Air passengers in Iraq
Iraq: Air passengers was 3.76 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Iraq, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Iraq is 3.76 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 38.6% on the previous year and up 688.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Iraq peaked at 5.43 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 27,700, in 1991.
Iraq ranks 70th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 197,700 | — |
| 1971 | 235,600 | +19.2% |
| 1972 | 186,200 | -21.0% |
| 1973 | 208,800 | +12.1% |
| 1974 | 290,900 | +39.3% |
| 1975 | 387,600 | +33.2% |
| 1976 | 568,000 | +46.5% |
| 1977 | 672,400 | +18.4% |
| 1978 | 675,300 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 687,800 | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 619,900 | -9.9% |
| 1981 | 457,000 | -26.3% |
| 1982 | 480,600 | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 454,000 | -5.5% |
| 1984 | 435,000 | -4.2% |
| 1985 | 540,000 | +24.1% |
| 1986 | 535,000 | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 535,000 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.11 million | +108.0% |
| 1989 | 1.16 million | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 701,600 | -39.6% |
| 1991 | 27,700 | -96.1% |
| 1992 | 53,000 | +91.3% |
| 1994 | 31,500 | -40.6% |
| 2010 | 641,129 | +1935.3% |
| 2011 | 761,778 | +18.8% |
| 2012 | 784,944 | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 476,484 | -39.3% |
| 2014 | 476,484 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.14 million | +349.7% |
| 2016 | 2.02 million | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 1.59 million | -21.2% |
| 2018 | 4.81 million | +202.4% |
| 2019 | 5.43 million | +12.9% |
| 2020 | 764,661 | -85.9% |
| 2021 | 1.62 million | +111.9% |
| 2022 | 2.71 million | +67.3% |
| 2023 | 3.76 million | +38.6% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 3.76 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.37 million, 2.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 3.76 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.44 million, 58% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1935.3% | 31,500 | 641,129 |
| 2015 | +349.7% | 476,484 | 2.14 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 411,030 | 186,200 | 687,800 | 10 |
| 1980s | 633,030 | 435,000 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 203,450 | 27,700 | 701,600 | 4 |
| 2010s | 1.91 million | 476,484 | 5.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.21 million | 764,661 | 3.76 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Iraq?
- Air passengers in Iraq was 3.76 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 5.43 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,700 in 1991.
- How does Iraq rank for air passengers?
- Iraq ranks 70th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 688.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.