran 
Population: 74.1m
Ethnic groups: 51% Persian, 24% Azeri, 8% Gilaki and Mazandarani, 7% Kurd, 3% Arab, 2% Lur, 2% Baloch, 2% Turkmen, 1% other
Religions: 89% Shi’a Moslem, 9% Sunni Moslem, 2% Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian and Baha’i
Languages: 59% Persian and Persian dialects, 26% Turkish dialects (Azeri, Turkmen), 7% Kurd, 3% Arab, 2% Luri, 2% Balochi, 1% other
Currency: Iranian rial (IRR)
Gross domestic product (GDP) 2010: USD 337.9bn
Change over previous year: +2.25%
Per capita GDP 2010: USD 4,540
Swiss colony 2010: 204 persons
Swiss exports 2010: CHF 702.12m
Change over previous year: -7.5%
Swiss imports 2010: CHF 44.28m
Change over previous year: +1.0%