Although the data are not absolutely reliable, the government estimates that 76 percent of the people are Arab; 19 percent are Kurds; while Turkomans, Assyrians, Armenians, and other relatively small groups make up the rest.
The main subdivision in Iraq is the 18 muhafazah, also known as governorates or provinces. Before 1976 they were called liwas, or banner).
As the “Cradle of Civilisation” Iraq has a long educational heritage. However, the educational system in Iraq has suffered along with all other sectors due to chronic shortages of resources resulting from the UN sanctions imposed on the country when it invaded neighboring Kuwait in 1990/91. Iraqi schools have little or no access to books, supplies, equipment or any other resources.