GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iraq
Iraq: GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -1.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
GDP growth in Iraq, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded -1.5% for gdp growth in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 398.5% on the previous year and down 168.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp growth in Iraq peaked at 57.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, -64.0%, in 1991.
Iraq ranks 200th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.5% | — |
| 1971 | 5.4% | +18.3% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | -30.5% |
| 1973 | 4.4% | +18.3% |
| 1974 | 16.1% | +264.7% |
| 1975 | 12.5% | -22.5% |
| 1976 | 17.2% | +37.5% |
| 1977 | 1.9% | -88.9% |
| 1978 | 17.1% | +797.8% |
| 1979 | 20.9% | +22.4% |
| 1980 | 24.8% | +18.6% |
| 1981 | -0.7% | -102.9% |
| 1982 | 3.4% | -571.2% |
| 1983 | -13.1% | -480.7% |
| 1984 | -1.5% | -88.6% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | -197.9% |
| 1986 | 4.6% | +219.7% |
| 1987 | 9.3% | +100.2% |
| 1988 | -0.0% | -100.2% |
| 1989 | -3.1% | +16278.9% |
| 1990 | 57.8% | -1954.0% |
| 1991 | -64.0% | -210.8% |
| 1992 | 32.6% | -150.9% |
| 1993 | 30.3% | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 3.9% | -87.3% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -45.0% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | +419.8% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | +92.7% |
| 1998 | 35.0% | +64.8% |
| 1999 | 17.6% | -49.8% |
| 2000 | 16.8% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 1.8% | -89.5% |
| 2002 | -8.2% | -564.4% |
| 2003 | -36.7% | +346.8% |
| 2004 | 53.4% | -245.6% |
| 2005 | 1.7% | -96.9% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +236.6% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -66.5% |
| 2008 | 8.2% | +335.7% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | -58.9% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | +89.5% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | +17.9% |
| 2012 | 13.9% | +84.7% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | -45.3% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -70.3% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 13.8% | +428.9% |
| 2017 | -1.8% | -113.2% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -244.7% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | +109.3% |
| 2020 | -12.0% | -318.3% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -112.5% |
| 2022 | 8.0% | +429.8% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -93.5% |
| 2024 | -1.5% | -398.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's -1.5% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.3%. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's -1.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.3%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where GDP growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | -16278.9% | -0.0% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | +1954.0% | -3.1% | 57.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.4% | 1.9% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | -13.1% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.7% | -64.0% | 57.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | -36.7% | 53.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.0% | -1.8% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7% | -12.0% | 8.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.65 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,515 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4379 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.169 (2100)
- Population density 231.84 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.99 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp growth in Iraq?
- Gdp growth in Iraq was -1.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gdp growth recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 57.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest gdp growth recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -64.0% in 1991.
- How does Iraq rank for gdp growth?
- Iraq ranks 200th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gdp growth rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 168.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of GDP growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release