Number of terrorist attacks in Iraq
Iraq: Number of terrorist attacks was 547 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Number of terrorist attacks 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
In 2021, number of terrorist attacks in Iraq stood at 547 attacks.
That represents a change of down 28.4% on the previous year and down 58.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of terrorist attacks in Iraq peaked at 3,934 attacks in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1970.
Iraq ranks 2nd of 187 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of terrorist attacks in Iraq?
- Number of terrorist attacks 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 number of terrorist attacks recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 3,934 attacks in 2014.
- What is the lowest number of terrorist attacks recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1970.
- How does Iraq rank for number of terrorist attacks?
- Iraq ranks 2nd out of 187 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of terrorist attacks 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 Number of terrorist attacks. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total number of terrorist attacks.