2017 Edition

Background

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, 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 over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock, the COR approved the new government in December 2010. In April 2014, Iraq held a national legislative election and expanded the COR to 328 legislators. Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI dropped his bid for a third term in office, enabling new Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI, a Shia Muslim from Baghdad, to win legislative approval of his new cabinet in September 2014. Since 2014, Iraq has been engaged in a military campaign against ISIS to recapture territory lost in the western and northern portion of the country.

Area

438,317 sq km 437,367 sq km 950 sq km

land

437,367 sq km

total

438,317 sq km

water

950 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than three times the size of New York state

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

Coastline

58 km

Elevation

312 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point

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

mean elevation

312 m

Environment - current issues

government water control projects drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection Environmental Modification

party to

Biodiversity, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Geographic coordinates

33 00 N, 44 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

35,250 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

3,809 km Iran 1,599 km, Jordan 179 km, Kuwait 254 km, Saudi Arabia 811 km, Syria 599 km, Turkey 367 km

border countries (6)

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

total

3,809 km

Land use

18.1% arable land 8.4%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.2% 1.9% 80% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

18.1%

forest

1.9%

other

80% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

12 nm not specified

continental shelf

not specified

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

dust storms; sandstorms; floods

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

39.46% (male 7,895,522/female 7,569,205) 19.25% (male 3,841,375/female 3,702,187) 33.84% (male 6,704,201/female 6,558,108) 3.99% (male 752,598/female 812,683) 3.46% (male 601,937/female 754,295) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

39.46% (male 7,895,522/female 7,569,205)

15-24 years

19.25% (male 3,841,375/female 3,702,187)

25-54 years

33.84% (male 6,704,201/female 6,558,108)

55-64 years

3.99% (male 752,598/female 812,683)

65 years and over

3.46% (male 601,937/female 754,295) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

30.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.5% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

52.5% (2011)

Death rate

3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

77.7 72.3 5.5 18.3 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

5.5

potential support ratio

18.3 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

77.7

youth dependency ratio

72.3

Drinking water source

urban: 93.8% of population rural: 70.1% of population total: 86.6% of population urban: 6.1% of population rural: 31.5% of population total: 14.6% of population (2015 est.)

rural

31.5% of population

total

14.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban

6.1% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkmen, Assyrian, Shabak, Yazidi, other 5%

Health expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

37.5 deaths/1,000 live births 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births 34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

40.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

37.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), Kurdish (official), Turkmen (a Turkish dialect), Syriac (Neo-Aramaic), and Armenian are official in areas where native speakers of these languages constitute a majority of the population)

Life expectancy at birth

74.9 years 72.6 years 77.2 years (2017 est.)

female

77.2 years (2017 est.)

male

72.6 years

total population

74.9 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 79.7% 85.7% 73.7% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

73.7% (2015 est.)

male

85.7%

total population

79.7%

Major infectious diseases

intermediate bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Major urban areas - population

BAGHDAD (capital) 6.643 million; Mosul 1.694 million; Erbil 1.166 million; Basra 1.019 million; As Sulaymaniyah 1.004 million; Najaf 889,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

50 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

20 years 19.8 years 20.3 years (2017 est.)

female

20.3 years (2017 est.)

male

19.8 years

total

20 years

Nationality

Iraqi(s) Iraqi

adjective

Iraqi

noun

Iraqi(s)

Net migration rate

-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30.4% (2016)

Physicians density

0.85 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

39,192,111 (July 2017 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

Population growth rate

2.55% (2017 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 55-60%, Sunni 40%), Christian while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the SADDAM Husayn regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon (2010 est.)

note

while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the SADDAM Husayn regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.4% of population rural: 83.8% of population total: 85.6% of population urban: 13.6% of population rural: 16.2% of population total: 14.4% of population (2015 est.)

rural

16.2% of population

total

14.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban

13.6% of population

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.8 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.91 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

69.7% of total population (2017) 2.97% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.97% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

