Iraq

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a republic in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Hussein, from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly war from 1980 to 1988. In 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the two-month-long Gulf War of 1991. After Iraq’s expulsion, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions led to the Second Gulf War in 2003, when US-led forces ousted the SADDAM regime.

In 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR). The COR approved most of the cabinet ministers, marking the transition to Iraq’s first constitutional government in nearly a half-century. Iraq’s constitution also established the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a semi-autonomous region that administers the governorates of Erbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah. Iraq has held four national legislative elections since 2006, most recently in 2021. The COR approved Mohammad Shia’ al-SUDANI as prime minister in 2022. Iraq has repeatedly postponed elections for provincial councils — last held in 2013 — and since 2019, the prime minister has had the authority to appoint governors rather than provincial councils.

Between 2014 and 2017, Iraq fought a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) to recapture territory the group seized in 2014. In 2017, then-Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI publicly declared victory against ISIS, although military operations against the group continue in rural areas. Also in 2017, Baghdad forcefully seized disputed territories across central and northern Iraq from the KRG, after a non-binding Kurdish independence referendum.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

33 00 N, 44 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total : 438,317 sq km

land: 437,367 sq km

water: 950 sq km

comparison ranking: total 60

Area – comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New York State

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 3,809 km

border countries (6): Iran 1,599 km; Jordan 179 km; Kuwait 254 km; Saudi Arabia 811 km; Syria 599 km; Turkey 367 km

Coastline

58 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: not specified

Climate

mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq

Terrain

mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

Elevation

highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for “Black Tent”) 3,611 m

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation: 312 m

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Land use

agricultural land: 21.8% (2022 est.)

arable land: 11.4% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 1.9% (2022 est.)

other: 76.3% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

35,250 sq km (2012)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Hammar – 1,940 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

Euphrates river mouth (shared with Turkey[s], Syria, and Iran) – 3,596 km; Tigris river mouth (shared with Turkey[s], Syria, and Iran) – 1,950 km; the Tigris and Euphrates join to form the Shatt al Arab

note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

dust storms; sandstorms; floods

Geography – note

strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

People and Society

Population

total: 42,083,436 (2024 est.)

male: 21,193,356

female: 20,890,080

comparison rankings: total 35; female 35; male 35

Nationality

noun: Iraqi(s)

adjective: Iraqi

Ethnic groups

Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, other 5% (includes Turkmen, Yezidi, Shabak, Kaka’i, Bedouin, Romani, Assyrian, Circassian, Sabaean-Mandaean, Persian)

note: data is a 1987 government estimate; no more recent reliable numbers are available

Languages

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

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.

Arabic audio sample:

Kurdish audio sample:

Religions

Muslim (official) 95-98% (Shia 61-64%, Sunni 29-34%), Christian 1% (includes Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Assyrian Church of the East), other 1-4% (2015 est.)

note: the last census in Iraq was in 1997; while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, the overall Christian population has decreased at least 50% and perhaps as much as 90% since 2003, according to US Embassy estimates, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 7,447,266/female 7,130,883)

15-64 years: 61.7% (male 13,064,516/female 12,907,702)

65 years and over: 3.6% (2024 est.) (male 681,574/female 851,495)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 62 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 56.1 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 16.9 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 22.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 22 years

female: 22.7 years

comparison ranking: total 184

Population growth rate

1.99% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 41

Birth rate

23.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 48

Death rate

3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 217

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 84

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 71.6% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

66 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 84

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 17 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 81

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 71.9 years

female: 75.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 146

Total fertility rate

3.1 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 47

Gross reproduction rate

1.51 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)

total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

5.2% of GDP (2021)

5.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.02 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)

total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)

total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

30.4% (2016)

comparison ranking: 23

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 174

Tobacco use

total: 18.6% (2025 est.)

male: 36.2% (2025 est.)

female: 1.3% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 79

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.9% (2018)

comparison ranking: 71

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

65.5% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 7.2% (2018)

women married by age 18: 27.9% (2018)

Education expenditure

4.7% of GDP (2016)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 76

Literacy

total population: 86% (2017 est.)

male: 91% (2017 est.)

female: 76.3% (2018 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

habitat loss from wetland draining; inadequate potable water; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification; air, soil, and groundwater pollution from military and industries; water pollution from oil refineries and factory and sewage discharges; soil pollution from fertilizer and chemicals; air pollution in urban areas

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification

Climate

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 71.6% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

190.815 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 152.931 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 37.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 32

Particulate matter emissions

45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 13.14 million tons (2015 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 6.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 5.49 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 44.23 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

89.86 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Iraq

conventional short form: Iraq

local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq

local short form: Al Iraq/Eraq

former: Mesopotamia, Mandatory Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq

etymology: the name probably derives from Uruk (“Erech” in Aramaic), the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Baghdad

geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 24 E

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

etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may mean “gift of God,” from the pre-Islamic words bagh (god) and dad (given)

