Capital

Irak

name: Baghdad

geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 24 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: although the origin of the name is disputed, it likely has compound Persian roots with bagh and dad meaning "god" and "given" respectively to create the meaning of "bestowed by God"

Panama

name: Panama City

geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from a former fishing area near the present capital - an indigenous village and its adjacent beach - that were called "panama" meaning "an abundance of fish"

Sri Lanka

name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E

time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: Colombo may derive from the Sinhala "kolon thota," meaning "port on the river" (referring to the Kelani River that empties into the Indian Ocean at Colombo); alternatively, the name may derive from the Sinhala "kola amba thota" meaning "harbor with mango trees"; it is also possible that the Portuguese named the city after Christopher COLUMBUS, who lived in Portugal for many years (as Cristovao COLOMBO) before discovering the Americas for the Spanish crown in 1492 - not long before the Portuguese made their way to Sri Lanka in 1505; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte translates as "Resplendent City of Growing Victory" in Sinhala

Citizenship

Irak

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iraq

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Panama

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Sri Lanka

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sri Lanka

dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Legal system

Irak

mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law

Panama

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice

Sri Lanka

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law

Suffrage

Irak

18 years of age; universal

Panama

18 years of age; universal

Sri Lanka

18 years of age; universal

Area

Irak

total: 438,317 sq km

land: 437,367 sq km

water: 950 sq km

Panama

total: 75,420 sq km

land: 74,340 sq km

water: 1,080 sq km

Sri Lanka

total: 65,610 sq km

land: 64,630 sq km

water: 980 sq km

Land use

Irak

agricultural land: 18.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 8.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 1.9% (2018 est.)

other: 80% (2018 est.)

Panama

agricultural land: 30.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 7.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 20.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.6% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)

Sri Lanka

agricultural land: 43.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 15.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 7% (2018 est.)

forest: 29.4% (2018 est.)

other: 27.1% (2018 est.)

Location

Irak

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Panama

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Sri Lanka

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Age structure

Irak

0-14 years: 35.24% (male 7,428,445/female 7,113,723)

15-64 years: 61.17% (male 12,692,897/female 12,548,936)

65 years and over: 3.59% (2023 est.) (male 658,844/female 823,264)

Panama

0-14 years: 25.19% (male 569,439/female 540,143)

15-64 years: 64.87% (male 1,444,638/female 1,412,319)

65 years and over: 9.94% (2023 est.) (male 204,156/female 233,413)

Sri Lanka

0-14 years: 21.95% (male 2,609,642/female 2,511,570)

15-64 years: 66.22% (male 7,609,573/female 7,836,480)

65 years and over: 11.83% (2023 est.) (male 1,156,637/female 1,602,370)

Birth rate

Irak

24.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Panama

17.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Sri Lanka

14.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Irak

3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Panama

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Sri Lanka

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Irak

Arabic (official), Kurdish (official); Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Syriac (Neo-Aramaic) are recognized as official languages where native speakers of these languages are present; Iraqis have the right to be educated in their native language

major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Panama

Spanish (official), indigenous languages (including Ngabere (or Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (or Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (similar to Jamaican English Creole; a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere; also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese); note - many Panamanians are bilingual

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Sri Lanka

Sinhala (official and national language) 87%, Tamil (official and national language) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)

note: data represent main languages spoken by the population aged 10 years and older; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; English is commonly used in government and is referred to as the "link language" in the constitution

Life expectancy at birth

Irak

total population: 73.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 71.6 years

female: 75.4 years

Panama

total population: 78.4 years (2023 est.)

male: 75.6 years

female: 81.5 years

Sri Lanka

total population: 76.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 73.6 years

female: 79.8 years

Major urban areas - population

Irak

7.711 million BAGHDAD (capital), 1.792 million Mosul, 1.448 million Basra, 1.075 million Kirkuk, 958,000 Najaf, 897,000 Erbil (2023)

Panama

1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)

Sri Lanka

103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (capital) (2023)

Median age

Irak

total: 22.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 21.7 years

female: 22.4 years

Panama

total: 31.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 30.8 years

female: 31.6 years

Sri Lanka

total: 33.9 years (2023 est.)

male: 32.1 years

female: 35.6 years

Sri Lanka

25.6 years (2016 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 30-34

Net migration rate

Irak

-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Panama

3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Sri Lanka

-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Irak

population is concentrated in the north, center, and eastern parts of the country, with many of the larger urban agglomerations found along extensive parts of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; much of the western and southern areas are either lightly populated or uninhabited

Panama

population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited

Sri Lanka

the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north

Population growth rate

Irak

1.94% (2023 est.)

Panama

1.51% (2023 est.)

