Contents
I. Introduction / 1
The problem in its historical setting / 1
Physical characteristics of Iraq / 4
II. A Cultural Description of the People / 11
Ethnic and religious differences / 13
Different ways of life / 16
Desert nomads—Agricultural people of the alluvial plain—Marsh dwellers—
Mountain people —Urban people
III. Population Structure / 34
The census of 1947 / 35
Total numbers and population density—Rural-urban distribution—Age-sex structure—Literacy—Marital status—Religion—Occupation—Type of residence— Liwa of birth and residence
Summary / 59
IV. Vital Rates / 62
Estimates of fertility / 68
Estimates of mortality / 69
Rate of natural increase and size of the present population / 70
Factors explaining mortality and the vitality of the population / 72
Ignorance and superstition—Nutrition—Sanitation and medical services—
Declining mortality
Factors explaining the level of fertility / 83
V. Income and Consumption / 89
Estimates / 90
Explanation of current levels / 95
Agricultural productivity—Industrial productivity
VI. Economic Development: Potentialities and Programs / 102
Oil revenues and the development board / 102
Agricultural development / 107
Industrial development / 111
Development of human resources / 114
VII. Obstacles to Economic Development / 120
Economic obstacles / 120
Limitations on investment capital—Limitations on the inducement to invest—
Government participation
Noneconomic obstacles / 126
Cultural factors—Administrative deficiencies—Agricultural institutions—
Population growth
VIII. Concluding Observations / 141
Appendix: Arabic Words and Place Names in Iraq / 148
Literature Cited / 151
Index / 157 | 