69.7% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah (Arabic); parezgakan, singular - parezga (Kurdish)) and 1 region*; Al Anbar; Al Basrah; Al Muthanna; Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah); An Najaf; Arbil (Erbil) (Arabic), Hewler (Kurdish); As Sulaymaniyah (Arabic), Slemani (Kurdish); Babil; Baghdad; Dahuk (Arabic), Dihok (Kurdish); Dhi Qar; Diyala; Karbala'; Kirkuk; Kurdistan Regional Government*; Maysan; Ninawa; Salah ad Din; Wasit

Capital

Baghdad 33 20 N, 44 24 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

33 20 N, 44 24 E

name

Baghdad

time difference

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

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Iraq yes 10 years

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005 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 a 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 a two-thirds majority vote of Council of Representatives members after two successive electoral terms, approval in a referendum, and ratification by the president (2016)

amendments

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 a 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 a two-thirds majority vote of Council of Representatives members after two successive electoral terms, approval in a referendum, and ratification by the president (2016)

history

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005

Country name

Republic of Iraq Iraq Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq Al Iraq/Eraq the name probably derives from "Uruk" (Biblical "Erech"), the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River

conventional long form

Republic of Iraq

conventional short form

Iraq

etymology

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

local long form

Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq

local short form

Al Iraq/Eraq

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Douglas A. SILLIMAN (since 1 September 2016) Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad APO AE 09316 0760-030-3000 NA

chief of mission

Ambassador Douglas A. SILLIMAN (since 1 September 2016)

embassy

Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad

FAX

NA

mailing address

APO AE 09316

telephone

0760-030-3000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Farid YASIN (since 18 January 2017) 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007 [1] (202) 742-1600 [1] (202) 333-1129 Detroit, Los Angeles

chancery

3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Farid YASIN (since 18 January 2017)

consulate(s) general

Detroit, Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 333-1129

telephone

[1] (202) 742-1600

Executive branch

President Fuad MASUM (since 24 July 2014); Vice Presidents Ayad ALLAWI (since 9 September 2014), Nuri al-MALIKI (since 8 September 2014), Usama al-NUJAYFI (since 9 September 2014) Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI (since 8 September 2014) Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives (COR) to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in April 2018); prime minister nominated by the majority COR bloc and submission of COR minister nominees for full COR approval; disapproval requires designation of a new prime minister candidate Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM (PUK) 211, Barham SALIH (PUK) 17

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives

chief of state

President Fuad MASUM (since 24 July 2014); Vice Presidents Ayad ALLAWI (since 9 September 2014), Nuri al-MALIKI (since 8 September 2014), Usama al-NUJAYFI (since 9 September 2014)

election results

Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM (PUK) 211, Barham SALIH (PUK) 17

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives (COR) to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in April 2018); prime minister nominated by the majority COR bloc and submission of COR minister nominees for full COR approval; disapproval requires designation of a new prime minister candidate

head of government

Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI (since 8 September 2014)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script; Yemen, which has a plain white band; and that of Egypt, which has a golden Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band

note

similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script; Yemen, which has a plain white band; and that of Egypt, which has a golden Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

Independence

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, 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)

Judicial branch

Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice-presidents, and at least 24 judges) Federal Supreme Court and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63 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; religious courts

highest court(s)

Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); note - court jurisdiction limited to constitutional issues and disputes between regions or governorates and the central government; 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 and Court of Cassation judges selected by the president of the republic from nominees selected by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a 25-member committee of judicial officials that manage the judiciary and prosecutors; FSC members appointed for life; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the SJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement nominally at age 63

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; religious courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law