Sri Lanka

0.56% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Irak

3.17 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Panama

2.37 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Sri Lanka

2.14 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Irak

urban population: 71.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Panama

urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Sri Lanka

urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Irak

4.7% of GDP (2016)

Panama

3.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Sri Lanka

1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)

Panama

total: 13 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2016)

Sri Lanka

total: 14 years

male: 14 years

female: 14 years (2018)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Irak

-4.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Panama

-1.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Sri Lanka

-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Irak

-1.14% (2021 est.)

Panama

37.5% (2021 est.)

Sri Lanka

5.62% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Irak

11.184 million (2021 est.)

Panama

1.966 million (2021 est.)

note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor

Sri Lanka

8.268 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Irak

23% (2014 est.)

Panama

22.1% (2016 est.)

Sri Lanka

4.1% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Irak

14.19% (2021 est.)

14.09% (2020 est.)

12.86% (2019 est.)

Panama

12.09% (2021 est.)

12.85% (2020 est.)

4.73% (2019 est.)

Sri Lanka

5.39% (2021 est.)

5.88% (2020 est.)

4.35% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Irak

27.44% of GDP (2018 est.)

35.86% of GDP (2017 est.)

29.48% of GDP (2016 est.)

Panama

37.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Sri Lanka

79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

79.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: covers central government debt and excludes debt instruments directly owned by government entities other than the treasury (e.g. commercial bank borrowings of a government corporation); the data includes treasury debt held by foreign entities as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement; sub-national entities are usually not permitted to sell debt instruments

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Irak

6.04% (2021 est.)

0.57% (2020 est.)

-0.2% (2019 est.)

Panama

1.63% (2021 est.)

-1.55% (2020 est.)

-0.36% (2019 est.)

Sri Lanka

7.01% (2021 est.)

6.15% (2020 est.)

3.53% (2019 est.)

Exports

Irak

$78.261 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$50.632 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$88.903 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Panama

$27.237 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.179 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$28.622 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

note: includes the Colon Free Zone

Sri Lanka

$13.083 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$19.414 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.264 billion (2018 est.)

Exports - partners

Irak

China 26%, India 24%, South Korea 9%, United States 8%, Italy 6%, Greece 6% (2019)

Panama

Ecuador 20%, Guatemala 14%, China 8%, United States 6%, Netherlands 6% (2019)

Sri Lanka

United States 24%, India 8%, United Kingdom 7%, Germany 7% (2019)

Imports

Irak

$50.707 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$54.722 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$72.283 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Panama

$24.627 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$17.502 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$27.599 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

note: includes the Colon Free Zone

Sri Lanka

$18.271 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$24.562 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$26.841 billion (2018 est.)

Imports - partners

Irak

United Arab Emirates 28%, Turkey 21%, China 19% (2019)

Panama

China 21%, United States 19%, Japan 16%, Colombia 6%, Ecuador 5% (2019)

Sri Lanka

India 24%, China 23%, Singapore 7%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Malaysia 5% (2019)

Airports

Irak

102 (2021)

Panama

117 (2021)

Sri Lanka

18 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Irak

total: 6,254,099 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)

Panama

total: 562,413 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)

Sri Lanka

total: 1,781,530 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Irak

total: 21.56 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 49% (2021 est.)

Panama

total: 2.992 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 68% (2021 est.)

Sri Lanka

total: 14.74 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 67% (2021 est.)

Railways

Irak

total: 2,272 km (2014)

standard gauge: 2,272 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Panama

total: 77 km (2014)

standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Sri Lanka

total: 1,562 km (2016)

broad gauge: 1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge

Roadways

Irak

total: 59,623 km (2012)

paved: 59,623 km (2012) (includes Kurdistan region)

Sri Lanka

total: 114,093 km (2010)

paved: 16,977 km (2010)

unpaved: 97,116 km (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

Irak

total subscriptions: 3,048,736 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2021 est.)

Panama

total subscriptions: 790,486 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2021 est.)

Sri Lanka

total subscriptions: 2,869,186 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Irak

total subscriptions: 37,649,112 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2021 est.)

Panama

total subscriptions: 6,003,255 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 138 (2021 est.)

Sri Lanka

total subscriptions: 30,764,134 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Irak

5,279 km (2012) (the Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways)

Panama

800 km (2011) (includes the 82-km Panama Canal that is being widened)

Sri Lanka

160 km (2012) (primarily on rivers in southwest)

Disputes - international

Irak

Iraq-Iran: Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf

Iraq-Kuwait: undemarcated maritime boundary; Kuwait has called on Iraq to resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement to regulate maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah and ensure that the agreement remains in force 

Iraq-Turkey: Turkey maintains a military presence in northern Iraq to combat the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) terrorist group; it periodically conducts air strikes and has conducted large military operations involving thousands of troops in 2007, 2011, and 2018, and smaller-scale operations in 2021 and 2022 

Panama

Panama-Colombia: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama

Panama-Costa Rica: none identified

Sri Lanka

none identified