SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Iraq

Iraq: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) was 16.17 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
16.17
World rank
11th
of 179 countries
All-time high
16.17
in 2021
All-time low
7.96
in 2012
Years of data
6
2007–2021

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Iraq, 2007–2021

0510152007201420212007: 8.62012: 82014: 10.62016: 10.82017: 132021: 16.2

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Iraq is 16.17, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is up 103.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Iraq peaked at 16.17 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.96, in 2012.

Iraq ranks 11th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Iraq, 2007 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2007 8.65
2012 7.96 -7.9%
2014 10.59 +33.0%
2016 10.82 +2.2%
2017 13.02 +20.3%
2021 16.17 +24.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.65 8.65 8.65 1
2010s 10.6 7.96 13.02 4
2020s 16.17 16.17 16.17 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 8 Curaçao 19.1 compare
  2. 9 Martinique 17.6 compare
  3. 10 Jordan 16.8 compare
  4. 12 Malawi 15.41 compare
  5. 13 Tunisia 15.11 compare
  6. 14 Syrian Arab Republic 14.9 compare

See the full ranking of 266 places →

More work & labour data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Iraq?
Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Iraq was 16.17 in 2021, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 16.17 in 2021.
What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 7.96 in 2012.
How does Iraq rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
Iraq ranks 11th out of 179 countries with data for 2021.
Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is up 103.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/sdg-indicator-8-5-2-unemployment-rate-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
266 places, 5,648 data points, 2000–2027
Last refreshed

Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.