Iraq

<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>

Land

437,367 sq km

Total

438,317 sq km

Water

950 sq km

slightly more than three times the size of New York State

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

58 km

Asia

Highest point

Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m

Lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Mean elevation

312 m

33 00 N, 44 00 E

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

35,250 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Iran 1,599 km; Jordan 179 km; Kuwait 254 km; Saudi Arabia 811 km; Syria 599 km; Turkey 367 km

number of neighbors

6

Total

3,809 km

Agricultural land

21.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.2% (2023 est.)

arable land

11.45%

Forest

1.6% (2023 est.)

Other

76.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

1.21%

No

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

Arabian Aquifer System

Fresh water lake(s)

Lake Hammar - 1,940 sq 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<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Indian Ocean drainage

<em>(Persian Gulf)</em> Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/iL8Bmy1sUCW9fUk18

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/304934

Middle East

Continental shelf

not specified

Territorial sea

12 nm

dust storms; sandstorms; floods

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

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

Western Asia

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

UTC+03:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

23.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15

7.2% (2018)

Women married by age 18

27.9% (2018)

3.9% (2018 est.)

64.3% (2018 est.)

3.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

110 per 1,000

adult male

155 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

5.9 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

16.9 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

60.5 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

54.6 (2025 est.)

improved total

59.83%

Improved: rural

rural: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

4.7% of GDP (2016)

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

note

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

1.48 (2025 est.)

6 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

5.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

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

Female

17 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

20.4 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

13 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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)

<br>كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)<br><br>ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish)<br> <p>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.</p>

number of languages

3

Female

75.7 years

Male

71.9 years

Total population

73.7 years (2024 est.)

Female

77.8% (2021 est.)

Male

90.3% (2021 est.)

Total population

84.1% (2021 est.)

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

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

Female

22.7 years

Male

22 years

Total

22.7 years (2025 est.)

58 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Iraqi

Noun

Iraqi(s)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

30.4% (2016)

1.02 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

21,302,848

Male

21,614,894

Total

42,917,742 (2025 est.)

1.94% (2025 est.)

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

<strong>note:</strong> 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

improved total

50.9%

Improved: rural

rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

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

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.3% (2025 est.)

Male

36.2% (2025 est.)

Total

18.6% (2025 est.)

3.03 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

71.6% of total population (2023)

measles

91%

19 governorates (<em>muhafazat</em>, singular - <em>muhafazah </em>(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

<strong>note: </strong>Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government administers Arbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah (as Hewler, Dihok, and Slemani, respectively)

Etymology

the origin of the name is unclear; it may mean "gift of God," from the pre-Islamic words <em>bagh</em> (god) and <em>dad</em> (given)

Geographic coordinates

33 20 N, 44 24 E

Name

Baghdad

Time difference

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

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/iq.svg

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

History

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005

alternative spellings

IQ, Republic of Iraq, Jumhūriyyat al-‘Irāq

Conventional long form

Republic of Iraq

Conventional short form

Iraq

Etymology

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

FIFA code

IRQ

Former

Mesopotamia, Mandatory Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq

Local long form

Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq

local long form (ara)

جمهورية العراق

Local short form

Al Iraq/Eraq

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Ambassador Joshua HARRIS (since 2 September 2025)

Email address and website

<br>BaghdadACS@state.gov<br><br>https://iq.usembassy.gov/

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&nbsp; 20521-6060

Telephone

0760-030-3000

Chancery

1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Chief of mission

Ambassador Nazar Issa Abdulhadi AL-KHIRULLAH (since 30 June 2023)

Consulate(s) general

Detroit, Los Angeles

Email address and website

<br>washington@scrdiraq.gov.iq<br><br>https://www.iraqiembassy.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 462-8815

Telephone

[1] (202) 483-7500

Cabinet

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

Chief of state

President Latif RASHID (since 13 October 2022)

Election results

<em><br>2022: </em>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<em><br><br>2018:</em> 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

Election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by COR to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)

Head of government

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-SUDANI (since 27 October 2022)

Most recent election date

13 October 2022

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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)<br><br><strong>history:</strong> the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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)

The flag of Iraq is composed of three equal horizontal bands of red, white and black. In the central white band are Arabic inscriptions in green.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/iq.svg

federal parliamentary republic

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

note

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

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

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)

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

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

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

mixed system of civil and Islamic law

Electoral system

other systems

Expected date of next election

November 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Council of Representatives of Iraq

Most recent election date

11/11/2025

Number of seats

329 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Reconstruction &amp; Development Coalition, The Progress (Taqaddum) Party, State of Law Coalition, Sadiqoun Movement, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Badr Organization, National State Forces Alliance, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Azm Alliance, National Sovereignty, Ishraqat Kanun, Asas (Iraqi Foundation) Coalition, Tasmeem Alliance, Huquq Movement, National Resolve (Hasm)&nbsp;

Percentage of women in chamber

28.9%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

red, white, black

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)

Total World Heritage Sites

6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)

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

golden eagle

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

Sunday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

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

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

4.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

28.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$64.512 billion (2019 est.)

