Arabic is the chief language, but most of the Iranians and Kurds also speak their own language. Iraq Many of Baghdad's people share a house with at least three generations of their family. Most of the wealthy and middle-income families have brick homes that are surrounded by gardens and high walls. Thousands of the poorest people live in public housing projects on the outskirts of the city. The Iraqi government is Baghdad's leading employer.
Petroleum refining ranks as the city's chief industrial activity.
Other products of Baghdad include cement, cigarettes, and textiles. Construction and trade provide many jobs in the city. Baghdad is the center of Iraq's highway and railroad systems, which link the city with nearby nations and the Persian Gulf. An international airport serves the city. This area formed part of ancient Babylonia.