Contents
Country Overview
Iraq occupies the middle reaches and lower basin of the Tigris and Euphrates in Western Asia, linking ancient Mesopotamian urban civilizations with modern Arab, Kurdish and other communities. It is a federal parliamentary republic whose post-2003 institutions operate alongside the constitutionally recognized Kurdistan Region. Petroleum dominates merchandise exports and public revenue, while water scarcity, governance, diversification and post-conflict recovery remain major challenges. Its archaeological heritage includes the sites of Babylon, Ashur, Hatra and Samarra.
CapitalBaghdadSeat of federal authorities [1]
Population47.02 millionWorld Bank 2025 estimate [3]
2024 census46,118,793Final census count [4]
Nominal GDPUS$254.37 billionWorld Bank 2025 [2]
UNESCO World Heritage6 propertiesFive cultural; one mixed [15]
Data and status note: Iraq’s 46,118,793 population is the final count from the 2024 census, published after enumeration; the World Bank 47,020,774 is an independent 2025 estimate. Iraq’s 2025 election was followed by the selection of President Nizar Amedi in April 2026 and Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in May. Halabja acquired federal recognition as the 19th governorate in 2025. UNCTAD merchandise trade figures are estimates; the WTO online goods profile displays much older trade years and is not used for contemporary trade totals.
Identity & State Formation
- Official name
- Republic of Iraq (Jumhūriyyat al-ʿIrāq). [1]
- Capital
- Baghdad. [1]
- UN M49 region
- Western Asia. [1]
- Political system
- Federal parliamentary republic under the 2005 Constitution. [22]
- Modern independence
- Kingdom of Iraq gained formal independence from the British mandate in 1932. [22]
- Republic proclaimed
- Monarchy ended in the revolution of 14 July 1958. [22]
- Ba'athist period
- Ba'ath-led rule lasted from 1968 until the US-led invasion of 2003. [6]
- 2003 regime change
- Saddam Hussein's government fell during the 2003 invasion; subsequent years brought occupation and new institutions. [6]
- Constitutional referendum
- Current constitution was approved by referendum in 2005. [22]
- Official languages
- Arabic and Kurdish are official federal languages. [22]
- Protected language rights
- Constitution protects the education and use of Turkmen, Syriac, Armenian and other native languages in relevant areas. [22]
- Currency
- Iraqi dinar (IQD), subdivided into fils in formal currency terminology. [2]
- National flag
- Tricolor of red, white and black with the Takbir inscription in green. [22]
- Governorates
- 19 governorates after Halabja received federal recognition in 2025. [11]
- Halabja status
- Federal designation as Iraq's 19th governorate was signed into law in April 2025. [11]
- Kurdistan Region
- Constitutionally recognized federal region with its own regional institutions. [22] [6]
- Mesopotamia
- Historic region between and around the Tigris and Euphrates river systems. [15]
- Ancient Sumer
- Southern Iraqi archaeology includes early urban, writing and state-building traditions. [15]
- Ancient Babylon
- An important center of Mesopotamian political, legal and cultural history. [15]
- Ancient Assyria
- Northern Mesopotamian imperial and religious history is reflected in Assyrian sites. [15]
- Abbasid Baghdad
- Baghdad was a major center of Abbasid political and scholarly life. [15]
- Modern geopolitical setting
- Links the Levant, Arabian Peninsula, Iranian plateau and Anatolia. [1]
Geography & Population
- Approximate land area
- About 434,000 square kilometers, depending on statistical boundaries and water-area accounting. [1]
- Northern border
- Türkiye borders Iraq to the north. [1]
- Eastern border
- Iran borders Iraq to the east. [1]
- Southern borders
- Kuwait and Saudi Arabia border southern Iraq. [1]
- Western borders
- Jordan and Syria border western Iraq. [1]
- Land neighbors
- Six countries: Türkiye, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. [1]
- Persian Gulf access
- Short coastline at the northern end of the Gulf. [1]
- Tigris River
- Flows from Türkiye through Iraq, including the Baghdad region. [18]
- Euphrates River
- Crosses western and central Iraq before joining the lower river system. [18]
- Shatt al-Arab
