Iraq

Republic of Iraq

Middle East Baghdad

Population

42.92M

Area

438,317 km²

GDP

$279.64B

GDP Per Capita

$12,700

Pop. Density

98/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

ع.دIraqi dinar(IQD)

Calling Code

+964

Timezone

UTC+03:00

Languages

Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Iraqi

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑329.2% since 2006

$65B (2006)$280B (2024)

Population

↑60.9% since 2006

28.6M (2006)46.0M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 72.3 years

2006: 64.0 years2023: 72.3 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography21

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 Arab

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Population distribution

population is concentrated in the north, center, and eastern parts of the country, with many of the larger urban agglomerations found along extensive parts of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; much of the western and southern areas are either lightly populated or uninhabited

Natural hazards

dust storms; sandstorms; floods

Geography - note

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

People & Society34

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

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.)

Government23

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 minister

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

Legislative branch

legislature name

Council of Representatives of Iraq

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

329 (all directly elected)

electoral system

other systems

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

most recent election date

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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

chancery

1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

[1] (202) 483-7500

FAX

[1] (202) 462-8815

email address and website

washington@scrdiraq.gov.iq

https://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.gov

https://iq.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

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

National holiday

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

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic phrase meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band

meaning: 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)

Economy31

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.)

Energy7

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.)

Communications6

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.)

Transportation6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

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

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

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

Military & Security6

Military and security forces

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

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

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

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 Forces

Ministry of Peshmerga: estimated 150,000 active personnel

Popular 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)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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

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