Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq

Iraq: Primary government spending as a share of original budget was 78.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
78.2%
Change on year
up 17.0%
World rank
151st
of 166 countries
All-time high
112.4%
in 2008
All-time low
66.9%
in 2021
Years of data
14
2007–2023

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq, 2007–2023

02550751002007201520232007: 76 %2008: 112.4 %2009: 80.4 %2010: 82.8 %2011: 81.5 %2012: 89.8 %2013: 86.1 %2015: 68.8 %2016: 70.9 %2017: 75 %2018: 77.6 %2019: 83.9 %2021: 66.9 %2023: 78.2 %

Source: World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq is 78.2%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of up 17.0% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq peaked at 112.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 66.9%, in 2021.

Iraq ranks 151st of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq, 2007 to 2023.
Year % Change
2007 76.0%
2008 112.4% +47.9%
2009 80.4% -28.5%
2010 82.8% +3.1%
2011 81.5% -1.6%
2012 89.8% +10.2%
2013 86.1% -4.1%
2015 68.8% -20.0%
2016 70.9% +2.9%
2017 75.0% +5.8%
2018 77.6% +3.5%
2019 83.9% +8.1%
2021 66.9% -20.3%
2023 78.2% +17.0%

Iraq compared with similar countries

  • Iraq's 78.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 99.6%, 78% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
  • Iraq's 78.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 97.3%, 80% of the median. (15 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 89.6% 76.0% 112.4% 3
2010s 79.6% 68.8% 89.8% 9
2020s 72.5% 66.9% 78.2% 2

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 148 Burundi 82.4% compare
  2. 149 Nepal 79.1% compare
  3. 150 Haiti 78.9% compare
  4. 152 Comoros 77.2% compare
  5. 153 Sudan 76.4% compare
  6. 154 Angola 73.5% compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq?
Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq was 78.2% in 2023, according to World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 112.4% in 2008.
What is the lowest primary government spending as a share of original budget recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 66.9% in 2021.
How does Iraq rank for primary government spending as a share of original budget?
Iraq ranks 151st out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
Is primary government spending as a share of original budget rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary government spending as a share of original budget. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary government spending as a share of original budget in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/govt-expenditure-share-budget/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary government spending as a share of original budget
Unit
%
Source
World Bank – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
166 places, 2,464 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed

Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget (%).