What is democracy in Iraq?

Democracy in Iraq was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

What is the highest democracy recorded in Iraq?

The highest recorded value was 2 in 2014.

What is the lowest democracy recorded in Iraq?

The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1968.

How does Iraq rank for democracy?

Iraq ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.

Is democracy rising or falling in Iraq?

Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Iraq data come from?

The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Democracy in Iraq

Name: Democracy in Iraq
Creator: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Iraq: Democracy was 2 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)

Change on year

unchanged

World rank

1st

of 168 countries

All-time high

in 2014

All-time low

in 1968

Years of data

1924–2018

Democracy in Iraq, 1924–2018

Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2018, democracy in Iraq stood at 2. That is the highest value across all 88 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 100.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, democracy in Iraq peaked at 2 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1968.

Iraq ranks 1st of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Democracy in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Democracy in Iraq, 1924 to 2018.
Year	Value	Change
1924	1	—
1925	1	+0.0%
1926	1	+0.0%
1927	1	+0.0%
1928	1	+0.0%
1929	1	+0.0%
1930	1	+0.0%
1931	1	+0.0%
1932	1	+0.0%
1933	1	+0.0%
1934	1	+0.0%
1935	1	+0.0%
1936	1	+0.0%
1937	1	+0.0%
1938	1	+0.0%
1939	1	+0.0%
1940	1	+0.0%
1941	1	+0.0%
1942	1	+0.0%
1943	1	+0.0%
1944	1	+0.0%
1945	1	+0.0%
1946	1	+0.0%
1947	1	+0.0%
1948	1	+0.0%
1949	1	+0.0%
1950	1	+0.0%
1951	1	+0.0%
1952	1	+0.0%
1953	1	+0.0%
1954	1	+0.0%
1955	1	+0.0%
1956	1	+0.0%
1957	1	+0.0%
1958	1	+0.0%
1959	1	+0.0%
1960	1	+0.0%
1961	1	+0.0%
1962	1	+0.0%
1963	1	+0.0%
1964	1	+0.0%
1965	1	+0.0%
1966	1	+0.0%
1967	1	+0.0%
1968	0	-100.0%
1969	0	—
1970	0	—
1971	0	—
1972	0	—
1973	0	—
1974	0	—
1975	0	—
1976	0	—
1977	0	—
1978	0	—
1979	0	—
1980	0	—
1981	0	—
1982	0	—
1983	0	—
1984	0	—
1985	0	—
1986	0	—
1987	0	—
1988	0	—
1989	0	—
1990	0	—
1991	0	—
1992	0	—
1993	0	—
1994	0	—
1995	0	—
1996	0	—
1997	0	—
1998	0	—
1999	0	—
2000	0	—
2001	0	—
2002	0	—
2010	1	—
2011	1	+0.0%
2012	1	+0.0%
2013	1	+0.0%
2014	2	+100.0%
2015	2	+0.0%
2016	2	+0.0%
2017	2	+0.0%
2018	2	+0.0%

Iraq compared with similar countries

Iraq's 2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Iraq's 2 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1, 2.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1920s	1	1	1	6
1930s	1	1	1	10
1940s	1	1	1	10
1950s	1	1	1	10
1960s	0.8	0	1	10
1970s	0	0	0	10
1980s	0	0	0	10
1990s	0	0	0	10
2000s	0	0	0	3
2010s	1.56	1	2	9

Countries ranked near Iraq

See the full ranking of 168 places →

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)

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is democracy in Iraq?: Democracy in Iraq was 2 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest democracy recorded in Iraq?: The highest recorded value was 2 in 2014.
What is the lowest democracy recorded in Iraq?: The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1968.
How does Iraq rank for democracy?: Iraq ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
Is democracy rising or falling in Iraq?: Over the last ten years it is up 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iraq data come from?: The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Democracy in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/political-regime-polity/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator: Democracy
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 168 places, 18,392 data points, 1776–2020
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Identifies the political regime of a country using the Polity 5 data by the Center for Systemic Peace. It distinguishes between autocracies (score 0), anocracies (score 1), and democracies (score 2).