Legislative branch

unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy (328 seats; 320 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members serve 4-year terms); note - Iraq's constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council, but it has not been instituted last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018) percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition – State of Law Coalition 95, Ahrar Bloc/Sadrist Trend 34, ISCI/Muwatin 31, United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun 28, KDP 25, PUK 21, Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah 21, other Sunni coalitions/parties 19, Al-Arabiyah Coalition 10, Goran 9, other Shia parties/coalitions 8, Fadilah 6, National Reform Trend 6, Diyala is Our Identity 5, Iraq Coalition 5, KIU 4, other 5

description

unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy (328 seats; 320 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 8 seats reserved for minorities; members serve 4-year terms); note - Iraq's constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house, the Federation Council, but it has not been instituted

election results

percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition – State of Law Coalition 95, Ahrar Bloc/Sadrist Trend 34, ISCI/Muwatin 31, United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun 28, KDP 25, PUK 21, Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah 21, other Sunni coalitions/parties 19, Al-Arabiyah Coalition 10, Goran 9, other Shia parties/coalitions 8, Fadilah 6, National Reform Trend 6, Diyala is Our Identity 5, Iraq Coalition 5, KIU 4, other 5

elections

last held on 30 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

"Mawtini" (My Homeland) Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL adopted 2004; following the ouster of SADDAM Husayn, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world; also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people

lyrics/music

Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL

name

"Mawtini" (My Homeland)

note

adopted 2004; following the ouster of SADDAM Husayn, Iraq adopted "Mawtini," a popular folk song throughout the Arab world; also serves as an unofficial anthem of the Palestinian people

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black

golden eagle; national colors

red, white, black

Political parties and leaders

Al-Arabiyah Coalition [Salih al-MUTLAQ] Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMIRI] Da`wa Party [Haider al-ABADI] Da`wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI] Diyala is Our Identity [Salim al-JABOURI] Fadilah Party [Muhammad al-YAQUBI] Goran Party [Nawshirwan MUSTAFA] Iraq Coalition [Fadhil al-DABBITS] (electoral coalition) Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI/Muwatin Coalition [Ammar al-HAKIM] Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI] Kurdistan Islamic Union or KIU [Salahaddin Muhammad Bahaaeddin SADIQ] Nationalism Coalition/Wataniyah [Ayad ALLAWI] National Reform Trend [Ibrahim al-JAFARI] Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI] Sadrist Trend or Ahrar Bloc [Muqtada al-SADR] State of Law Coalition [Nuri al MALIKI] United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun Lil Islah [Usama al-NUJAYFI] numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority parties

note

numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry

Budget

$52.13 billion $77.69 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$77.69 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$52.13 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-15.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6% (2016) 6% (2015)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4% (31 December 2016 est.) 6% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-14.9 billion (2016 est.) $4.121 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$64.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $59.95 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Economy - overview

