Statistical information Iraq 2017

Iraq in the World
top of pageBackground:
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.
top of pageLocation: Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N 44 00 E
Map reference:
Middle EastAreaTotal: 438,317 km²
Land: 437,367 km²
Water: 950 km²
Rank: 60
Comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New York state
Land boundariesTotal: 3,809 km
Border countries: (6) Iran 1599 km;
Jordan 179 km;
Kuwait 254 km;
Saudi Arabia 811 km;
Syria 599 km;
Turkey 367 kmCoastline: 58 km
Maritime claimsTerritorial 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
ElevationMean elevation: 312 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m: highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for 'Black Tent') 3,611 m
Natural resources: petroleum natural gas phosphates sulfur
Land useAgricultural land: 18.1%
arable land: 8.4%
permanent crops: 0.5%
permanent pasture: 9.2%
Forest: 1.9%
Other: 80%
Irrigated land: 35,250 km² (2012)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: dust storms; sandstorms; floods
GeographyNote: strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf
top of pagePopulationDistribution: 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: 39,192,111 (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 35
Growth rate: 2.55% (2017 est.)
Growth rate rank: 15
Below poverty line: 23% (2014 est.)
NationalityNoun: Iraqi
Adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80% Kurdish 15%-20% Turkmen Assyrian Shabak Yazidi other 5%
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)
Religions: Muslim (official) 99% (Shia 55-60% Sunni 40%) Christian .1% Yazidi .1% Sabean Mandaean .1% Baha'i .1% Zoroastrian .1% Hindu 0.1% Buddhist 0.1% Jewish 0.1% folk religion 0.1 unafilliated 0.1% other 0.1%
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
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 39.46%
15-24 years: 19.25%
25-54 years: 33.84%
55-64 years: 3.99%
65 years and over: 3.46% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratiosTotal dependency ratio: 77.7
Youth dependency ratio: 72.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5
Potential support ratio: 18.3
Median ageTotal: 20 years
Male: 19.8 years
Female: 20.3 years
Rank: 191
Population growth rate: 2.55% (2017 est.)
Rank: 15
Birth rate: 30.4 births/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 37
Death rate: 3.8 deaths/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 212
Net migration rate: -1.2 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 143
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
UrbanizationUrban population: 69.7% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change
Major urban areasPopulation: 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)
EnvironmentCurrent 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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male/female
55-64 years: 0.91 male/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male/female
Total population: 1.02 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateTotal: 37.5 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 40.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 34.2 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 48
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 74.9 years
Male: 72.6 years
Female: 77.2 years
Rank: 117
Total fertility rate: 4 children born/woman (2017 est.)
Rank: 35
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 52.5% (2011)
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.)
Current health expenditurePhysicians density: 0.85 physicians/1000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1000 population (2012)
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.)
Hiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA
Major infectious diseasesDegree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 30.4% (2016)
Rank: 23
Alcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweight: 8.5% (2011)
Rank: 74
Education expenditures: NA
LiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 79.7%
Male: 85.7%
Female: 73.7%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Iraq
Conventional short form: Iraq
Local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq
Local short form: Al Iraq/Eraq
Etymology: the name probably derives from 'Uruk' the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
CapitalName: BaghdadGeographic coordinates: 33 20 N 44 24 E
Time difference: UTC+3
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
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
National holiday: Independence Day 3 October (1932); Republic Day 14 July (1958)
ConstitutionHistory: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005
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
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
CitizenshipCitizenship 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 branchChief of state: President Fuad MASUM ; Vice Presidents Ayad ALLAWI (since 9 September 2014) Nuri al-MALIKI (since 8 September 2014) Usama al-NUJAYFI (since 9 September 2014)
Head of government: Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI
Cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister approved by Council of Representatives
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by Council of Representatives 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
Election results: Fuad MASUM elected president; Council of Representatives vote - Fuad MASUM 211 Barham SALIH (PUK) 17
Legislative branchDescription: unicameral Council of Representatives or Majlis an-Nuwwab al-Iraqiyy ; note - Iraq's constitution calls for the establishment of an upper house the Federation Council but it has not been instituted
Elections: last held on 30 April 2014
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
Judicial branchHighest court: Federal Supreme Court or FSC ; 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 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 ; civil courts including first instance personal status labor and customs; criminal courts including felony misdemeanor investigative major crimes juvenile and traffic; religious courts
Political parties and leaders: United for Reform Coalition/Muttahidun Lil Islah [Usama al-NUJAYFI]
Note: numerous smaller local tribal and minority parties
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)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Farid YASIN
In the us chancery: 3,421 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] 742-1600
In the us FAX: [1] 333-1129
In the us consulate general: Detroit Los Angeles
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. SILLIMAN
From the us embassy: Al-Kindi Street International Zone Baghdad
From the us mailing address: APO AE 9,316
From the us telephone: 0760-030-3,000
From the us FAX: NA
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
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
National symbols: golden eagle; national colors: red white black
National anthemName: 'Mawtini'
Lyrics and music: Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL
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 heritagetop of pageEconomy 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$652.3 billion (2016 est.)
$580.3 billion (2015 est.)
$547.5 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 34
Real gdp growth rate:
11% (2016 est.)
4.8% (2015 est.)
0.7% (2014 est.)
Rank: 3
Real gdp per capita:
$17,200 (2016 est.)
$15,900 (2015 est.)
$15,600 (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2016 dollars
Rank: 94
Gross national saving:
11.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
18% of GDP (2015 est.)
