Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq
Iraq: Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries was 547 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq, 1970–2021
Source: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in attacks.
Analysis
The most recent figure for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq is 547 attacks, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 28.4% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq peaked at 3,934 attacks in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1970.
Iraq ranks 2nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq, year by year
| Year | attacks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1971 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1972 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1973 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1974 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1975 | 1 attacks | — |
| 1976 | 3 attacks | +200.0% |
| 1977 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 1978 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1979 | 2 attacks | — |
| 1980 | 6 attacks | +200.0% |
| 1981 | 3 attacks | -50.0% |
| 1982 | 5 attacks | +66.7% |
| 1983 | 3 attacks | -40.0% |
| 1984 | 2 attacks | -33.3% |
| 1985 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 1986 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1987 | 3 attacks | — |
| 1988 | 4 attacks | +33.3% |
| 1989 | 4 attacks | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 1991 | 3 attacks | — |
| 1992 | 35 attacks | +1066.7% |
| 1994 | 18 attacks | -48.6% |
| 1995 | 17 attacks | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 12 attacks | -29.4% |
| 1997 | 21 attacks | +75.0% |
| 1998 | 7 attacks | -66.7% |
| 1999 | 12 attacks | +71.4% |
| 2000 | 10 attacks | -16.7% |
| 2001 | 3 attacks | -70.0% |
| 2002 | 6 attacks | +100.0% |
| 2003 | 102 attacks | +1600.0% |
| 2004 | 323 attacks | +216.7% |
| 2005 | 617 attacks | +91.0% |
| 2006 | 837 attacks | +35.7% |
| 2007 | 1,045 attacks | +24.9% |
| 2008 | 1,106 attacks | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 1,137 attacks | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 1,179 attacks | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 1,308 attacks | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 1,435 attacks | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 2,852 attacks | +98.7% |
| 2014 | 3,934 attacks | +37.9% |
| 2015 | 2,751 attacks | -30.1% |
| 2016 | 3,395 attacks | +23.4% |
| 2017 | 2,548 attacks | -24.9% |
| 2018 | 1,364 attacks | -46.5% |
| 2019 | 644 attacks | -52.8% |
| 2020 | 764 attacks | +18.6% |
| 2021 | 547 attacks | -28.4% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 547 attacks is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4 attacks, 136.8× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +1600.0% | 6 attacks | 102 attacks |
| 1992 | +1066.7% | 3 attacks | 35 attacks |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6 attacks | 0 attacks | 3 attacks | 10 |
| 1980s | 3 attacks | 0 attacks | 6 attacks | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.89 attacks | 0 attacks | 35 attacks | 9 |
| 2000s | 518.6 attacks | 3 attacks | 1,137 attacks | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,141 attacks | 644 attacks | 3,934 attacks | 10 |
| 2020s | 655.5 attacks | 547 attacks | 764 attacks | 2 |
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 terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq?
- Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries in Iraq was 547 attacks in 2021, according to National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 3,934 attacks in 2014.
- What is the lowest terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1970.
- How does Iraq rank for terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries?
- Iraq ranks 2nd out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Is terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Terrorist attacks, deaths and injuries. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total number of terrorist attacks.