Administrative divisions

19 governorates (muhafazat, singular – muhafazah (Arabic); parezgakan, singular – parezga (Kurdish)); ‘Al Anbar; Al Basrah; Al Muthanna; Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah); An Najaf; Arbil (Erbil) (Arabic), Halabjah; Hewler (Kurdish); As Sulaymaniyah (Arabic), Slemani (Kurdish); Babil; Baghdad; Dahuk (Arabic), Dihok (Kurdish); Dhi Qar; Diyala; Karbala’; Kirkuk; Maysan; Ninawa; Salah ad Din; Wasit

note: Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government administers Arbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah (as Hewler, Dihok, and Slemani, respectively)

Legal system

mixed system of civil and Islamic law

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005

amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic and the Council of Minsters collectively, or by one fifth of the Council of Representatives members; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Council of Representatives, approval by referendum, and ratification by the president; passage of amendments to articles on citizen rights and liberties requires two-thirds majority vote of Council of Representatives members after two successive electoral terms, approval in a referendum, and ratification by the president

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Latif RASHID (since 13 October 2022)

head of government: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-SUDANI (since 27 October 2022)

cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives (COR)

election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by COR to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)

most recent election date: 13 October 2022

election results:
2022: Latif RASHID elected president in second round; COR vote in first round – Latif RASHID (PUK) 157, Barham SALIH (PUK) 99; COR vote in second round – Latif RASHID 167, Barham SALIH 99; Mohammed Shia’ al-SUDANI approved as prime minister

2018: Barham SALIH elected president in second round; COR vote in first round – Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; COR vote in second round – Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; Adil ABD AL-MAHDI approved as prime minister

Legislative branch

legislature name: Council of Representatives of Iraq

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 329 (all directly elected)

electoral system: other systems

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 10/10/2021

parties elected and seats per party: Sadrist Bloc (73); National Progress Alliance / Taqadum (37); State of Law Coalition (33); Kurdistan Democratic Party (31); Fatah Alliance (17); Kurdistan Alliance (17); Independents (43); Other (78)

percentage of women in chamber: 28.9%

expected date of next election: November 2025

note: seat counts reflect updated numbers following the 12 June 2022 Sadrist Trend withdrawal from government formation; its 73 seats were reallocated to other parties

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC chief justice, the public prosecutor’s office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission; FSC members required to retire at age 72; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts

note: Federal Supreme Court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues, application of federal laws, ratification of election results for the COR, judicial competency disputes, and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government

Political parties

Al Fatah Alliance
Azm Alliance
Babiliyun Movement
Imtidad
Ishraqat Konun
Kurdistan Democratic Party
National Contract Party
New Generation Movement
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Sadrist Bloc
State Forces Alliance
State of Law Coalition
Taqadum
Tasmim Alliance

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nazar Issa Abdulhadi AL-KHIRULLAH (since 30 June 2023)

chancery: 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500

FAX: [1] (202) 462-8815

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://www.iraqiembassy.us/

consulate(s) general: Detroit, Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Daniel Rubinstein (since 28 January 2025)

embassy: Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad; note – consulate in Al Basrah closed as of 28 September 2018

mailing address: 6060 Baghdad Place, Washington DC 20521-6060

telephone: 0760-030-3000

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://iq.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, CAEU, CICA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Independence

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

note: on 28 June 2004, the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 October (1932); Republic Day, 14 July (1958)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic phrase meaning “God is great”) in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the colors come from the Arab Liberation flag and stand for oppression (black) overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise replacement for the Ba’thist SADDAM-era flag

note: similar to the flags of Syria (two stars but no script), Yemen (plain white band), and Egypt (a golden Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

National color(s)

red, white, black

National anthem(s)

title: “Mawtini” (My Homeland)

lyrics/music: Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL

history: adopted 2004, after the ouster of SADDAM Husayn; popular Arab folk song that also serves as an unofficial anthem for the Palestinian people

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat) (c); Babylon (c); Erbil Citadel (c); Hatra (c); Samarra Archaeological City (c); The Ahwar (Marshland) of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities (m)

Economy

Economic overview

highly oil-dependent Middle Eastern economy; fiscal sustainability subject to fluctuation in oil prices; rising public confidence in economic conditions; import-dependent for most sectors; persistent challenges of corruption, informal markets, banking access, and political fragility

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$585.887 billion (2024 est.)
$595.082 billion (2023 est.)
$592.017 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 44

Real GDP growth rate

-1.5% (2024 est.)
0.5% (2023 est.)
8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 204

Real GDP per capita

$12,700 (2024 est.)
$13,200 (2023 est.)
$13,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 134

GDP (official exchange rate)

$279.641 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2023 est.)
5% (2022 est.)
6% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 133

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)

industry: 51.6% (2024 est.)

services: 45.8% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 169; industry 7; agriculture 125

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 41.2% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 20.3% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: 8.8% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 37.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -37.2% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

wheat, dates, maize, tomatoes, rye, grapes, milk, chicken, potatoes, fruits (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Industrial production growth rate

-2.7% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 168

Labor force

12.008 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 49

Unemployment rate

15.6% (2024 est.)
15.5% (2023 est.)
15.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 174

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 32.1% (2024 est.)

male: 27.5% (2024 est.)

female: 62.7% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 19

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

29.8 (2023 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 129

Average household expenditures

on food: 28.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 4.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.7% (2023 est.)

highest 10%: 24.2% (2023 est.)

