Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Iraq
Iraq: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 16.2% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Iraq, 2007–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 16.2% for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in 2021. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 103.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Iraq peaked at 16.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.0%, in 2012.
That places Iraq 10th out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8.6% | — |
| 2012 | 8.0% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 10.6% | +33.0% |
| 2016 | 10.8% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 13.0% | +20.3% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | +24.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 16.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 2.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 16.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.0%, 2.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 10.6% | 8.0% | 13.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 1 |
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 unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Iraq?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Iraq was 16.2% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.0% in 2012.
- How does Iraq rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Iraq ranks 10th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 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. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.