Iraq Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Iraq's unemployment rate was 15.49% in 2025, ranked 168th globally. This represents a 1.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Iraq's unemployment rate stood at 15.49% in 2025, a rise of +0.19pp from 2024. Iraq ranked 168th globally.
Iraq’s unemployment rate has risen sharply since the early 1990s, climbing from 8.64 % in 1991 to a peak of 16.17 % in 2021 before easing to 15.48 % in 2025, placing the country 168th globally. The post‑2003 reconstruction period saw a gradual decline, reaching a trough of 7.96 % in 2012, but renewed fiscal pressures, security challenges and a slowdown in private‑sector growth have driven the recent upward trend. Compared with peers of similar rank, Iraq’s rate is marginally lower than Lesotho’s 16.32 % and Jordan’s 16.54 % but exceeds Tunisia’s 15.11 % and Haiti’s 14.94 %, reflecting persistent labour market frictions despite ongoing reforms. Structural diversification, investment in vocational training and improvements in security are likely to determine whether the unemployment trajectory can be reversed, with a sustained policy focus essential for any meaningful decline in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15.49% | +0.19pp | #168 |
| 2024 | 15.29% | +0.05pp | #173 |
| 2023 | 15.24% | −0.17pp | #175 |
| 2022 | 15.41% | −0.76pp | #175 |
| 2021 | 16.17% | +0.41pp | #174 |
| 2020 | 15.77% | +1.67pp | #167 |
| 2019 | 14.10% | +0.64pp | #168 |
| 2018 | 13.46% | +0.44pp | #165 |
| 2017 | 13.02% | +2.20pp | #162 |
| 2016 | 10.82% | −0.04pp | #145 |
| 2015 | 10.87% | +0.28pp | #145 |
| 2014 | 10.59% | +1.37pp | #138 |
| 2013 | 9.22% | +1.26pp | #126 |
| 2012 | 7.97% | −0.23pp | #115 |
| 2011 | 8.19% | −0.07pp | #121 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iraq matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2022. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iraq's unemployment rate was 15.49% in 2025. Ranked 168th globally. This represents a 1.3% increase from the previous year.
Iraq's unemployment rate peaked at 16.17% in 2021.
The lowest unemployment rate in Iraq was 7.97% in 2012.
Iraq ranks 168th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Iraq in 2025 was 15.49%. This ranks 168th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iraq_unemployment-rate,
title = {Iraq Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iraq/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}