GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Breathtaking aerial view of Baghdad cityscape with Tigris River, showcasing urban architecture.Charming Baghdad street with tuk-tuks and historic architecture.

Iraq

Asia · Western Asia

Low safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

Safety

139th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.662lower is more peacefulLow safety
#139 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
59.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$5,690national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
7.3New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
10.1years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 138% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 15% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$7.5K$15K$14,267 PPP$5,410Inflation, % a year60%0200620102015202020252006, $2,277 a person, $10,223 at PPP, inflation 53.2%2007, $3,129 a person, $10,783 at PPP, inflation -10.1%2008, $4,543 a person, $11,657 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2009, $3,715 a person, $11,687 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2010, $4,462 a person, $12,186 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2011, $5,776 a person, $12,912 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2012, $6,478 a person, $14,402 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2013, $6,650 a person, $14,669 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2014, $6,249 a person, $13,168 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2015, $4,440 a person, $9,334 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2016, $4,334 a person, $9,079 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $4,759 a person, $10,192 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2018, $5,647 a person, $12,034 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $5,672 a person, $12,249 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2020, $4,295 a person, $10,574 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2021, $4,868 a person, $12,732 at PPP, inflation 6%2022, $6,521 a person, $14,389 at PPP, inflation 5%2023, $5,965 a person, $14,665 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2024, $6,074 a person, $14,485 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2025, $5,410 a person, $14,267 at PPP, inflation 0.3%$0$7.5K$15KInflation, % a year60%0200620102015202020252006, $2,277 a person, $10,223 at PPP, inflation 53.2%2007, $3,129 a person, $10,783 at PPP, inflation -10.1%2008, $4,543 a person, $11,657 at PPP, inflation 12.7%2009, $3,715 a person, $11,687 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2010, $4,462 a person, $12,186 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2011, $5,776 a person, $12,912 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2012, $6,478 a person, $14,402 at PPP, inflation 6.1%2013, $6,650 a person, $14,669 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2014, $6,249 a person, $13,168 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2015, $4,440 a person, $9,334 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2016, $4,334 a person, $9,079 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2017, $4,759 a person, $10,192 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2018, $5,647 a person, $12,034 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $5,672 a person, $12,249 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2020, $4,295 a person, $10,574 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2021, $4,868 a person, $12,732 at PPP, inflation 6%2022, $6,521 a person, $14,389 at PPP, inflation 5%2023, $5,965 a person, $14,665 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2024, $6,074 a person, $14,485 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2025, $5,410 a person, $14,267 at PPP, inflation 0.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
72.4years, at birthModerate
#112 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
64WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
39.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
15.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
45 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
406EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet45 MbpsModerate
Mobile65 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Charming Baghdad street with tuk-tuks and historic architecture.
How it changed

Iraq's Human Development Index

0.695Medium human development

126th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 32nd of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #125Bhutan0.698
  2. #126Eswatini0.695
  3. #126Iraq0.695
  4. #128Tajikistan0.691
  5. #129Tuvalu0.689
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.531 in 1990 to 0.695 in 2023.

0.450.600.750.69519902000201020231990: 0.5311991: 0.5041992: 0.5321993: 0.5501994: 0.5471995: 0.5381996: 0.5571997: 0.5651998: 0.5801999: 0.5892000: 0.5922001: 0.5982002: 0.6002003: 0.5822004: 0.6042005: 0.6092006: 0.6112007: 0.6182008: 0.6342009: 0.6442010: 0.6502011: 0.6562012: 0.6642013: 0.6682014: 0.6712015: 0.6752016: 0.6762017: 0.6812018: 0.6892019: 0.6932020: 0.6802021: 0.6872022: 0.6952023: 0.6950.450.600.7519902000201020231990: 0.5311991: 0.5041992: 0.5321993: 0.5501994: 0.5471995: 0.5381996: 0.5571997: 0.5651998: 0.5801999: 0.5892000: 0.5922001: 0.5982002: 0.6002003: 0.5822004: 0.6042005: 0.6092006: 0.6112007: 0.6182008: 0.6342009: 0.6442010: 0.6502011: 0.6562012: 0.6642013: 0.6682014: 0.6712015: 0.6752016: 0.6762017: 0.6812018: 0.6892019: 0.6932020: 0.6802021: 0.6872022: 0.6952023: 0.695

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
72.4 years2024at birthUp 7.5 years from 64.9 years in 2005
Internet users
81%2024of people onlineUp 81 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
70%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 1 point from 69% in 2006
Births per woman
3.222024births per womanDown 1.23 from 4.45 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
1%2021of energy usedUp 1 point from 0% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 3 points from 97% in 2005
Infant mortality
202024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 15 from 35 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
5.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 2.1 t from 3.1 t in 2005
Forest area
2%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Oil-rich but unstable, rebuilding post-war; the Kurdistan region is more accessible. The case against is a low peace ranking, polluted air and little English among locals.

About Iraq

Iraq is the cradle of civilisation, the land of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers where writing, cities, and law were first developed, with Babylon, Ur, and Nineveh among its ancient treasures. The culture is one of the richest in the Arab world, with a tradition of poetry, music, and cuisine that runs deep. It remains a challenging destination requiring careful planning, but the ancient sites and the warmth of Iraqi hospitality reward those who make the journey.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBaghdad
  • LanguagesArabic, Aramaic, Sorani
  • CurrencyIraqi dinar (IQD)
  • Area434,130 km²
  • Plug typeType C/G
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

IranJordanKuwaitSaudi ArabiaSyriaTurkey

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Quick answers

What is Iraq's Human Development Index?

Iraq's Human Development Index is 0.695 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #126 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Iraq safe?

Iraq scores 2.66 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #139 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Iraq?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Iraq at 28.4 (New York = 100); that is #23 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Iraq?

Life expectancy at birth in Iraq is 72.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #112 of 195 countries.