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 167 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 167 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 167 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

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

Spring temperature anomalies -1.96 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.4693 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -0.0842 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies -0.077 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.27 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 143.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

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 167 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 88 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

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: 07 August 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).