Unemployment rate — all countries

Unemployment rate — Iraq

Unemployment rate in Iraq in 2025 — 15.49%. Ranked 169 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 6.85 pp.

2025 15.49% +0.19 pp vs 2024
World rank 169of 182
Period maximum 16.17%2021
Period minimum 7.97%2012

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of labor force

Unemployment rate — Iraq, 1991–20257.51012.51517.519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 8.64%1992: 8.35%1993: 8.36%1994: 8.22%1995: 8.43%1996: 8.52%1997: 8.27%1998: 8.06%1999: 7.98%2000: 8.04%2001: 8.25%2002: 8.62%2003: 8.96%2004: 8.72%2005: 8.57%2006: 8.41%2007: 8.65%2008: 8.47%2009: 8.42%2010: 8.27%2011: 8.19%2012: 7.97%2013: 9.22%2014: 10.59%2015: 10.87%2016: 10.82%2017: 13.02%2018: 13.46%2019: 14.1%2020: 15.77%2021: 16.17%2022: 15.41%2023: 15.24%2024: 15.29%2025: 15.49%
Change over the period: +6.85 pp Annual average: 0.2 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iraq

Iraq 15.49%
World 4.79%
Western Asia computed 8.36%
Unemployment rate — Iraq, by year Iraq All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 15.49 +0.19 pp
2024 15.29 +0.05 pp
2023 15.24 −0.17 pp
2022 15.41 −0.76 pp
2021 16.17 +0.41 pp
2020 15.77 +1.67 pp
2019 14.1 +0.64 pp
2018 13.46 +0.44 pp
2017 13.02 +2.2 pp
2016 10.82 −0.04 pp
2015 10.87 +0.28 pp
2014 10.59 +1.37 pp
2013 9.22 +1.26 pp
2012 7.97 −0.23 pp
2011 8.19 −0.07 pp
2010 8.27 −0.15 pp
2009 8.42 −0.05 pp
2008 8.47 −0.18 pp
2007 8.65 +0.24 pp
2006 8.41 −0.16 pp
2005 8.57 −0.15 pp
2004 8.72 −0.24 pp
2003 8.96 +0.34 pp
2002 8.62 +0.37 pp
2001 8.25 +0.21 pp
2000 8.04 +0.06 pp
1999 7.98 −0.09 pp
1998 8.06 −0.21 pp
1997 8.27 −0.25 pp
1996 8.52 +0.09 pp
1995 8.43 +0.21 pp
1994 8.22 −0.14 pp
1993 8.36 +0.01 pp
1992 8.35 −0.29 pp
1991 8.64

About the indicator

The share of the labor force that is unemployed, on the ILO definition: a person counts as unemployed if they held no job in the reference period, actively looked for one and were available to start work. People who are not looking for work are not part of the labor force, so in countries with mass withdrawal from the labor force low unemployment does not mean high employment; the employment ratio and labor force participation fill in the rest of the picture.

Important: The data are ILO modeled estimates harmonized to a common definition; they can differ from the national figures of employment services.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.