28.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 171
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useHousehold consumption: 50.4%
Government consumption: 18.8%
Investment in fixed capital: 23.5%
Investment in inventories: -4.5%
Exports of goods and services: 39.7%
Imports of goods and services: -27.9%
Gdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 5.1%
Industry: 37.3%
Services: 57.7%
Agriculture products: wheat barley rice vegetables dates cotton; cattle sheep poultry
Industries: petroleum chemicals textiles leather construction materials food processing fertilizer metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate: 8.7% (2016 est.)
Rank: 13
Labor force: 8.9 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 56
By occupation agriculture: 21.6%
By occupation industry: 18.7%
By occupation services: 59.8%
Unemployment rate:
16% (2012 est.)
15% (2010 est.)
Rank: 176
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 23% (2014 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: 3.6%
Highest 10: 25.7%
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $52.13 billion
Expenditures: $77.69 billion
Surplus or deficit: -15.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 211
Taxes and other revenues: 31.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Rank: 74
Public debt:
63.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
55% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 63
RevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
0.4% (2016 est.)
-2.3% (2015 est.)
Rank: 65
Central bank discount rate:
6% (2016)
6% (2015)
Rank: 70
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4% (31 December 2016 est.)
6% (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 158
Stock of narrow money:
$59.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$55.36 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 48
Stock of broad money:
$74.52 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$69.88 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 59
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.191 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.773 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 136
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4 billion (9 December 2011)
$2.6 billion (31 July 2010)
$2 billion (31 July 2009 est.)
Rank: 93
Current account balance:
$-14.9 billion (2016 est.)
$4.121 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 28
Exports:
$28.36 billion (2016 est.)
$43.44 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 60
Commodities: crude oil 99% crude materials excluding fuels food live animals
Partners: China 21.9% India 20.6% US 12.3% South Korea 10.3% Italy 6.8% Greece 5.4% (2016)
Imports:
$19.57 billion (2016 est.)
$33.19 billion (2015 est.)
Rank: 72
Commodities: food medicine manufactures
Partners: China 26.9% Turkey 26.6% South Korea 5% US 4.4% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.36 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$54.06 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 41
Debt external:
$64.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$59.95 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 60
Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
$26.63 billion (2015 est.)
$23.16 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 71
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
$2.109 billion (2015 est.)
$1.956 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 80
Exchange rates:
Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -
1182 (2016 est.)
1182 (2015 est.)
1167.63 (2014 est.)
1213.72 (2013 est.)
1166.17 (2012 est.)
top of pageElectricityAccess population without electricity: 600,000
Access electrification total population: 98%
Access electrification urban areas: 99.6%
Access electrification rural areas: 95.4%
Production: 84 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 38
Consumption: 66 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 41
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 151
Imports: 12 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 22
Installed generating capacity: 28 million kW (2017 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 35
Generation sources fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 67
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 115
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 127
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 188
CoalPetroleumPetroleum total petroleum production: 4.452 million bbl/day (2016 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 4
Crude oil exports: 2.792 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 3
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 143
Crude oil proven reserves: 142.5 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 5
Crude oilRefined petroleumProducts production: 484,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products production rank: 32
Products consumption: 850,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption rank: 26
Products exports: 7,080 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products exports rank: 89
Products imports: 295,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products imports rank: 26
Natural gasProduction: 1.002 billion m³ (2015 est.)
Production rank: 68
Consumption: 1.27 billion m³ (2015 est.)
Consumption rank: 93
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 124
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 141
Proven reserves: 3.158 trillion m³ (1 January 2017 es)
Proven reserves rank: 12
Carbon dioxide emissionsFrom consumption of energy: 137 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 35
Energy consumption per capitaIraq - Communication 2017
top of pageTelephonesFixed lines total subscriptions: 2.031 million
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5
Fixed lines rank: 59
Mobile cellular total: 30,203,100
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79
Mobile cellular rank: 36
Telephone systemGeneral 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
Domestic: the mobile cellular market continues to expand ; 3G services offered by three major mobile operators in 2015; ongoing conflict has destroyed infrastructure in areas
International: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 4 ); 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)
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)
InternetCountry code: .iq
Users total: 8,098,401
Users percent of population: 21.2%
Users rank: 87
Broadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary 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)
Rank: 2
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligation: 18-40 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)
Space programTerrorist groupsIraq - Transportation 2017
top of pageNational air transport systemNumber of registered air carriers: 4
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 484,803
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10,758,230 mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YI (2016)
Airports: 102 (2013)
Rank: 55
With paved runways total: 72
With paved runways over 3047 m: 20
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 34
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With paved runways under 914 m: 7
With unpaved runways total: 30
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 6
Heliports: 16 (2013)
Pipelines: gas 2,455 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km; oil 5,432 km; refined products 1637 km (2013)
RailwaysTotal: 2,272 km
Standard gauge: 2,272 km 1.435-m gauge
Rank: 67
RoadwaysTotal: 59,623 km
Paved: 59,623 km (2012)
Rank: 71
Waterways: 5,279 km (the Euphrates River (2,815 km) Tigris River (1899 km) and Third River (565 km) are the principal waterways) (2012)
Rank: 22
Merchant marineTotal: 2
By type: petroleum tanker 2
Registered in other countries: 2 (2010)
Rank: 143
Ports and terminalsRiver port: Al Basrah ; Khawr az Zubayr Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)
Iraq - Transnational issues 2017
top of pageDisputes 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 personsRefugees: 15,692 (Turkey); 7,703 (West Bank and Gaza Strip); 7,545 (Iran) (2016); 246,592 (Syria) (2017)
IDPs: 4,127,216 (2017)
Stateless persons: 48,200 ; 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
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
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