Iraq
Iraq ranks high and low in ways you wouldn't predict. It leads on obesity rate (#27) while trailing on renewable energy. Can you guess what else is surprising?
Iraq is a country in Asia with a population of 42.92M and an area of 438,317 km². Life expectancy is 72.3 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Land Area
434.1KTotal land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
CO2 Per Capita
5.07How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Internet Users (%)
82.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Population Density
103.826How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
GDP Per Capita
$12.7KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌱Irrigated Land
35.3KIrrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
💰Unemployment Rate
15.5%The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
💰Youth Unemployment Rate
32.1%Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) from CIA World Factbook.
❤️Obesity Rate
37.4%The percentage of adults who are obese (BMI of 30 or higher).
👥Population
42.92MThe total number of people living in the country.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Has one of the highest rates of inflation rate
Inflation Rate: -12.3%
How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #99 in r&d spending (% gdp)
R&D Spending (% GDP): 0.0%
Spending on research and development as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #203 in protected land (%)
Protected Land (%): 1.5%
The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #217 in death rate
Death Rate: 3.86
The number of deaths per 1,000 people each year.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #199 in gdp growth rate
GDP Growth Rate: -1.5%
The annual percentage change in the country's GDP.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Iraq Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout 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.
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
- 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
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
- Natural Hazards
- dust storms; sandstorms; floods
- Size Comparison
- slightly more than three times the size of New York State
- 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
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, other 5% (includes Turkmen, Yezidi, Shabak, Kaka'i, Bedouin, Romani, Assyrian, Circassian, Sabaean-Mandaean, Persian)
- Major Cities
- 7.711 million BAGHDAD (capital), 1.792 million Mosul, 1.448 million Basra, 1.075 million Kirkuk, 958,000 Najaf, 897,000 Erbil (2023)
- Government Type
- federal parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Capital Coordinates
- 33 20 N, 44 24 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of Iraq
- Name Origin
- the name probably derives from Uruk ("Erech" in Aramaic), the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River
- Independence
- 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
- National Symbols
- golden eagle
- National Anthem
- "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)
- 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
- Industries
- petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
- Agricultural Products
- wheat, dates, maize, tomatoes, rye, grapes, milk, chicken, potatoes, fruits (2023)
- Export Partners
- China 33%, India 28%, USA 8%, Greece 5%, UAE 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- crude petroleum, refined petroleum, petroleum coke, gold, natural gas (2023)
- Import Partners
- UAE 32%, China 20%, Turkey 18%, India 5%, USA 2% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, gold (2023)
- Military 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)
- Military Service
- 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
- Energy Mix
- 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.)
- 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)
Deep Dive
65 of 82 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Iran
Jordan
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
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Guatemala
Belize
Libya
NauruMore Asia Countries
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
British Indian Ocean Territory
BruneiShare a Fact
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The total number of people living in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iraq
Iraq has a population of 42.92M, ranking #36 globally by population.
Iraq is located in Asia. It has an area of 438,317 km².
Life expectancy in Iraq is 72.3 years, ranking #129 globally.
Iraq's GDP per capita (PPP) is 14.5K, ranking #120 globally.
Iraq ranks particularly high in Population (#36), Land Area (#57), CO2 Per Capita (#67).
Iraq has an HDI of 0.695, ranking #126 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Iraq has a population density of 103.8 people per km², ranking #102 globally.
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