Country Name: Iraq (Republic of Iraq)

Capital: Baghdad

Government Type: federal parliamentary republic

Background: Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a "republic" in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991.

In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. Iraq's constitution also established the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a semi-autonomous region that administers the governorates of Erbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah. Iraq has held four national legislative elections since 2006, most recently in October 2021 when 329 legislators were elected to the COR. Following these elections and Iraq's longest government formation process in the post-SADDAM era, the COR approved Mohammad Shia' al-SUDANI as prime minister in October 2022. Iraq has repeatedly postponed separate elections for provincial councils - last held in 2013 - and since 2019 the prime minister has had the authority to appoint governors rather than provincial councils. In early 2023, the COR voted to hold provincial elections by the end of the year.

Between 2014 and 2017, Iraq fought a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) to recapture territory the group seized in 2014. In December 2017, then-Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI publicly declared victory against ISIS, although military operations against the group continue in rural areas. Also in late 2017, Baghdad forcefully seized disputed territories across central and northern Iraq from the KRG, following a non-binding Kurdish independence referendum.

Continent: Middle East

Population: 41,266,109 (2023 est.)

Ethnic Groups: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, other 5% (includes Turkmen, Yezidi, Shabak, Kaka'i, Bedouin, Romani, Assyrian, Circassian, Sabaean-Mandaean, Persian) note: data is a 1987 government estimate; no more recent reliable numbers are available

Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official); Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Syriac (Neo-Aramaic) are recognized as official languages where native speakers of these languages are present; Iraqis have the right to be educated in their native language

Religions: Muslim (official) 95-98% (Shia 61-64%, Sunni 29-34%), Christian 1% (includes Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Assyrian Church of the East), other 1-4% (2015 est.)

Economic Overview: oil-dependent Middle Eastern economy; COVID-19 disruption and domestic economy fragility post-US presence; poverty increases; currency devaluation leading to inflation; import-dependent for most sectors; evaluating fiscal and monetary restructuring

Currency: Iraqi Dinar (IQD)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $97.009 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $409.321 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Real GDP Growth Rate: 7.01% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per Capita: $9,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars

Exports: 

• $127.079 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 43

Export Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, petroleum coke, natural gas (2021)

Export Partners: China 26%, India 24%, South Korea 9%, United States 8%, Italy 6%, Greece 6% (2019)

Imports: 

• $69.162 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

• Comparison Ranking: 60

Import Commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, jewelry, cigarettes (2019)

Import Partners: United Arab Emirates 28%, Turkey 21%, China 19% (2019)

Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Agricultural Products: wheat, barley, dates, tomatoes, rice, maize, grapes, potatoes, watermelons

Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 

• 11.15% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

• Comparison Ranking: 17

Labor Force: 11.356 million (2022 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 15.32% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Natural Hazards: dust storms; sandstorms; floods

Geography:

• Total: 438,317 sq km

• Land: 437,367 sq km

• Water: 950 sq km

(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)

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