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 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.
Number of terrorist attacks 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 Number of terrorist attacks 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 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 188 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.
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About this data
Total number of terrorist attacks.