Note

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

Revenues

$90.204 billion (2019 est.)

code

IQD

name

Iraqi dinar (IQD) [ع.د]

$8.37 billion

Current account balance 2021

$24.565 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$58.01 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$28.375 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$17.52 billion

Debt - external 2023

$15.58 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1,192 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1,450 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1,450 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1,312.5 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1,300 (2024 est.)

$104.89 billion

Exports 2021

$78.26 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$127.079 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$107.852 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$-7,648,900,000

Exports of goods and services

37.5% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

20.3% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

41.2% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-37.2% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

20.6% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

8.8% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Agriculture

3.4% (2024 est.)

Industry

51.6% (2024 est.)

Note

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

Services

45.8% (2024 est.)

$279.641 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$6,074

29.5 (2012)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

29.8 (2023 est.)

Note

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

$280.97 billion

$6,030

28 % of GDP

Highest 10%

24.2% (2023 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.7% (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$92.84 billion

Imports 2021

$50.707 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$69.162 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$81.179 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-2.7% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

-12.3%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

6% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.4% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

12.008 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

12.49 million persons

agriculture

8.17%

industry

26.54%

services

65.3%

17.5%

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2018

27.4% of GDP (2018 est.)

$665.97 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$592.017 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$595.082 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$585.887 billion (2024 est.)

-1.55%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-1.5% (2024 est.)

$14,464

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$13,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$13,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$12,700 (2024 est.)

$696.3 million

Note

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

Remittances 2021

0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

$100.69 billion

Note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$97.009 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$112.233 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$100.691 billion (2024 est.)

1.3% (of GDP) (2019 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

15.49%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

15.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

15.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

15.6% (2024 est.)

Female

62.7% (2024 est.)

Male

27.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

32.1% (2024 est.)

Imports

3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

73.521 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

1,373 kWh

Imports

3.134 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

31.339 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

79.904 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels

98.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

1.98%

Hydroelectricity

0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

3.78%

Solar

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

1,412 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

64.311 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

19.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

8.771 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

10.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

3.729 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

145.019 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

1.043 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

4.448 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

1.1%

per 100 inhabitants

17 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2023 est.)

Total

7.77 million (2023 est.)

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)

.iq

Percent of population

82% (2023 est.)

#####

+964

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.977 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

101 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

46.1 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

3.76 million passengers

registered carrier departures

36,885 departures

73 (2025)

YI

Right

10 (2025)

By type

general cargo 1, oil tanker 6, other 67

Total

74 (2023)

Key ports

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

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

1

Total ports

6 (2024)

Very small

4

Standard gauge

2,272 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Total

2,272 km (2014)

IRQ

armored vehicles

tanks

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 <br><br>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)

Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army, Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force<br><br>Office of the Prime Minister: Iraqi Counterterrorism Service (CTS); Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC)<br><br>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)

active duty personnel

459,000

note

<strong>note 1: </strong>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)<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Iraqi Government funds the PMF, and it is mandated by law to act under government control but many of the militia units take orders from individual government officials and/or associated political parties; some militias have ties to Iran and some have been designated as terrorist organizations by the US (see Terrorism Reference)<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> 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 military forces, police, emergency response, and internal security/intelligence services

percent of total labor force

4.40 %

estimated 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<br><br>Ministry of Peshmerga: estimated 150,000 active personnel<br><br>Popular Mobilization Forces: estimated 200,000 militia (2025)

the Iraqi military's inventory includes a mix of European, Russian, Soviet-era, and US armaments (2025)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$6,178,546,530

Military Expenditures 2020

3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.87 %

percent of GDP

2.36 % of GDP

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)

PowerIndex score

0.8115

IDPs

1,201,813 (2024 est.)

Refugees

335,343 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

233 (2024 est.)

Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN); Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA); Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS); Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

From coal and metallurgical coke

7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

37.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

152.931 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

190.815 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

Agriculture

157 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

2,243 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

2.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

325 kt (2019-2021 est.)

45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

2 % of total land area

1 % of total

89.86 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

121 % of internal resources

Agricultural

31.169 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

4.52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

6.735 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

13.14 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

15.4% (2022 est.)