Adoption of communication technologies in Iraq
Iraq: Adoption of communication technologies was 5.28 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Adoption of communication technologies in Iraq, 1970–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 5.28 million for adoption of communication technologies in 2024. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of up 120.5% on the previous year and up 170.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adoption of communication technologies in Iraq peaked at 5.28 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 92,000, in 1970.
Iraq ranks 26th of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Adoption of communication technologies in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 92,000 | — |
| 1971 | 92,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 92,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 92,000 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 92,000 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 250,000 | +171.7% |
| 1981 | 275,000 | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 300,000 | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 325,446 | +8.5% |
| 1984 | 390,000 | +19.8% |
| 1985 | 470,000 | +20.5% |
| 1986 | 560,000 | +19.1% |
| 1987 | 673,965 | +20.4% |
| 1988 | 677,809 | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 675,000 | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 712,109 | +5.5% |
| 1991 | 669,830 | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 714,389 | +6.7% |
| 1993 | 680,210 | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 649,207 | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 638,593 | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 639,699 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 650,616 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 649,963 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 675,000 | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 675,000 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 675,000 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.13 million | +67.2% |
| 2003 | 1.18 million | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.03 million | -12.6% |
| 2005 | 1.11 million | +7.8% |
| 2006 | 1.25 million | +11.9% |
| 2007 | 1.36 million | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 1.08 million | -20.7% |
| 2009 | 1.65 million | +52.5% |
| 2010 | 1.72 million | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 1.79 million | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 1.87 million | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 1.90 million | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.95 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 2.00 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 2.03 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.24 million | +59.4% |
| 2018 | 2.71 million | -16.5% |
| 2019 | 2.86 million | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 2.70 million | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 2.54 million | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 2.39 million | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 5.28 million | +120.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 5.28 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 734,874, 7.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 5.28 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.22 million, 4.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adoption of communication technologies 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +171.7% | 92,000 | 250,000 |
| 2024 | +120.5% | 2.39 million | 5.28 million |
| 2002 | +67.2% | 675,000 | 1.13 million |
| 2017 | +59.4% | 2.03 million | 3.24 million |
| 2009 | +52.5% | 1.08 million | 1.65 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 92,000 | 92,000 | 92,000 | 5 |
| 1980s | 459,722 | 250,000 | 677,809 | 10 |
| 1990s | 667,962 | 638,593 | 714,389 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.12 million | 675,000 | 1.65 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.21 million | 1.72 million | 3.24 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.23 million | 2.39 million | 5.28 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 adoption of communication technologies in Iraq?
- Adoption of communication technologies in Iraq was 5.28 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 5.28 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adoption of communication technologies recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 92,000 in 1970.
- How does Iraq rank for adoption of communication technologies?
- Iraq ranks 26th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adoption of communication technologies rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 170.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Adoption of communication technologies. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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