Iraq's GDP grew by more than 10% in 2016, the best performance in the past decade, because of rising oil prices, a significant driver of Iraqi GDP. During 2016, security and financial stability throughout Iraq began to improve as Iraqi Security Forces made gains against the ongoing insurgency and oil prices slowly rose. The Iraqi Government entered into a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF in July 2016, which helped stabilize its finances by encouraging improved fiscal management, needed economic reform, and expenditure reduction. Iraq passed its first SBA review in December 2016, and additional progress on the program is critical to its long-term fiscal health. Diversification efforts – a key component to Iraq’s long-term economic development – require a strengthened investment climate to bolster private-sector engagement. Sustained improvements in the overall standard of living depend heavily on global oil prices, the central government passage of major policy reforms, and progress in the conflict with ISIL. Iraq's largely state-run economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides more than 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil exports in 2016 averaged 3.3 million barrels per day from southern Iraq, up from 2015. Moreover, the slow recovery of global oil prices improved export revenues throughout 2016, although monthly revenue remained below 2015 levels. Iraq's contracts with major oil companies have the potential to further expand oil exports and revenues, but Iraq will need to make significant upgrades to its oil processing, pipeline, and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their economic potential. Iraqi oil exports from northern fields are hampered by fundamental disagreements between the Iraqi Government and autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq’s Kurdistan region (IKR) on the roles of federal and regional authorities in the development and export of natural resources. In 2007, the KRG passed an oil law to develop IKR oil and gas reserves independent of the federal government. The KRG has signed about 50 contracts with foreign energy companies to develop its reserves, some of which lie in territories whose status is in dispute between Baghdad and Erbil. Some of the companies have left or returned blocks, citing lack of commercial prospects. In 2014, the KRG began exporting its oil unilaterally through its own pipeline to Turkey, which Baghdad claims is illegal. In the absence of a national hydrocarbons law, the two sides have entered into four provisional oil- and revenue-sharing deals since 2009, all of which collapsed. In September 2016, the two sides began implementing a fifth ad hoc agreement to split oil exports from Baghdad-controlled fields in Kirkuk. Iraq is making slow progress enacting laws and developing the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and political reforms are still needed to assuage investors' concerns regarding the uncertain business climate. The Government of Iraq is eager to attract additional foreign direct investment, but it faces a number of obstacles, including a tenuous political system and concerns about security and societal stability. Rampant corruption, outdated infrastructure, insufficient essential services, skilled labor shortages, and antiquated commercial laws stifle investment and continue to constrain growth of private, nonoil sectors. Under the Iraqi constitution, some competencies relevant to the overall investment climate are either shared by the federal government and the regions or are devolved entirely to local governments. Investment in the IKR operates within the framework of the Kurdistan Region Investment Law (Law 4 of 2006) and the Kurdistan Board of Investment, which is designed to provide incentives to help economic development in areas under the authority of the KRG. Inflation has remained under control since 2006. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard-pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into an improved standard of living for the Iraqi populace. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country despite a bloated public sector. Encouraging private enterprise through deregulation would make it easier for Iraqi citizens and foreign investors to start new businesses. Rooting out corruption and implementing reforms - such as restructuring banks and developing the private sector - would be important steps in this direction.

Exchange rates

Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar - 1,182 (2016 est.) 1,182 (2015 est.) 1,167.63 (2014 est.) 1,213.72 (2013 est.) 1,166.17 (2012 est.)

Exports

$28.36 billion (2016 est.) $43.44 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 99%, crude materials excluding fuels, food, live animals

Exports - partners

China 21.9%, India 20.6%, US 12.3%, South Korea 10.3%, Italy 6.8%, Greece 5.4% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

50.4% 18.8% 23.5% -4.5% 39.7% -27.9% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

39.7%

government consumption

18.8%

household consumption

50.4%

imports of goods and services

-27.9% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.5%

investment in inventories

-4.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

5.1% 37.3% 57.7% (2016 est.)

agriculture

5.1%

industry

37.3%

services

57.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,200 (2016 est.) $15,900 (2015 est.) $15,600 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

11% (2016 est.) 4.8% (2015 est.) 0.7% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$171.7 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$652.3 billion (2016 est.) $580.3 billion (2015 est.) $547.5 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

11.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 18% of GDP (2015 est.) 28.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.6% 25.7% (2007 est.)

highest 10%

25.7% (2007 est.)

lowest 10%

3.6%

Imports

$19.57 billion (2016 est.) $33.19 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners

China 26.9%, Turkey 26.6%, South Korea 5%, US 4.4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

8.7% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2016 est.) -2.3% (2015 est.)

Labor force

8.9 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

21.6% 18.7% 59.8% (2008 est.)

agriculture

21.6%

industry

18.7%

services

59.8% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4 billion (9 December 2011) $2.6 billion (31 July 2010) $2 billion (31 July 2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (2014 est.)

Public debt

63.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 55% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$45.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $54.06 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$74.52 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $69.88 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$2.109 billion (2015 est.) $1.956 billion (2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$26.63 billion (2015 est.) $23.16 billion (2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.191 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.773 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$59.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $55.36 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

16% (2012 est.) 15% (2010 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

137 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

2.792 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

4.452 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

142.5 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

66 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

87.3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

6.2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

12 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

28 million kW (2017 est.)