% share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $90.204 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $64.512 billion (2019 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

27.4% of GDP (2018 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 172

Taxes and other revenues

1.3% (of GDP) (2019 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 151

Current account balance

$28.375 billion (2023 est.)
$58.01 billion (2022 est.)
$24.565 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 18

Exports

$107.852 billion (2023 est.)
$127.079 billion (2022 est.)
$78.26 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 47

Exports – partners

China 33%, India 28%, USA 8%, Greece 5%, UAE 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, petroleum coke, gold, natural gas (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$81.179 billion (2023 est.)
$69.162 billion (2022 est.)
$50.707 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 50

Imports – partners

UAE 32%, China 20%, Turkey 18%, India 5%, USA 2% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, gold (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$100.691 billion (2024 est.)
$112.233 billion (2023 est.)
$97.009 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 29

Debt – external

$15.58 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 39

Exchange rates

Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
1,300 (2024 est.)
1,312.5 (2023 est.)
1,450 (2022 est.)
1,450 (2021 est.)
1,192 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 31.339 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 73.521 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 3.134 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 79.904 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 206; imports 59; consumption 44; installed generating capacity 37

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 98.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 4.448 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 1.043 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 145.019 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 10.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 19.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 8.771 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 3.729 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

64.311 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 78

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.977 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 49

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 45.7 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 39

Broadcast media

the number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003; state-owned TV and radio stations are operated by the publicly funded Iraqi Media Network; private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to about 70% of viewers; many broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2019)

Internet country code

.iq

Internet users

percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 7.77 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 30

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

73 (2025)

comparison ranking: 72

Heliports

10 (2025)

comparison ranking: 74

Railways

total: 2,272 km (2014)

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

Merchant marine

total: 74 (2023)

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 6, other 67

comparison ranking: total 103

Ports

total ports: 6 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 1

very small: 4

ports with oil terminals: 3

key ports: Al Basrah, Al-Basra Oil Terminal, Khawr Al Amaya, Khawr Al Zubair, Umm Qasr

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army, Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force

Office of the Prime Minister: Iraqi Counterterrorism Service (CTS); Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC)

Ministry of Interior: Federal Police Forces Command, Border Guard Forces Command, Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency, Emergency Response Division, Facilities Protection Directorate, and Provincial Police; Ministry of Oil: Energy Police Directorate (2025)

note 1: the Iraqi military and associated security forces are collectively known as the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF); the Iraqi Counterterrorism Service (CTS) includes the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF)

note 2: the PMC includes both the Popular Mobilization Forces and Tribal Mobilization Forces, a collection of more than 50 militias of widely varied sizes and political interests

note 3: the federal constitution provides the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) the right to maintain its own military and security forces, known as the Kurdish Security Forces (KSF); some forces, such as the Regional Guard Brigades, are unified under the KRG’s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, but the two main Kurdish political parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), also maintain their own forces; the Unit/Division 80 Forces are under the KDP, while the Unit/Division 70 Forces are under the PUK; the KDP and PUK also maintain separate police, emergency response, and internal security/intelligence services (Asayish) under nominal KRG Ministry of Interior control; the KRG is working towards disbanding the partisan 70 and 80 Forces and integrating them into joint units under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs by September 2026

Military expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
3% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 200,000 active armed forces personnel under the Ministry of Defense (Army, Aviation Command, Air/Air Defense, Navy, Special Forces); approximately 20-25,000 National-Level Security Forces

Ministry of Peshmerga: approximately 150,000 active personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Iraqi military’s inventory includes a mix of equipment from a wide variety of sources, including China, several European countries, South Africa, South Korea, Russia, and the US (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2023)

note: service in the armed forces was mandatory in Iraq from 1935 up until 2003; in 2021, the Iraqi cabinet approved a draft law to reinstate compulsory military service and referred the proposed law to the Iraqi parliament; as of 2023, the proposed law had been shelved

Military – note

the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are primarily focused on internal and border security; they are actively conducting counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group, particularly in northern and western Iraq; the operations include securing the border with Syria; the Kurdish Security Forces, as well as are also active in conducting operations against ISIS

two international military task forces operate in Iraq to assist the country’s security forces at the request of the Iraqi Government; in 2018, NATO established an advisory, training and capacity-building mission for the Iraqi military known as the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI); in December 2021, the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) transitioned from a combat role to an advise, assist, and enable role (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Islam; Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata’ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide