Iraq Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Iraq's industry employment was 26.54% in 2025, ranked 152nd globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Iraq's industry employment stood at 26.54% in 2025, a decline of +0.23% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 26.62% by 2026. Iraq ranked 152nd globally.
Iraq's industry employment has exhibited a modest growth trajectory spanning 35 years. The country's industry employment rate peaked at 27.00 in 2022, a year marked by significant investment in infrastructure projects, before gradually declining to 26.54 in 2025. Conversely, the lowest point was recorded in 1995, with an industry employment rate of 23.13, a period characterized by economic sanctions and conflict. Notably, this rate lags behind that of Italy, a similarly ranked country, which stood at 26.43 in 2025. The Kyrgyz Republic, another peer, boasts a higher rate of 26.82. Despite the relative stability in recent years, Iraq's industry employment rate remains vulnerable to shifts in global commodity prices and the country's ongoing efforts to diversify its economy. A sustained increase in foreign investment, particularly in the manufacturing sector, could potentially alter the trajectory of industry employment in Iraq and propel the country towards a more robust growth path.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 26.57% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 26.59% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 26.62% | - | - |
| 2025 | 26.54% | −0.23% | #152 |
| 2024 | 26.76% | +0.14% | #154 |
| 2023 | 26.62% | −0.38% | #153 |
| 2022 | 27.00% | +0.46% | #156 |
| 2021 | 26.54% | +0.36% | #154 |
| 2020 | 26.18% | −0.16% | #153 |
| 2019 | 26.34% | +0.16% | #152 |
| 2018 | 26.18% | −0.02% | #154 |
| 2017 | 26.21% | −0.23% | #156 |
| 2016 | 26.43% | +0.64% | #158 |
| 2015 | 25.79% | −0.10% | #154 |
| 2014 | 25.89% | −0.02% | #151 |
| 2013 | 25.91% | +0.41% | #153 |
| 2012 | 25.50% | +0.88% | #148 |
| 2011 | 24.62% | +0.32% | #140 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iraq matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iraq's industry employment was 26.54% in 2025. Ranked 152nd globally. This represents a 0.9% decrease from the previous year.
Iraq's industry employment peaked at 27.00% in 2022.
The lowest industry employment in Iraq was 23.13% in 1995.
Iraq ranks 152nd globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iraq's industry employment is projected to reach 26.62% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Iraq in 2025 was 26.54%. This ranks 152nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iraq_industry-employment,
title = {Iraq Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}