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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 41.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 72.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 15.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 10.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 43.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 75.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 11.5% (2025)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.