Unemployment rate in Iraq
Iraq: Unemployment rate was 15.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Iraq, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Iraq is 15.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 42.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Iraq peaked at 16.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2012.
Iraq ranks 15th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.6% | — |
| 1992 | 8.3% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 8.4% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 8.4% | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 8.3% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 8.0% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 8.0% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 8.6% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 9.0% | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 8.7% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 8.4% | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 8.6% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 8.4% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 9.2% | +15.8% |
| 2014 | 10.6% | +14.8% |
| 2015 | 10.9% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 10.8% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | +20.3% |
| 2018 | 13.5% | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 14.1% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 15.8% | +11.8% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 15.2% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 15.5% | +1.3% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 15.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.6%, 2.7× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 15.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.0%, 1.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.3% | 8.0% | 8.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.5% | 8.0% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 8.0% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 15.2% | 16.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More work & labour data for Iraq
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.1939 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.1833 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2038 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.31 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 65,560 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 15,931 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 50,009 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 50,640 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 100,649 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Iraq?
- Unemployment rate in Iraq was 15.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2012.
- How does Iraq rank for unemployment rate?
- Iraq ranks 15th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.