Iraq Non-Performing Loans
Bank nonperforming loans as % of total gross loans FB.AST.NPER.ZS
Iraq's non-performing loans was 15.77% in 2025, ranked 9th globally. This represents a 7.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2015–2025.
Overview
Iraq's non-performing loans stood at 15.77% in 2025, a rise of +1.10pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 15.77% by 2025. Iraq ranked 9th globally.
Iraq’s non‑performing loan (NPL) ratio rose from 9.02 % in 2015, the lowest point in the ten‑year series, to a peak of 20.97 % in 2020 before easing to 15.77 % in 2025, placing the country ninth among all economies in the World Bank database. The sharp escalation through the early 2020s reflects a confluence of fiscal stress, currency depreciation and heightened exposure to volatile oil revenues, while the modest decline after 2020 suggests gradual improvement in credit risk management and partial stabilization of the macro‑environment. By comparison, San Marino’s NPL ratio stands at 17.14 % and the Central African Republic at 14.59 %, indicating that Iraq remains above many peers despite the recent retreat from its apex. Continued reforms in banking supervision, diversification of the economic base and sustained macro‑stability are likely to be decisive in determining whether the downward trajectory can be consolidated into a longer‑term reduction in non‑performing loans.
Data & projection
| Year | Non-Performing Loans | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 15.25% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 15.77% | - | - |
| 2025 | 15.77% | +1.10pp | #9 |
| 2023 | 14.66% | −4.18pp | #95 |
| 2022 | 18.85% | +0.35pp | #127 |
| 2021 | 18.49% | −2.48pp | #135 |
| 2020 | 20.97% | +4.79pp | #131 |
| 2019 | 16.18% | −1.37pp | #132 |
| 2018 | 17.55% | +2.71pp | #130 |
| 2017 | 14.84% | +2.15pp | #126 |
| 2016 | 12.69% | +3.67pp | #117 |
| 2015 | 9.02% | – | #98 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iraq matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw non-performing loans improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iraq's non-performing loans was 15.77% in 2025. Ranked 9th globally. This represents a 7.5% increase from the previous year.
Iraq's non-performing loans peaked at 20.97% in 2020.
The lowest non-performing loans in Iraq was 9.02% in 2015.
Iraq ranks 9th globally in non-performing loans as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is FB.AST.NPER.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iraq's non-performing loans is projected to reach 15.77% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The non-performing loans of Iraq in 2025 was 15.77%. This ranks 9th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iraq_non-performing-loans,
title = {Iraq Non-Performing Loans},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/non-performing-loans/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}