- Waterway formed by the confluence of Tigris and Euphrates near southern Iraq. [18]
- Mesopotamian plain
- Central and southern alluvial lowlands support settlements and agriculture. [18]
- Northern mountains
- Mountain terrain extends into the Zagros system and borders with Türkiye and Iran. [18]
- Western desert
- Broad arid plateau occupies much of western Iraq. [18]
- Marshes of southern Iraq
- Ahwar wetlands have ecological and cultural significance recognized by UNESCO. [15]
- Principal climate
- Hot, arid to semi-arid summers with wetter winter periods in some districts. [18]
- Temperature risk
- Extreme summer heat is an increasing public-health and infrastructure concern. [18]
- Water vulnerability
- Upstream river management, drought, salinity and irrigation demand affect water availability. [18]
- Dust storms
- Windborne dust and desertification affect air quality and transport. [18]
- Baghdad
- Federal capital and largest major urban region. [1]
- Basra
- Southern commercial and oil-logistics center near Gulf shipping. [14]
- Mosul
- Major northern city and center of post-conflict heritage reconstruction. [15]
- Erbil
- Seat of the Kurdistan Regional Government. [6]
- Sulaymaniyah
- Major Kurdish urban and cultural center. [6]
- Najaf
- Important Shi'a religious center. [15]
- Karbala
- Important Shi'a pilgrimage center. [15]
- 2024 census count
- 46,118,793 residents in the final count of the 2024 General Population and Housing Census. [4]
- Census composition
- The final count includes Iraqi citizens and foreign residents present at enumeration. [4]
- 2025 modeled population
- 47,020,774 in the World Bank series; not another national census. [3]
- 2024 urban residents
- Approximately 32.36 million in the Iraqi census data. [4]
- 2024 rural residents
- Approximately 13.76 million in the Iraqi census data. [4]
- Age structure
- The population is youthful; the 2024 census reports about 35.9% younger than 15. [4]
- 2024 persons aged 15–64
- About 60.44% of residents in the census table. [4]
- 2024 persons aged 65+
- About 3.66% in the census table. [4]
- 2024 household count
- About 8.05 million households in final census releases. [4]
- 2024 life expectancy
- Approximately 72 years in World Bank-linked demographic series. [2] [17]
Final 2024 census compared with 2025 international estimate
2024 national census was a direct enumeration; 2025 World Bank population is a separate model. [4] [3]
| Measure | Population | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Iraq final 2024 census | 46,118,793 | National population enumeration |
| 2024 urban | 32,359,355 | Census distribution |
| 2024 rural | 13,759,438 | Census distribution |
| 2025 World Bank | 47,020,774 | Annual population estimate |
Economy & International Trade
- 2025 nominal GDP
- US$254.37 billion in World Bank current-dollar series. [2]
- 2025 GDP per person
- Approximately US$5,409.7 at market exchange rates. [2]
- 2025 real GDP growth
- −2.2% in World Bank annual series. [2]
- 2025 consumer price inflation
- 0.3% in the World Bank annual CPI series. [2]
- 2025 modeled unemployment
- 15.5% under the World Bank's ILO-modeled series. [2]
- 2024 nominal GDP, alternate source
- UNCTAD reports US$241.601 billion for 2024, a different year and compilation. [12]
- Crude petroleum dependence
- Oil production and exports drive the export base and much state revenue. [14] [12]
- OPEC membership
- Iraq participates in OPEC production coordination and energy statistics. [14]
- Southern oilfields
- Basra-area oilfields are central to export production. [14]
- Northern oilfields
- Northern fields and pipelines connect to regional infrastructure and contested revenue arrangements. [14] [6]
- Oil export volatility
- Prices, output agreements and export-route disruptions influence fiscal revenues. [14]
- Natural gas constraints
- Associated-gas use, power supply and imports affect electricity availability. [14]
- Electricity supply
- Grid adequacy, summer demand and investment are recurring policy priorities. [6]
- Agriculture
- Wheat, barley, dates and irrigated food crops are important in suitable areas. [18]
- Date palms
- Historic southern orchards contribute to agriculture and cultural economy. [18]
- Irrigation
- Tigris and Euphrates water availability affects crop production and rural incomes. [18]
- Petrochemicals
- Refining and downstream oil industries are diversification targets. [14]
- Industrial development
- Cement, construction materials, food processing and manufacturing have domestic roles. [6]
- Port development
- Basra and Gulf transport connections are critical for sea-borne commerce. [12]
- Transport corridors
- Road and rail connections link Türkiye, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Gulf ports. [1]
- Financial sector
- Banking reforms and payment modernization aim to improve access to finance. [6]
- Central bank
- Central Bank of Iraq issues currency and oversees monetary policy and banking. [8]
- UNCTAD 2024 exports
- Estimated merchandise exports of US$100.990 billion. [12]
- UNCTAD 2024 imports
- Estimated merchandise imports of US$87.410 billion. [12]
- UNCTAD 2024 trade surplus
- Estimated US$13.580 billion on merchandise exports minus imports. [12]
- Trade estimate caution
- UNCTAD marks those 2024 totals as estimates; national customs and oil accounting may differ. [12]
- UNCTAD 2024 services exports
- Estimated US$8.517 billion in a separate services classification. [12]
- UNCTAD 2024 services imports
- Estimated US$25.698 billion. [12]
- UNCTAD 2024 services balance
- Estimated US$17.180 billion deficit. [12]
- Iraq WTO status
- Iraq was an applicant in an accession process, not a full WTO member, as of the editorial cutoff. [13]
- WTO page caution
- The WTO goods profile displays substantially older product-level data; these are not 2024 contemporary totals. [13]
- Public-sector employment
- State employment and payrolls carry a substantial fiscal and social role. [6]
- Private-sector development
- Small-business credit, industrial investment and jobs are economic-policy priorities. [6]
- Foreign investment
- Energy, reconstruction and infrastructure attract investment interest amid regulatory and security risks. [6]
- Economic diversification
- Policies seek to reduce petroleum dependence by expanding non-oil activity. [6]
- Water and economic risk
- Agricultural output and public utilities are sensitive to drought and river discharge. [18]
- Reconstruction spending
- Rebuilding infrastructure and housing remains important in conflict-affected areas. [10]
- Youth employment
- A youthful population increases the need for education, jobs and vocational training. [5]
- Poverty measurement
- National poverty estimates vary by survey, reference year and methodology. [5]
Selected 2025 World Bank indicators
Nominal GDP uses current US dollars; the growth and inflation figures are distinct annual measures. [2]
| Indicator | 2025 value | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | US$254.37 billion | Current US$ |
| GDP per capita | US$5,409.7 | Current US$ |
| Real GDP growth | −2.2% | Annual |
| CPI inflation | 0.3% | Annual |
| Modeled unemployment | 15.5% | ILO modeled |
Iraq external trade, UNCTAD estimates for 2024
UNCTAD marks exports, imports and services series as estimated; these values should not be replaced by older WTO Iraq tariff-profile data. [12]
| Series | US$ billion | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise exports | 100.990 | Estimated goods exports |
| Merchandise imports | 87.410 | Estimated goods imports |
| Merchandise balance | +13.580 | Export minus import |
| Services exports | 8.517 | Estimated services export |
| Services imports | 25.698 | Estimated services import |
| Services balance | −17.180 | Estimated services deficit |
People & Society
- Arab population
- Arabic-speaking Iraqis constitute a major share of the population across the country. [22]
- Kurdish population
- Kurdish-speaking communities are prominent in the Kurdistan Region and other northern areas. [22]
- Turkmen communities
- Iraqi Turkmen have long established urban and rural communities, including in northern Iraq. [22]
- Assyrian/Chaldean communities
- Christian communities preserve Syriac and other linguistic and religious traditions. [22]
- Yazidi communities
- Yazidi communities have historic roots around Sinjar and other northern districts. [20]
- Mandaean communities
- Mandaeans represent a distinct Iraqi religious and cultural tradition. [20]
- Shia Islam
- Shi'a Muslim communities are numerically significant, especially in central and southern regions. [6]
- Sunni Islam
- Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities contribute to the religious diversity of Iraq. [6]
- Christian churches
- Several Eastern Christian churches and denominations have deep regional histories. [15]
- Ethnic and religious plurality
- National identity includes intersecting religious, linguistic and regional affiliations. [22]
- Arabic language
- Federal official language and medium of education and communication. [22]
- Kurdish language
- Federal official language with prominent institutional use in the Kurdistan Region. [22]
- Other languages
- Turkmen, Syriac, Armenian and local dialects have legal and cultural protections. [22]
- Education system
- Primary, secondary and higher education face demographic and infrastructure demands. [10]
- University centers
- Baghdad, Mosul, Basra and the Kurdistan Region host higher-education institutions. [10]
- Health-care system
- Public and private services address chronic disease, maternal health and post-conflict needs. [17] [10]
- Internal displacement
- Conflict-related displacement and return continue to affect some communities. [21]
- Sinjar recovery
- Displacement, missing persons and reconstruction remain concerns after the Islamic State's crimes against Yazidis. [21] [20]
- Cultural heritage recovery
- Museums, archaeological sites and historic urban areas require conservation and repair. [15]
- Traditional cuisine
- Rice, flatbread, legumes, lamb, fish and regional preparations form diverse culinary traditions. [15]
- Music and poetry
- Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen and Syriac traditions contribute to the cultural landscape. [16]
- Pilgrimage economy
- Najaf and Karbala host major religious gatherings with substantial transport and services impacts. [6]
- Marsh Arab traditions
- Southern wetland communities preserve distinctive boat-building and reed-house practices. [15]
- Football
- Football is a widely followed team sport. [10]
- Gender and labor
- Women's employment, access to services and participation in public life vary across regions. [5]
- Internet access
- Smartphone use is common, but fixed-home connectivity is uneven. [5]
- 2024 youth profile
- Approximately 35.9% of census residents were children younger than 15. [4]
Government & Institutions
- Head of state
- President Nizar Amedi, selected by parliament in April 2026. [8] [6]
- Head of government
- Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi, confirmed in May 2026. [8] [6]
- Constitution
- Constitution approved in 2005 provides a federal republican framework. [22]
- Federal legislature
- Unicameral Council of Representatives. [22] [9]
- Legislative seats
- 329 seats contested in the November 2025 election. [9]
- Most recent national election
- Parliamentary election held November 11, 2025. [9] [10]
- Election certification
- Federal Supreme Court certified the election results in December 2025. [10]
- 2025 women elected
- 84 women won seats; 25.5% of the 329-member chamber. [9]
- Minority reservations
- Nine legislative seats reserved for specified minority groups in 2025 election rules. [9]
- Parliament speaker
- Haibat al-Halbousi was chosen at the new chamber's opening session in December 2025. [9]
- Largest 2025 list
- Reconstruction and Development Coalition obtained 46 seats in the IPU results. [9]
- Coalition negotiations
- Government formation required post-election political negotiations among multiple lists. [6]
- Council of Ministers
- Cabinet is headed by the prime minister; lawmakers approved additional ministers and deputy prime ministers in October 2026. [22] [7]
- President's role
- Head of state with constitutional duties including appointments. [22]
- Judicial structure
- Federal judiciary includes the Federal Supreme Court. [22]
- Kurdistan Regional Government
- Regional institutions exercise devolved powers within the constitutional federation. [22] [6]
- Kurdistan regional presidency
- Distinct from the federal Iraqi presidency. [22]
- Revenue-sharing issues
- Oil revenue, budgets and administrative jurisdictions are recurring federal–regional disputes. [6]
- Popular Mobilisation Forces
- State-linked armed formations raise debates about command structures, demobilization and external influence. [6]
- Security services
- Army, police and other institutions face reform and governance demands. [6]
- Terrorism and recovery
- The Islamic State's territorial defeat did not end all security and reintegration challenges. [6]
- Provincial administration
- Governors and elected or appointed local institutions administer governorates under law. [22]
- Halabja recognition
- Federal 2025 legislation recognized Halabja as the 19th governorate. [11]
- Constitutional language rights
- Arabic and Kurdish official status coexists with local language safeguards. [22]
- Women's political quota
- Legislative rules reserve at least one-quarter of seats for women; 84 served after 2025 vote. [9]
- Minority rights issues
- Representation, security and return of displaced communities are continuing national issues. [20]
- Diplomatic balancing
- Federal authorities balance relations with the United States, Iran, Türkiye and neighboring states. [6]
- Political-system caution
- Formal democratic institutions coexist with coalition bargaining, patronage and armed-faction influence. [6]
- 2026 cabinet chronology
- Earlier leadership listings naming Mohammed Shia al-Sudani refer to the prior administration, not the post-May 2026 premiership. [6] [8]
November 2025 parliamentary election: selected outcomes
Party figures are election allocations; coalitions and cabinet responsibilities can subsequently change. [9] [10]
| Measure | Result | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Council of Representatives | 329 seats | Unicameral chamber |
| Reconstruction and Development | 46 seats | Largest single coalition |
| State of Law | 29 seats | Major list |
| Sadiqoun | 27 seats | Major list |
| Progress / Taqadum | 27 seats | Major list |
| Women elected | 84 seats | 25.5% of 329 |
| Minority reserved seats | 9 seats | Electoral allocation |
International Profile
- United Nations membership
- Joined the UN in December 1945. [19]
- Arab League membership
- Participates in the League of Arab States. [19]
- OPEC membership
- Member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. [14]
- WTO accession
- Applicant economy; accession working party established in 2004. [13]
- Gulf coastline
- Northern Gulf maritime access is strategically important for oil shipments. [14]
- Türkiye relationship
- Shared border, commerce, river issues and security concerns are major bilateral topics. [6] [18]
- Iran relationship
- Substantial religious, energy, commercial and political ties, alongside questions of armed-group influence. [6]
- Saudi Arabia relationship
- Regional diplomacy, trade and transport links have expanded through neighboring Gulf relations. [6]
- Kuwait relationship
- Maritime borders, Gulf access and post-1990 diplomatic settlement have long-term importance. [19]
- Jordan relationship
- Land trade, transport and regional energy plans connect the two states. [1]
- Syria relationship
- Shared frontier, displacement and security consequences link the countries. [21]
- United States relationship
- Security cooperation and political debates about troop deployments and armed groups remain consequential. [6]
- European Union relationship
- Development programs, reconstruction and trade dialogue are prominent links. [6]
- UN development framework
- UN agencies support education, food systems, livelihoods and social inclusion. [10]
- IOM activities
- Displacement tracking, return support and recovery programming continue. [21]
- Kurdistan foreign ties
- Regional authorities maintain external investment and trade relationships while formally part of Iraq. [6]
- Water diplomacy
- Tigris–Euphrates management requires cross-border coordination. [18]
- Oil-market diplomacy
- Output decisions affect world oil markets and Iraqi fiscal resources. [14]
- Cultural restitution
- Museums and archaeological conservation are part of international heritage collaboration. [15]
- World Heritage total
- Six properties: five cultural and one mixed. [15]
- Ashur
- Ancient Assyrian capital, inscribed in 2003. [15]
- Hatra
- Fortified ancient city, inscribed in 1985. [15]
- Samarra Archaeological City
- Abbasid-era archaeological landscape, inscribed in 2007. [15]
- Erbil Citadel
- Historic urban citadel in the Kurdistan Region, inscribed in 2014. [15]
- Babylon
- Archaeological complex inscribed in 2019. [15]
- The Ahwar
- Mixed natural-cultural World Heritage property inscribed in 2016. [15]
- World Heritage in Danger
- Some Iraqi monuments have faced conflict damage and conservation threats. [15]
- World Heritage tentative list
- National proposals are not additional inscribed World Heritage properties. [15]
- Intangible cultural heritage
- UNESCO separately inventories Iraqi living cultural traditions. [16]
- Regional archaeology
- Mesopotamian heritage has global significance for studies of writing, urbanism and political institutions. [15]
- Education diplomacy
- Archaeology, heritage and development projects draw cross-border research cooperation. [15] [10]
- 2026 regional security
- Relations with neighboring states are affected by armed militias, border issues and wider Middle East conflicts. [6]
- International status caution
- Federal and Kurdistan regional institutions are distinct; international recognition belongs to the Republic of Iraq. [22]
UNESCO World Heritage properties in Iraq
The six listed properties include one mixed natural-cultural inscription. [15]
| Site | Type | Inscribed |
|---|---|---|
| Hatra | Cultural | 1985 |
| Ashur | Cultural | 2003 |
| Samarra Archaeological City | Cultural | 2007 |
| Erbil Citadel | Cultural | 2014 |
| The Ahwar of Southern Iraq | Mixed | 2016 |
| Babylon | Cultural | 2019 |
Sources and Methodology
The final 2024 population census is a counted total, not a 2025 projection. World Bank estimates, national results and UNCTAD trade estimates have distinct compilation rules. UNCTAD Iraq goods values for 2024 are explicitly estimated and may differ from Iraq’s non-oil customs statistics and OPEC petroleum export statistics. IPU/UN election results refer to the November 2025 voting and not to changing legislative alliances. The Kurdistan Region’s constitutional autonomy and the federal status of Halabja are kept distinct. UNESCO physical properties, tentative sites and intangible heritage are separately defined.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.
- United Nations Statistics Division — M49 — Western Asia classification and region.
- World Bank — Iraq country data — 2025 population, GDP, growth, unemployment and inflation.
- World Bank — Iraq population, total — 2025 annual population model.
- Iraq National Investment Commission — Investment Map 2025 — final 2024 census population 46,118,793 and urban/rural split.
- UNFPA Iraq — 2024 census studies, November 2026 — new population and labor-force findings from census follow-up studies.
- UK House of Commons Library — Iraq in 2026 — 2025 election, 2026 officeholders, Kurdistan and security issues.
- Reuters — October 15, 2026 Iraqi cabinet appointments — October 2026 parliamentary approval of previously unfilled cabinet posts.
- CIA — Iraq World Leaders, November 2, 2026 — contemporary Iraqi president, prime minister and cabinet.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union — Iraq election 2025 — 329-seat Council, 2025 results and women elected.
- United Nations Iraq — 2025 annual results report — 2025 voting, demographics and development issues.
- UK Government — Iraq Toponymic Factfile — Halabja legislation making 19 governorates in 2025.
- UNCTAD — Iraq general profile, 2024 — 2024 estimated goods exports, imports and services trade.
- World Trade Organization — Iraq accession status — WTO accession process; Iraq not yet a member.
- OPEC — Iraq and energy statistics — Iraq crude petroleum production and producer membership.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Iraq — six inscribed properties: five cultural and one mixed.
- UNESCO — Iraq intangible cultural heritage — UNESCO intangible cultural heritage country inventory.
- World Health Organization — Iraq — health and life expectancy series.
- World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Iraq — temperature, aridity and water stress.
- United Nations — Member States — Iraq UN membership and international institutions.
- UN Human Rights Office — Iraq — rights and displacement monitoring.
- International Organization for Migration — Iraq — migration, displacement and recovery programs.
- Iraqi Constitution — UN Iraq constitutional documentation — 2005 constitution, federal structure and official languages.