THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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
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
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New York State
Land boundaries: total: 3,809 km
border countries: 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% (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.)
forest: 1.6% (2023 est.)
other: 76.5% (2023 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 Arabnote: [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

Population: total: 42,917,742 (2025 est.)
male: 21,614,894
female: 21,302,848
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)
Languages: 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.
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.)
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 54.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 16.9 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 22.7 years (2025 est.)
male: 22 years
female: 22.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.94% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 23.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
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.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.9 years
female: 75.7 years
Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.48 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 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: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.4% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 18.6% (2025 est.)
male: 36.2% (2025 est.)
female: 1.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.9% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.3% (2018 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)
Literacy: total population: 84.1% (2021 est.)
male: 90.3% (2021 est.)
female: 77.8% (2021 est.)

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: 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
Land use: 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.)
forest: 1.6% (2023 est.)
other: 76.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 71.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 2,243 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 157 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 325 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 13.14 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 6.735 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 4.52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 31.169 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 89.86 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
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 minister2018: 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: 11/11/2025
parties elected and seats per party: Reconstruction & 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)
percentage of women in chamber: 28.9%
expected date of next election: November 2029
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
Political parties: Al Fatah AllianceAzm AllianceBabiliyun MovementImtidadIshraqat KonunKurdistan Democratic PartyNational Contract PartyNew Generation MovementPatriotic Union of KurdistanSadrist BlocState Forces AllianceState of Law CoalitionTaqadumTasmim 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: washington@scrdiraq.gov.iqhttps://www.iraqiembassy.us/
consulate(s) general: Detroit, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Ambassador Joshua HARRIS (since 2 September 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: BaghdadACS@state.govhttps://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)
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 bandmeaning: 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)history: the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag
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)

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $585.887 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $595.082 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $592.017 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: -1.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $279.641 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 6% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 51.6% (2024 est.)
services: 45.8% (2024 est.)
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.)
Agricultural products: wheat, dates, maize, tomatoes, rye, grapes, milk, chicken, potatoes, fruits (2023)
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate: -2.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 12.008 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 15.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 15.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 32.1% (2024 est.)
male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
female: 62.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 29.8 (2023 est.)
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.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $90.204 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $64.512 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2018: 27.4% of GDP (2018 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 1.3% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: $28.375 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $58.01 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $24.565 billion (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $107.852 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $127.079 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $78.26 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 33%, India 28%, USA 8%, Greece 5%, UAE 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, petroleum coke, gold, natural gas (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $81.179 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $69.162 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $50.707 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 32%, China 20%, Turkey 18%, India 5%, USA 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, gold (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $100.691 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $112.233 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $97.009 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $15.58 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1,300 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1,312.5 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1,450 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1,450 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1,192 (2020 est.)

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.)
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: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 64.311 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.977 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 46.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2024 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)
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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YI
Airports: 73 (2025)
Heliports: 10 (2025)
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
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 forces: Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army, Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air ForceOffice 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 expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: 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 ForcesMinistry of Peshmerga: estimated 150,000 active personnelPopular Mobilization Forces: estimated 200,000 militia (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Iraqi military's inventory includes a mix of European, Russian, Soviet-era, and US armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
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)

Terrorist group(s): 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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 335,343 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 1,201,813 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 233 (2024 est.)

Iraq