Electricity - production

84 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

600,000 98% 99.6% 95.4% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

95.4% (2013)

electrification - total population

98%

electrification - urban areas

99.6%

population without electricity

600,000

Natural gas - consumption

1.27 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.002 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.158 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

850,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

7,080 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

295,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

484,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

the number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003; government-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 an estimated 70% of viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2015)

Internet country code

.iq

Internet users

8,098,401 21.2% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

21.2% (July 2016 est.)

total

8,098,401

Telephone system

the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications have slowed due to the ongoing conflict with ISIS/ISIL the mobile cellular market continues to expand (cell phones were banned prior to 2003 under the SADDAM regime); 3G services offered by three major mobile operators in 2015; ongoing conflict has destroyed infrastructure in areas country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; international terrestrial fiber-optic connections have been established with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iran; links to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the Gulf Bridge International (GBI) submarine fiber-optic cables have been established (2017)

domestic

the mobile cellular market continues to expand (cell phones were banned prior to 2003 under the SADDAM regime); 3G services offered by three major mobile operators in 2015; ongoing conflict has destroyed infrastructure in areas

general assessment

the 2003 liberation of Iraq severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq; widespread government efforts to rebuild domestic and international communications have slowed due to the ongoing conflict with ISIS/ISIL

international

country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Intersputnik - Atlantic Ocean region, and 1 Arabsat (inoperative)); local microwave radio relay connects border regions to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; international terrestrial fiber-optic connections have been established with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iran; links to the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the Gulf Bridge International (GBI) submarine fiber-optic cables have been established (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

2.031 million 5 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

2.031 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

30,203,100 79 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

79 (July 2016 est.)

total

30,203,100

Airports

102 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

7 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

34

914 to 1,523 m

7

over 3,047 m

20

total

72

under 914 m

7 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

6 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

13

over 3,047 m

3

total

30

under 914 m

6 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YI (2016)

Heliports

16 (2013)

Merchant marine

petroleum tanker 2 2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)

by type

petroleum tanker 2

registered in other countries

2 (Marshall Islands 2) (2010)

total

2

National air transport system

484,803 10,758,230 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

10,758,230 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

484,803

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

39

number of registered air carriers

4

Pipelines

gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1,637 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Al Basrah (Shatt al-'Arab); Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)

river port(s)

Al Basrah (Shatt al-'Arab); Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)

Railways

2,272 km 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

2,272 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

2,272 km

Roadways

59,623 km 59,623 km (includes Kurdistan Region) (2012)

paved

59,623 km (includes Kurdistan Region) (2012)

total

59,623 km

Waterways

5,279 km (the Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) (2012)

Military branches

Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army (includes Army Aviation Directorate), Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force; Counterterrorism Service (2015)

Ministry of Defense

Iraqi Army (includes Army Aviation Directorate), Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force; Counterterrorism Service (2015)

Military expenditures

3.63% of GDP (2016) 5.35% of GDP (2015) 2.95% of GDP (2014) 3.32% of GDP (2013) 1.9% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)

Disputes - international

Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the autonomous status of Kurds in Iraq

Refugees and internally displaced persons

15,692 (Turkey); 7,703 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 7,545 (Iran) (2016); 246,592 (Syria) (2017) 4,127,216 (includes displacement between 2006 and 2008 due to ethno-sectarian violence and displacement in central and northern Iraq since January 2014) (2017) 48,200 (2016); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless estimate revised to reflect the reduction of statelessness in line with Law 26 of 2006, which allows stateless persons to apply for nationality in certain circumstances; more accurate studies of statelessness in Iraq are pending (2015)

IDPs

4,127,216 (includes displacement between 2006 and 2008 due to ethno-sectarian violence and displacement in central and northern Iraq since January 2014) (2017)

note

estimate revised to reflect the reduction of statelessness in line with Law 26 of 2006, which allows stateless persons to apply for nationality in certain circumstances; more accurate studies of statelessness in Iraq are pending (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

15,692 (Turkey); 7,703 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 7,545 (Iran) (2016); 246,592 (Syria) (2017)

stateless persons

48,200 (2016); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless