Iraq

Iraq,officially known as theRepublic of Iraq,is a country in theMiddle East, bordered bySaudi Arabiato thesouth,Turkeytothe north,Irantothe east, thePersian GulfandKuwaitto thesoutheast,Jordantothe southwest, andSyriato thewest. It covers an area of 438,317 square kilometres (169,235 sq mi) and has apopulationof over 46 million, making it the58th largest country by areaand the31st most populous in the world.Baghdadis the capital andlargest city of Iraq, home to over 8 million people.
Starting in the6th millennium BC, fertile plains between Iraq'sTigrisandEuphratesrivers, referred to asMesopotamia, fostered the rise of early cities, civilizations, and empires likeSumer,Akkad, andAssyria. Known as theCradle of Civilization, it saw the invention ofwriting systems,mathematics,navigation,timekeeping, acalendar,astrology,wheels,sailboat, and alaw code. After theMuslim conquest of Mesopotamia, Baghdad became the capital of theAbbasid Caliphateand a global cultural and intellectual hub during theIslamic Golden Age, home to institutions like theHouse of Wisdom. The city'sdestructionby theMongolsin 1258 led to a prolonged decline due to plagues and successive empires. Addtionally, Iraq holds religious significance in Christianity, Judaism, Yazidism, and Mandaeism. It has deep biblical history.
Since independence, Iraq has experienced spells of significanteconomicandmilitary growthalongside periods ofinstability and conflict.Mandatory Iraqwas established by the British in 1921 and transitioned to anindependent kingdomin 1932. In a coup in 1958, it was transformed into arepublic, successively led byAbdul Karim Qasim,Abdul Salam Arif, andAbdul Rahman Arif. TheBa'ath Partytookpower in 1968, establishing aone-party stateunderAhmed Hassan al-Bakrand laterSaddam Hussein, who launchedwars against IranandKuwait. In 2003, aU.S.-led coalition forcesinvadedandoccupied Iraq,overthrowing Saddamand triggering aninsurgencyandsectarian violence, came known as theIraq War, thatended in 2011. From 2013 to 2017, it faced anotherwarwith the rise and defeat of theIslamic State. Todaypost-war conflict in Iraqcontinues at a lower scale, hampering stability alongside therising influence of Iran.
Afederal parliamentary republiccountry, Iraq is considered anemerging middle power. It is home to diverse population,geographyandwildlife. Majority of Iraqis are Muslims, while minorities areChristians,Zoroastrians,Mandaens,Yazidis,YarsanismandJews.Iraqi peopleare ethnically diverse; mostlyArabs, as well asKurds,Turkmen,Yazidis,Assyrians,Armenians,Domcs,PersiansandShabakis.ArabicandKurdishare official languages of Iraq, whileSuret,TurkishandMandaicspoken regionally. With a strategic location, Iraq has one of thelargest oil reserves in the worldand a significantoil and gas industry. In addition, it has been popular for its agriculture and tourism. At present, Iraq is putting efforts torebuildwithforeign support.
There are several suggested origins for the name. One dates to theSumeriancity ofUrukand is thus ultimately ofSumerianorigin.Another possible etymology for the name is from theMiddle Persianworderāg, meaning "lowlands."An Arabicfolk etymologyfor the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered;fertile".
During the medieval period, there was a region calledʿIrāq ʿArabī("Arabian Iraq") for LowerMesopotamiaandʿIrāq ʿAjamī("Persian Iraq"),for the region now situated in Central and Western Iran.The term historically included the plain south of theHamrin Mountainsand did not include the northernmost andwesternmostparts of the modern territory of Iraq.Prior to the middle of the 19th century, the termEyraca Arabicawas commonly used to describe Iraq.
The termSawadwas also used in early Islamic times for the region of thealluvial plainof the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
As an Arabic word,عراقʿirāqmeans "hem", "shore", "bank", or "edge", so that the name by folk etymology came to be interpreted as "theescarpment", such as at the south and east of theJaziraPlateau, which forms the northern and western edge of the "al-Iraq arabi" area.
TheArabic pronunciationis[ʕiˈrɑːq]. In English, it is either/ɪˈrɑːk/(the only pronunciation listed in theOxford English Dictionaryand the first one inMerriam-Webster's Online Dictionary) or/ɪˈræk/(listed first byMQD, theAmerican Heritage Dictionary,and theRandom House Dictionary.)
When the British established theHashemiteking on 23 August 1921,Faisal I of Iraq, the official English name of the country changed fromMesopotamiato the endonymicIraq.Since January 1992, the official name of the state is "Republic of Iraq" (Jumhūriyyat al-ʿIrāq), reaffirmed in the 2005Constitution.
Iraq largely coincides with the ancient region ofMesopotamia, often referred to as thecradle of civilization.The history of Mesopotamia extends back to theLower Paleolithicperiod, with significant developments continuing through the establishment of theCaliphatein the late 7th century AD, after which the region became known as Iraq.
Within its borders lies the ancient land ofSumer, which emerged between 6000 and 5000 BC during theNeolithicUbaid period.Sumer is recognized as the world's earliest civilization, marking the beginning of urban development, written language, and monumental architecture.Iraq's territory also includes the heartlands of theAkkadian,Neo-Sumerian,Babylonian,Neo-Assyrian, andNeo-Babylonianempires, which dominated Mesopotamia and much of theAncient Near Eastduring theBronzeandIronAges.
Iraq was a center of innovation in antiquity, producing earlywritten languages,literary works, and significant advancements inastronomy,mathematics,law, andphilosophy. This era of indigenous rule ended in 539 BC when theNeo-Babylonian Empirewas conquered by theAchaemenid EmpireunderCyrus the Great, who declared himself the "King of Babylon." The city ofBabylon, the ancient seat of Babylonian power, became one of the key capitals of the Achaemenid Empire. Ancient Iraq, known as the Mesopotamia, is home to world's first Jewish diaspora community, which emerged during the Babylonian exile.
The Babylonians were defeated by the Persian Empire, under the leadership ofCyrus the Great. Following the fall of Babylon, theAchaemenid Empiretook control of the Mesopotamian region. Enslaved Jews were freed from the Babylonian captivity, though many remained in the land and thus the Jewish community grew in the region. Iraq is the location of numerous Jewish sites, which are also revered by the Muslims and Christians.
In the following centuries, the regions constituting modern Iraq came under the control of several empires, including theGreeks,Parthians, andRomans, establishing new centers likeSeleuciaandCtesiphon. By the3rd centuryAD, the region fell under Persian control through theSasanian Empire, during which time Arab tribes fromSouth Arabiamigrated into Lower Mesopotamia, leading to the formation of the Sassanid-alignedLakhmid kingdom.
The Arabic nameal-ʿIrāqlikely originated during this period. The Sasanian Empire was eventuallyconqueredby theRashidun Caliphatein the 7th century, bringing Iraq under Islamic rule after theBattle of al-Qadisiyyahin 636. The city ofKufa, founded shortly thereafter, became a central hub for the Rashidun dynasty until theiroverthrowby theUmayyadsin 661. Karbala is considered as one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam, following theBattle of Karbala, which took place in 680.
With the rise of theAbbasid Caliphatein the mid-8th century, Iraq became the center of Islamic rule, withBaghdad, founded in 762, serving as the capital. Baghdad flourished during theIslamic Golden Age, becoming a global center for culture, science, and intellectualism. However, the city's prosperity declined following theBuwayhidandSeljuqinvasions in the 10th century and suffered further with theMongol invasionof 1258.
Iraq later came under the control of theOttoman Empirein the 16th century. During the years 1747–1831, Iraq was ruled by aMamluk dynastyofGeorgianorigin, who succeeded in obtaining autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. In 1831, the Ottomans managed to overthrow the Mamluk regime and reimposed their direct control over Iraq.
Iraq's modern history began in the wake of World War I, as the region emerged from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.Arab forces, inspired by the promise of independence, had helped dismantle the Ottoman hold on the Middle East, but the dream of a united, sovereign Arab state was soon dashed.Despite agreements made withHussein ibn Ali, theSharif of Makkah, the European powers had different plans for the region. Following the British withdrawal of support for aunified Arab state, Hussein's son,Faisal, briefly declared theKingdom of Syriain 1920, encompassing parts of what are nowLebanon,Palestine,Jordan, andSyria.However, the kingdom was short-lived, crushed by local opposition and the military might of France, which had been granted amandate over Syria.
In Iraq, under British mandate, tensions were rising as local forces increasingly resisted foreign control.Arebellion erupted, challenging British authority, and the need for a new strategy became clear.In 1921, theCairo Conference, led by British officials includingWinston ChurchillandT. E. Lawrence, decided that Faisal, now exiled inLondon, would become theking of Iraq.This decision was seen as a way to maintain British influence in the region while placating local demands for leadership.Upon his coronation, he focused on unifying a land formerly divided into threeOttoman provinces—Mosul,Baghdad, andBasra.He worked hard to gain the support of Iraq's diverse population, including bothSunnisandShiites, and paid special attention to the country's Shiite communities, symbolically choosing the date of his coronation to coincide withEid al-Ghadeer, a key day for Shiite Muslims.
His reign laid the foundations of modern Iraq.Faisal worked to establish key state institutions and fostered a sense of national identity.His education reforms included the founding ofAhl al-Bayt Universityin Baghdad, and he encouraged the migration of Syrian exiles to Iraq to serve as doctors and educators.Faisal also envisioned infrastructural links between Iraq, Syria, andJordan, including plans for a railway and anoil pipeline to the Mediterranean.Although Faisal succeeded in securing greater autonomy for Iraq, British influence remained strong, particularly in the country's oil industry.In 1930,Iraq signed a treaty with Britainthat gave the country a measure of political independence while maintaining British control over key aspects, including military presence and oil rights.By 1932, Iraq gained formal independence, becoming a member of theLeague of Nations.Faisal's reign was marked by his efforts to balance the pressures of external influence and internal demands for sovereignty.He was admired for his diplomatic skill and his commitment to steering Iraq toward self-determination.Untimely, he died from a heart attack on 8 September 1933, leaving his sonGhazito inherit the throne.King Ghazi's reign was brief and turbulent, as Iraq was impacted by numerous coup attempts.He died in a motor accident in 1939, passing the throne to his young son,Faisal II, who ascended to the throne at just 3 years old.Faisal II's uncle,Crown Prince Abdullah, assumed regency until the young king came of age.
On 1 April 1941,Rashid Ali al-Gaylaniand members of theGolden Squarestaged acoup d'étatand installed apro-Germanandpro-Italiangovernment.During the subsequentAnglo-Iraqi War, theUnited Kingdominvaded Iraq for fear that the government might cut oil supplies toWestern nationsbecause of its links to theAxis powers.The war started on 2 May, and the British, together with loyalAssyrian Levies, defeated the forces of Al-Gaylani, forcing an armistice on 31 May.Regency of King Faisal II began in 1953.The hopes for Iraq's future under Faisal II were high, but the nation remained divided.Iraq's Sunni-dominated monarchy struggled to reconcile the diverse ethnic and religious groups, particularly the Shiite, Assyrian, Jewish and Kurdish populations, who felt marginalized.In 1958, these tensions culminated in a military coup, inspired by the revolutionary wave sweeping across the Arab world, particularly the1952 Egyptian Revolution.
A coup d'état known as the14 July Revolutionin 1958 was led by the Brigadier General andnationalistAbd al-Karim Qasim.This revolt was strongly anti-imperial and anti-monarchical in nature and had strong socialist elements.KingFaisal II, PrinceAbd al-Ilah, andNuri al-Sa'id, along with the royal family were killed brutally.Qasim controlled Iraq through military rule and in 1958 he began a process of forcibly reducing surplus land owned by a few citizens and having the state redistribute the land.In 1959,Abd al-Wahab al-Shawafled an uprising in Mosul against Qasim. The uprising was crushed by the government forces.He claimedKuwaitas part of Iraq, when the former was granted independence in 1961.The United Kingdom deployed its army onIraq–Kuwait border, which forced Qasim to back down.He was overthrown by the Ba'ath Party inFebruary 1963 coup.However internal division within Ba'athist factions caused another coup in November, which brought Colonel Abdul Salam Arif to power.The new regime recognized Kuwait's independence.After the latter's death in 1966, he was succeeded by his brother,Abdul Rahman Arif.Under his rule, Iraq participated in the Six Day War in 1967.
Arif was overthrown in the17 July Revolutionin 1968.TheBa'ath Partycame to power, withAhmed Hassan al-Bakras the president of Iraq.However, the government gradually came under the control ofSaddam Hussein, Iraq's then vice-president.Saddam sought to achieve stability between Iraq's ethnic and religious groups.Thefirst Iraqi–Kurdish warended in 1970, after which a peace treaty was signed between Saddam and Barzani, granting autonomy toKurds.He introduced free healthcare and education, nationalized oil, promoted women's rights and developed infrastructure. Within a few years, Iraq became one of the most developed countries in the world.
In 1974, thesecond Iraqi–Kurdish warbegan andborder clashes with Irantook place onShatt al-Arab. Iran supported Kurdish militants.TheAlgiers Agreementsigned in 1975 byMohammad Reza Pahlaviand Saddam resolved the dispute and Iran withdrew support for the Kurds, resulting in their defeat in the war.In 1973, Iraq participated in theYom Kippur Waragainst Israel, alongsideSyriaandEgypt.An attempt to ban an annual pilgrimage to Karbala caused anuprising by Shia Muslims across Iraq.Another Shia uprising took place from 1979 to 1980, as a followup to theIslamic Revolutionin Iran.On 16 July 1979, Saddam acceded to the presidency and chairmanship of thesupreme executive bodyin July 1979.
Following months of cross-border raids with Iran, Saddam declared war on Iran in September 1980, initiating theIran–Iraq War(or First Persian Gulf War).Taking advantage of the post-Iranian Revolutionchaos in Iran, Iraq captured some territories in southwest Iran, but Iran recaptured all of the lost territories within two years, and for the next six years Iran was on the offensive.TheSunni-led Arab countriesand theUnited States supported Iraq throughout the war.In 1981, Israel destroyed a nuclear reactor of Iraq.In midst of the war, between 1983 to 1986, Kurds ledrebellion against the regime.In retaliation, the government-coordinatedAnfal campaignled to the killing of 50,000–100,000 civilians.During the war, Saddam extensively usedchemical weaponsagainst Iranians.The war, which ended instalematein 1988, killed between half a million and 1.5 million people.
Kuwait's refusal to waive Iraq's debt and reducing oil prices pushed Saddam to take military action against it.On 2 August 1990, theIraqi forces invadedand annexed Kuwait as its19th governorate, starting theGulf War.This led to military intervention by theUnited States-led alliance.The coalition forces proceeded with a bombing campaign targeting military targets and then launched a 100-hour-long ground assault against Iraqi forces in southern Iraq and Kuwait.Iraq also attempted to invade Saudi Arabia and attacked Israel.Iraq's armed forces were devastated during the war.Sanctions were imposed on Iraq, following the invasion of Kuwait, which resulted in economic decline.After the end of the war in 1991, Iraqi Kurds and Shi'ite Muslims in northern and southern Iraq led severaluprisings against Saddam's regime, but these were repressed.It is estimated that as many as 100,000 people, including many civilians, were killed.During the uprisings, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey and France, claiming authority underUNSC Resolution 688, established theIraqi no-fly zonesto protect Kurdish population from attacks and autonomy was given to Kurds.Iraq was also affected by theIraqi Kurdish Civil Warfrom 1994 to 1997.Around 40,000 fighters and civilians were killed.Between 2001 and 2003, theKurdistan Regional GovernmentandAnsar al-Islamengaged in conflict, which would merge with the upcoming war.
After theSeptember 11 attacks,George W. Bushbegan planning the overthrow of Saddam in what is now widely regarded as afalse pretense.Saddam's Iraq was included in Bush's "axis of evil". TheUnited States Congresspassedjoint resolution, which authorized the use of armed force against Iraq.In November 2002 theUN Security Councilpassedresolution 1441.On 20 March 2003, the United States-led coalition invaded Iraq, as part ofglobal war on terror.Within weeks, coalition forces occupied much of Iraq, with the Iraqi Army adopting guerrilla tactics to confront coalition forces.Following thefall of Baghdadin the first week of April, Saddam's regime had completely lost control of Iraq.Astatue of Saddam was toppledin Baghdad, symbolizing the end of his rule.
TheCoalition Provisional Authoritybegan disbanding the Ba'ath Army and expelling Ba'athists from the new government.The insurgents fought against the coalition forces and the newly installed government.Saddam was captured and executed.The Shia–Sunni civil war took place from 2006 to 2008.The coalition forces were criticized for war crimes such as theAbu Ghraib torture, theFallujah massacre, theMahmudiyah rape and killingsand theMukaradeeb wedding party massacre.Following thewithdrawal of US troopsin 2011, the occupation ceased and war ended. The war in Iraq has resulted inbetween 151,000 and 1.2 million Iraqis being killed.
The subsequent efforts to rebuild the country amidst sectarian violence and the rise of theIslamic Statebegan after the war. Iraq was galvanized by the civil war in Syria. Continuing discontent overNouri al-Maliki's government led toprotests, after which a  coalition of Ba'athist and Sunni militants launched anoffensiveagainst the government, initiatingfull-scale war in Iraq. The climax of the campaign was anoffensivein Northern Iraq by theIslamic State(ISIS) that marked the beginning of the rapidterritorial expansionby the group, prompting anAmerican-led intervention. By the end of 2017, ISIS had lost all its territory in Iraq.Iran has also intervenedandexpanded its influencethrough sectarianKhomeinistmilitias.
In 2014, Sunni insurgents belonging to theIslamic Stategroup seized control of large swathes of land including several major cities, likeTikrit,FallujahandMosul, creating hundreds of thousands ofinternally displaced personsamid reports of atrocities by ISIL fighters. An estimated 500,000 civilians fled from Mosul. Around 5,000 Yazidis were killed in the genocide by ISIS, as a part of the war. With the help ofUS-led intervention in Iraq, the Iraqi forces successfully defeated ISIS. The war officially ended in 2017, with the Iraqi government declaring victory over ISIS. In October 2022,Abdul Latif Rashidwas electedpresidentafter winning the parliamentary election.In 2022,Mohammed Shia al-SudanibecamePrime Minister.
The electrical grid faces systemic pressures due to climate change, fuel shortages, and an increase in demand.Corruption remains endemic throughout Iraqi governance while the United States-endorsed sectarian political system has driven increased levels of violent terrorism and sectarian conflicts.Climate change is driving wide-scale droughts while water reserves are rapidly depleting.The country has been in aprolonged droughtsince 2020 and experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades in 2021. Water flows in theTigrisandEuphratesare down 30-40%. Half the country's farmland is at risk ofdesertification.Nearly 40% of Iraq "has been overtaken by blowing desert sands that claim tens of thousands of acres of arable land every year."
Iraq lies between latitudes29°and38° N, and longitudes39°and49° E(a small area lies west of 39°). Spanning 437,072 km(168,754 sq mi), it is the 58th-largest country in the world. It is bordered byTurkeytothe north,Saudi Arabiato thesouth,Irantothe east,Syriatothe west, thePersian GulfandKuwaitto thesoutheast, andJordantothe southwest.
It has a coastline measuring 58 km (36 miles) on the northernPersian Gulf.Further north, but below the main headwaters only, the country easily encompasses theMesopotamian Alluvial Plain. Two major rivers, theTigrisandEuphrates, run south through Iraq and into theShatt al-Arab, thence the Persian Gulf. Broadly flanking this estuary (known asarvandrūd: اروندرود among Iranians) are marshlands, semi-agricultural. Flanking and between the two major rivers are fertilealluvial plains, as the rivers carry about 60,000,000 m(78,477,037 cu yd) ofsiltannually to thedelta.
The central part of the south, which slightly tapers in favour of other countries, is natural vegetation marsh mixed with rice paddies and is humid, relative to the rest of the plains.Iraq has the northwestern end of theZagros mountain rangeand the eastern part of theSyrian Desert.
Rocky deserts cover about 40 percent of Iraq. Another 30 percent is mountainous with bitterly cold winters. The north of the country is mostly composed of mountains; the highest point being at 3,611 m (11,847 ft). Iraq is home to seven terrestrial ecoregions:Zagros Mountains forest steppe,Middle East steppe,Mesopotamian Marshes,Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests,Arabian Desert,Mesopotamian shrub desert, andSouth Iran Nubo-Sindian desert and semi-desert.
Much of Iraq has a hotaridclimate withsubtropicalinfluence. Summer temperatures average above 40 °C (104 °F) for most of the country and frequently exceed 48 °C (118.4 °F). Winter temperatures infrequently exceed 15 °C (59.0 °F) with maxima roughly 5 to 10 °C (41.0 to 50.0 °F) and night-time lows 1 to 5 °C (33.8 to 41.0 °F). Typically, precipitation is low; most places receive less than 250 mm (9.8 in) annually, with maximum rainfall occurring during the winter months. Rainfall during the summer is rare, except in northern parts of the country.
The northern mountainous regions have cold winters with occasional heavy snows, sometimes causing extensive flooding.Iraq is highly vulnerable to climate change.The country is subject to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, and suffers from increasingwater scarcityfor a human population that rose tenfold between 1890 and 2010 and continues to rise.
The country's electrical grid faces systemic pressures due to climate change, fuel shortages, and an increase in demand.Corruption remains endemic throughout all levels of Iraqi governance while the political system has exacerbated sectarian conflict.Climate change is driving wide-scale droughts across the country while water reserves are rapidly depleting.The country has been in aprolonged droughtsince 2020 and experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades in 2021. Water flows in theTigrisandEuphratesare down between 30 and 40%. Half of the country's farmland is at risk ofdesertification.Nearly 40% of Iraq "has been overtaken by blowing desert sands that claim tens of thousands of acres of arable land every year".
However, in 2023,Mohammed Shia al-Sudaniannounced that government was working on a wider "Iraqi vision for climate action". The plan would include promoting clean and renewable energy, new irrigation and water treatment projects and reduced industrial gas flaring, he said. Sudani said Iraq was "moving forward to conclude contracts for constructing renewable energy power plants to provide one-third of our electricity demand by 2030". In addition, Iraq will plant 5 million trees across the country and will create green belts around cities to act as windbreaks against dust storms.
In the same year, Iraq andTotalEnergiessigned a $27 billion energy deal that aims to increase oil production and boost the country's capacity to produce energy with four oil, gas and renewables projects. According to experts, the project will "accelerate Iraq's path to energy self-sufficiency and advance Iraq's collective climate change objectives".
The wildlife of Iraq includes itsfloraandfaunaand their naturalhabitats.Iraq has multiple and diverse biomes which include the mountainous region in the north to the wetmarshlandsalong the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, while western part of the country comprises mainlydesertand some semi-arid regions. Many of Iraq's bird species were endangered, including seven of Iraq'smammalspeciesand 12 of itsbirdspecies. TheMesopotamian marchesin the middle and south are home to approximately 50 species of birds, and rare species of fish.At risk are some 50% of the world'smarbled tealpopulation that live in the marshes, along with 60% of the world's population ofBasra reed-warbler.
TheAsiatic lion, in the present-day extinct in the region, has remained a prominent symbol of the country throughout history.Draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes, during the time of Saddam's government, caused there a significant drop in biological life.Since the 2003–2011, flow is restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover.Iraqi corals are some of the most extreme heat-tolerant as the seawater in this area ranges between 14 and 34 °C.Aquatic or semi-aquatic wildlife occurs in and around these, the major lakes areLake Habbaniyah,Lake Milh,Lake QadisiyahandLake Tharthar.
Thefederal government of Iraqis defined under the currentConstitutionas ademocratic,federalparliamentaryrepublic. The federal government is composed of theexecutive,legislative, andjudicialbranches, as well as numerous independent commissions. Aside from the federal government, there are regions (made of one or more governorates), governorates, and districts within Iraq with jurisdiction over various matters as defined by law.The president is the head of state, the prime minister is the head of government, and the constitution provides for two deliberative bodies, theCouncil of Representativesand the Council of Union. The judiciary is free and independent of the executive and the legislature.
TheNational Allianceis the main Shia parliamentary bloc, and was established as a result of a merger of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki'sState of Law Coalitionand theIraqi National Alliance.TheIraqi National Movementis led byIyad Allawi, a secular Shia widely supported by Sunnis.The party has a more consistent anti-sectarian perspective than most of its rivals.TheKurdistan Listis dominated by two parties, theKurdistan Democratic Partyled byMasood Barzaniand thePatriotic Union of Kurdistanheaded byJalal Talabani.Baghdad is Iraq's capital, home to the seat of government.Located in theGreen Zone, which contains governmental headquarters and the army, in addition to containing the headquarters of theAmerican embassyand the headquarters of foreign organizations and agencies for other countries.
According to the 2023V-Dem Democracy indicesIraq was the third mostelectoral democratic country in the Middle East.Under Saddam, the government employed 1 million employees, but this increased to around 7 million in 2016. In combination with decreased oil prices, the government budget deficit is near 25% of GDP as of 2016.
In October 2005, the newConstitution of Iraqwas approved in a referendum with a 78% overall majority, although the percentage of support varied widely between the country's territories.The new constitution was backed by the Shia and Kurdish communities, but was rejected by Arab Sunnis. Under the terms of the constitution, the country conductedfresh nationwide parliamentary electionson 15 December 2005. All three majorethnic groups in Iraqvoted along ethnic lines, as did Assyrian andTurcomanminorities.
Law no. 188 of the year 1959 (Personal Status Law)made polygamy extremely difficult, granted child custody to the mother in case of divorce, prohibited repudiation and marriage under the age of 16.Article 1 of Civil Code also identifies Islamic law as a formal source of law.Iraq had no Sharia courts but civil courts used Sharia for issues of personal status including marriage and divorce. In 1995 Iraq introduced Sharia punishment for certain types of criminal offences.The code is based on French civil law as well as Sunni and Jafari (Shi'ite) interpretations of Sharia.
In 2004, theCPAchief executive L. Paul Bremer said he would veto any constitutional draft stating that sharia is the principal basis of law.The declaration enraged many local Shia clerics,and by 2005 the United States had relented, allowing a role for sharia in the constitution to help end a stalemate on the draft constitution.TheIraqi Penal Codeis the statutory law of Iraq.
Iraqi security forcesare composed of forces serving under the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Defense (MOD), as well as the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau (CTB), which oversees theIraqi Special Operations Forces, and the Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC). Both CTB and PMC report directly to thePrime Minister of Iraq. MOD forces include theIraqi Army, theIraqi Air Force,Iraqi Navy, and theIraqi Air Defence Command.The MOD also runs a Joint Staff College, training army, navy, and air force officers, with support from theNATO Training Mission - Iraq. The college was established atAr Rustamiyahon 27 September 2005.The center runs Junior Staff and Senior Staff Officer Courses designed forfirst lieutenantstomajors.
The current Iraqi armed forces was rebuilt on American foundation. The army consists of 13 infantry divisions and onemotorised infantry. Each division consists of four brigades and comprises 14,000 soldiers. Before 2003, Iraq was mostly equipped with Soviet-made military equipment, but since then the country has turned to Western suppliers.The Iraqi air force is designed to support ground forces with surveillance, reconnaissance and troop lift. Two reconnaissance squadrons use light aircraft, three helicopter squadrons are used to move troops and one air transportation squadron usesC-130transport aircraft to move troops, equipment, and supplies. The air force currently has 5,000 personnel.
As of February 2011, the navy had approximately 5,000 sailors, including 800marines. The navy consists of an operational headquarters, five afloat squadrons, and two marine battalions, designed to protect shorelines and inland waterways from insurgent infiltration. On 4 November 2019, more than 100Australian Defence Forcepersonnel leftDarwinfor the 10th rotation of Task GroupTaji, based north ofBaghdad. The Australian contingent mentors the Iraqi School of Infantry, where theIraqi Security Forcesare trained. However,Australia's contribution was reduced from 250 to 120 ADF personnel, which along withNew Zealandhad trained over 45,000 ISF members before that.
Iraq has followed different foreign policies under various regimes throughout its history. Under monarchical rule, it was pro-Western and part of theBaghdad Pact, an alliance against the Soviet Union during theCold War.During Qasim's rule, the country withdrew from the pact and formed close ties with the Eastern Bloc and claimed Kuwait as part of Iraq.While the successive regime recognized Kuwait's independence.Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq maintained ties with pro-Soviet countries.It also provided financial support toNorth Vietnamduring the Vietnam War and aid to rebuild Vietnam.During this time, Iraq had close trade relations with India and Jordan. France, Germany, Belarus,RussiaandChinaopposed the invasion of Iraq.
After the end of the war, Iraq sought and strengthened regional economic cooperation and improved relations with neighboring countries.On 12 February 2009, Iraq officially became the 186th State Party to theChemical Weapons Convention. Under the provisions of this treaty, Iraq is considered a party with declared stockpiles ofchemical weapons. Because of their late accession, Iraq is the only State Party exempt from the existing timeline for destruction of their chemical weapons.Since the situation eased, Iraq re-engaged with its Arab neighbors while maintaining relations with Iran in an attempt to position Iraq as a country that would not exacerbate the security concerns of its neighbors and seeking a pragmatic balance in foreign relations.
Relations with Iranhave flourished since 2005 by the exchange of high-level visits.A conflict occurred in December 2009, when Iraq accused Iran of seizing an oil well on the border.Relations with Turkeyare tense, largely because of theKurdistan Regional Government, as clashes betweenTurkeyand thePKKcontinue.In October 2011, theTurkish parliamentrenewed a law that gives Turkish forces the ability to pursue rebels over theborder in Iraq.Turkey's"Great Anatolia Project"reduced Iraq's water supply and affected agriculture.Prime MinisterMohammed Shia al-Sudanihas sought to normaliserelations with Syriain order to expand co-operation.Iraq is also seeking to deepen its ties with theGulf Cooperation Councilcountries.Recently foreign ministers of Iraq and Kuwait have announced that they were working on a definitive agreement on border demarcation.
Iran has also intervenedsince 2014, expanding through sectarian parties andKhomeinist militias.The intervention traces its roots in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.Various militia groups that have emerged in the country since 2003 have ties with Iran.TheIslamic Resistance in Iraqand groups within thePopular Mobilization Forcesare part of Iran's proxies — theAxis of Resistance, which includes other proxies fromLebanon,Palestine,Yemen,Bahrain,AfghanistanandSyria.These Iraqi militias have also participated in confronting Israel, during theIsrael–Hamas War, along with other groups of the Axis of Resistance.
Iraq has emerged as an emerging middle power. It has played an important role in mediating talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. In 2021, Baghdad hosted a meeting between Iranian and Saudi officials.It has also hosted talks between Egypt, Jordan and Iran.
On 17 November 2008, the US and Iraq agreed to aStatus of Forces Agreement,as part of the broaderStrategic Framework Agreement.On 5 January 2020, theIraqi parliamentvoted for a resolution that urges the government to work on expelling US troops from Iraq.The resolution was passed two days afteran American drone strikethat killed Iranian Major GeneralQasem Soleimani, commander of theQuds Force.The resolution specifically calls for ending of a 2014 agreement allowing Washington to help Iraq againstIslamic State groupsby sending troops.This resolution will also signify ending an agreement with Washington to station troops in Iraq asIranvows to retaliate after the killing.On 28 September 2020, Washington made preparations to withdraw diplomats from Iraq, as a result of Iranian-backed militias firing rockets at theAmerican Embassy in Baghdad.The officials said that the move was seen as an escalation of American confrontation with Iran.The United States significantlyreduced its military presence in Iraqafterthe defeat of ISIS.
Relations between Iraq and itsKurdish populationhave been sour in recent history, especially withSaddam Hussein's genocidal campaignagainst them in the 1980s. Afteruprisings during the early 90s, many Kurds fled their homeland andno-fly zoneswere established in northern Iraq to prevent more conflicts. Despite historically poor relations, some progress has been made, and Iraq elected its first Kurdish president,Jalal Talabani, in 2005. Furthermore,Kurdishis now an official language of Iraq alongsideArabicaccording to Article 4 of the Constitution.
LGBT rights in Iraqremain limited. Althoughdecriminalised,homosexualityremainsstigmatised in Iraqi society.Human rights in Islamic State-controlled territoryhave been recorded as highly violated. It includedmass executions in Islamic State-occupiedpart of Mosul andgenocide of the Yazidisin Yazidi populatedSinjar, which is in northern Iraq.
Iraq is composed of eighteengovernorates(orprovinces) (Arabic:muhafadhat, singularmuhafadhah). The governorates are subdivided intodistricts(orqadhas), which are further divided intosub-districts(ornawāḥī). A nineteenth governorate,Halabja Governorate, is unrecognised by the Iraqi government.Clickable map of Iraq exhibiting its eighteen governorates, and partially recognized Halabja.
Iraq's economy is dominated by theoilsector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. The lack of development in other sectors has resulted in 18%–30% unemployed and a per capita GDP of $4,812.Public sector employment accounted for nearly 60% of full-time employment in 2011.The oil export industry, which dominates the Iraqi economy, generates little employment.Currently only a modest percentage of women (the highest estimate for 2011 was 22%) participate in the labour force.
Prior toAmerican occupation, Iraq'scentrally planned economyprohibited foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses, ran most large industries as state-owned enterprises, and imposed largetariffsto keep out foreign goods.During the regime of Saddam Hussein in the 1970s, Iraq was one of the most developed countries in the world.After2003, theCoalition Provisional Authorityquickly began issuing many binding ordersprivatisingIraq's economy and opening it up toforeign investment. On 20 November 2004, theParis Clubof creditor countries agreed to write off 80% ($33 billion) of Iraq's $42 billion debt to Club members. Iraq's total external debt was around $120 billion at the time of the invasion, and had grown another $5 billion by 2004. Thedebt reliefwas to be implemented in three stages: two of 30% each and one of 20%.The official currency in Iraq is theIraqi dinar. TheCoalition Provisional Authorityissued new dinar coins and notes, with the notes printed byDe La Rueusing modern anti-forgery techniques.Jim Cramer's 20 October 2009 endorsement of theIraqi dinaronCNBChas further piqued interest in the investment.
Five years after the invasion, an estimated 2.4 million people wereinternally displaced(with a further two million refugees outside Iraq), four million Iraqis were considered food-insecure (a quarter of children were chronically malnourished) and only a third of Iraqi children had access to safe drinking water.In 2022, and after more than 30 years after theUN Compensation Commissionwas created to ensure restitution for Kuwait following the invasion of 1990, the reparations body announced that Iraq has paid a total of $52.4 billion in war reparations to Kuwait.According to theOverseas Development Institute,international NGOsface challenges in carrying out their mission, leaving their assistance "piecemeal and largely conducted undercover, hindered by insecurity, a lack of coordinated funding, limited operational capacity and patchy information".International NGOs have been targeted and during the first 5 years, 94 aid workers were killed, 248 injured, 24 arrested or detained and 89 kidnapped or abducted.
Iraq's "dollar auction" system, established after2003, has become a conduit for massivefinancial fraud. This system allows Iraqi banks to purchase U.S. dollars from Iraq's oil revenues held at theFederal Reserve Bank. However, it has been exploited by fraudsters, terrorists, and money launderers to funnel billions of dollars out of Iraq. Despite warnings and evidence of fraud, American officials failed to take significant action for years. In 2015, an Iraqi parliamentary committee uncovered widespread fraud, including $6.5 billion obtained fraudulently by Al-Huda Bank. The typical fraud involved Iraqi banks submitting fake invoices and documents to obtain dollars, which were then sent to exchange houses or individuals instead of legitimate exporters. These misused funds have reportedly supported various U.S. adversaries, including Iran-backed militias, theIslamic State, and theSyrian regime. Recent U.S. actions have included sanctioning some Iraqi banks and individuals involved in the fraud, but critics argue these measures came too late. Specific examples of fraudulent transactions are provided, including those involving United Bank for Investment (UBI) and its chairman, Fadhil al-Dabbas. Experts suggest that U.S. inaction was due to various factors, including a focus on maintaining Iraqi dinar stability and the distraction of the war against the Islamic State. This long-standing financial abuse has had far-reaching consequences for both Iraq and U.S. interests in the region, highlighting the complexity of financial oversight in post-conflict environments.
Although overthrow of Saddam in 2003 have caused post-war conflict in Iraq, affecting the economy.However, the Kurdish and Shia populated regions of Iraq have experienced economic boom since the end of the 2003–2011 war.In addition, Iraq is an agricultural country. Tourism in Iraq stands to be a major growth sector, includingarchaeological tourismand religious tourism while the country is also considered to be a potential location forecotourism.
Iraq was an importanttourist destinationfor many years but that changed dramatically during thewar with Iranand after theinvasion by the United States and allies.As Iraq continues to develop and stabilizes, the tourism in Iraq is still facing many challenges, little has been made by the government to meet its tremendous potential as a global tourist destination, and gain the associated economic benefits, mainly due to conflicts.Sites from Iraq's ancient past are numerous and many that are close to large cities have been excavated. Babylon has seen major recent restoration; known for its famousZiggurat(the inspiration for the BiblicalTower of Babel), theHanging Gardens(one of theSeven Wonders of the World), and theIshtar Gate, making it a prime destination.
Nineveh, a rival toBabylon, has also seen significant restoration and reconstruction.Ur, one of the first Sumerian cities, which is nearNasiriyya, has been partially restored. This is a list of examples of some significant sites in a country with a tremendous archaeological and historic wealth.Iraq is considered to be a potential location forecotourism.The tourism in Iraq includes also making pilgrimages toholy Shia Islamic sitesnearKarbalaandNajaf.Since 2003, Najaf and Karbala have experienced economic boom, due to religious tourism.Mosul Museumis the second largest museum in Iraq after theIraq MuseuminBaghdad. It contains ancientMesopotamianartifacts.
Saddam Hussein built hundreds of palaces and monuments across the country. Some of them includeAl-Faw Palace,As-Salam PalaceandRadwaniyah Palace.Al-Faw Palace is currently occupied by theAmerican University of Iraq. Since Saddam's overthrow, the palaces are open to tourists, though they are not officially functioning, and thegovernment of Iraqis considering to sell them for useful purposes. A majority of these structures were built after the1991 Gulf War, when Iraq was put under sanctions by the United Nations.Saddam reconstructed part of Babylon, one of the world's earliest cities, using bricks inscribed with his name to associate himself with the region's past glories.One of his palaces in Basra was turned into a museum, despite it was time when Iraq allied with the United States was engaged in war with the ISIS.
Iraq has a modern network of highways.Roadwaysextended 45,550 km (28,303 mi).The roadway also connect Iraq to neighboring countries ofIran,Turkey,Syria,Jordan,Saudi ArabiaandKuwait.There are more than seven million passenger cars, over million commercial taxis, buses, and trucks in use. On major highways the maximum speed is 110 km/h (68 mph).
Iraq has about 104 airports as of 2012. Major airports includeBaghdad International Airport,Basra International Airport,Erbil International Airport,Kirkuk International Airport,Sulaimaniyah International AirportandNajaf International Airport.Mosul International Airportwas captured by ISIS militants during the2014 Northern Iraq offensive.Despite the government re-taking of the city, the airport remained closed. The government is constructing an international airport forKarbalaand proposed an international airport inNasiriyah, with partnership with China.
With its 143.1 billion barrels (2.275×10m) of proved oil reserves, Iraq ranks third in the world behind Venezuela and Saudi Arabia in the amount ofoil reserves.Oil production levels reached 3.4 million barrels per day by December 2012.Only about 2,000oil wellshave been drilled in Iraq, compared with about 1 million wells inTexasalone.Iraq was one of the founding members ofOPEC.
During the 1970s Iraq produced up to 3.5 millionbarrels per day, butsanctions imposed against Iraqafter its invasion of Kuwait in 1990 crippled the country's oil sector. The sanctions prohibited Iraq from exporting oil until 1996 and Iraq's output declined by 85% in the years following the FirstGulf War. The sanctions were lifted in 2003 after the US-led invasion removed Saddam Hussein from power, but development of Iraq's oil resources has been hampered by the ongoing conflict.As of 2010, despite improved security and billions of dollars in oil revenue, Iraq still generates about half the electricity that customers demand, leading to protests during the hot summer months.TheIraq oil law, a proposed piece of legislation submitted to theCouncil of Representatives of Iraqin 2007, has failed to gain approval due to disagreements among Iraq's various political blocs.Al Başrah Oil Terminalis a trans-shipment facility from the pipelines to the tankers and usessupertankers.
According to a US Study from May 2007, between 100,000 barrels per day (16,000 m/d) and 300,000 barrels per day (48,000 m/d) of Iraq's declared oil production over the past four years could have been siphoned off through corruption or smuggling.In 2008,Al Jazeerareported $13 billion of Iraqi oil revenues in American care was improperly accounted for, of which $2.6 billion is totally unaccounted for.Some reports that the government has reduced corruption in public procurement of oil; however, reliable reports of bribery and kickbacks to government officials persist.
On 30 June and 11 December 2009, theMinistry of Oilawarded service contracts to international oil companies for some of Iraq's many oil fields.Oil fields contracted include the "super-giant"Majnoon oil field,Halfaya Field,West Qurna FieldandRumaila Field.BPandChina National Petroleum Corporationwon a deal to develop Rumaila, the largest oil field in Iraq.On 14 March 2014, theInternational Energy Agencysaid Iraq's oil output jumped by half a million barrels a day in February to average 3.6 million barrels a day. The country had not pumped that much oil since 1979, when Saddam Hussein rose to power.However, on 14 July 2014, as sectarian strife had taken hold,Kurdistan Regional Governmentforces seized control of the Bai Hassan andKirkukoilfields in the north of the country, taking them from Iraq's control. Baghdad condemned the seizure and threatened "dire consequences" if the fields were not returned.On 2018, the UN estimated that oil accounts for 99% of Iraq's revenue.As of 2021, the oil sector provided about 92% of foreign exchange earnings.
Three decades of war greatly cut the existingwater resources managementsystem for several major cities. This prompted widespreadwater supplyandsanitationshortfalls thus poorwaterand service quality.This is combined with few businesses and households who are fully environmentally aware and legally compliant however the large lakes, as pictured, alleviate supply relative to many comparators in Western Asia beset by more regular drought. Access to potable water diverges among governorates and between urban and rural areas.
91% of the population has access to potable water. Forming this figure: in rural areas, 77% of people have access to improved (treated or fully naturally filtered) drinking water sources; and 98% in urban areas.Much water is discarded during treatment, due to much outmoded equipment, raising energy burden and reducing supply.
Although many infrastructure projects had already begun, at the end of 2013 Iraq had a housing crisis. The then war-ravaged country was set to complete 5 percent of the 2.5 million homes it needs to build by 2016 to keep up with demand, confirmed the Minister for Construction and Housing.In 2009, the Iraq Britain Business Council formed. Its key impetus was House of Lords member and trade expertLady Nicholson. In mid 2013, South Korean firm Daewoo reached a deal to buildBismayah New Cityof about 600,000 residents in 100,000 homes.In December 2020,Al-Sudanilaunched the second phase of theGrand Faw Portvia winning bid of project head contractorDaewoodat $2.7 billion.In late 2023, the government announced that it will build a total of 15 new cities across Iraq, in an attempt to tackle a persistent housing problem, according to officials.This project falls under the government's plan and strategy to establish new residential cities outside city centers, aiming to alleviate the urban housing crisis.The first 5 new cities cities will be located inBaghdad,Babylon,Nineveh,AnbarandKarbala, while another 10 new residential cities will be launched in other governorates.The initial phase of the [housing] plan began in late 2023, whenAl-Sudanilaid the foundation stone of Al-Jawahiri city.Located west of the capital, the new city will host 30,000 housing units which will cost $2 billion.It is expected to be completed in four to five years. According to officials, none of it is financed by the government.
In 2024, and during a visit to Baghdad by Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan, a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding regarding cooperation inIraq Development Roadproject was signed between Iraq,Türkiye,Qatar,UAE. The deal was inked by the transportation ministers from each country. The 1,200-kilometer project with railway and highways which will connect theGrand Faw Port, aimed to be the largest port in the Middle East. It is planned to be completed by 2025 to the Turkish border at an expected cost of $17 billion. According to officials, it is a strategic national project for Iraq, and will become the largest sea port in the Middle East, as such strengthening Iraq's geopolitical position.
The 2021 estimate of the total Iraqi population is 43,533,592.Iraq's population was estimated to be 2 million in 1878.In 2013 Iraq's population reached 35 million amid a post-war population boom.Those three vilayets of the Ottoman Empire — Mosul, Basra and Baghdad — were designated as concentration of different ethnic groups.
Iraq's native population is predominantlyArab, but also includes other ethnic groups such asKurds,Turkmens,Assyrians,Yazidis,Shabaks,Armenians,Mandaeans,Circassians, andKawliya.
A report by theEuropean Parliamentary Research Servicesuggests that, in 2015, there were 24 million Arabs (14 millionShiaand 9 millionSunni); 4.7 million SunniKurds(plus 500,000Faili Kurdsand 200,000Kaka'i); 3 million (mostly Sunni)Iraqi Turkmens; 1 millionBlack Iraqis; 500,000Christians(includingAssyriansandArmenians); 500,000Yazidis; 250,000Shabaks; 50,000Roma; 3,000Mandaeans; 2,000Circassians; 1,000 of theBaháʼí Faith; and a few hundredJews.
According to theCIA World Factbook, citing a 1987 Iraqi government estimate,the population of Iraq is 75–80%Arabfollowed by 15–20%Kurds.In addition, the estimate claims that other minorities form 5% of the country's population, including theTurkmen/Turcoman,Assyrians,Yezidis,Shabak,Kaka'i,Bedouins,Roma,Circassians, Mandaeans, andPersians.However, theInternational Crisis Grouppoints out that figures from the 1987 census, as well as the 1967, 1977, and 1997 censuses, "are all considered highly problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation" because Iraqi citizens were only allowed to indicate belonging to either the Arab or Kurdish ethnic groups;consequently, this skewed the number of other ethnic minorities, such as Iraq's third largest ethnic group – the Turkmens.
The historic Assyrian Quarter in Baghdad housed 150,000 Armenians in 2003. Most of them fled, following the escalation of war, and today only 1,500 Armenians are found in the city. Around 20,000Marsh Arabslive in southern Iraq.Iraq has a community of 2,500Chechens,and some 20,000Armenians.In southern Iraq,there is a community of Iraqis of Africandescent, a legacy of theslaverypractised in the Islamic Caliphate beginning before theZanj Rebellionof the 9th century, andBasra's role as a key port.It is the most populous country in theArabian Plate.
The main languages spoken in Iraq areMesopotamian ArabicandKurdish, followed by theIraqi Turkmen/Turkoman dialectofTurkish, and theNeo-Aramaiclanguages (specificallyChaldeanandAssyriandialects).Arabic and Kurdish are written with versions of theArabic script. Since 2005, the Turkmen/Turkoman have switched from the Arabic script to theTurkish alphabet.In addition, the Neo-Aramaic languages use theSyriac script. Other smaller minority languages includeMandaic,Shabaki,Armenian,CircassianandPersian.
Prior to the invasion in 2003,Arabicwas the sole official language. Since the newConstitution of Iraqwas approved in 2005, both Arabic andKurdishare recognised (Article 4) as official languages of Iraq, while three other languages,Turkmen,SyriacandArmenian, are also recognised asminority languages. In addition, any region or province may declare other languages official if a majority of the population approves in a general referendum.
According to theConstitution of Iraq(Article 4): The Arabic language and the Kurdish language are the two official languages of Iraq. The right of Iraqis to educate their children in their mother tongue, such as Turkmen, Syriac, and Armenian shall be guaranteed in government educational institutions in accordance with educational guidelines, or in any other language in private educational institutions.
Religions in Iraq are dominantlyAbrahamic religions.The CIAWorld Factbookestimated in 2015 that between 90 and 95% of Iraqis followedIslam, with 61–64% being Shia and 29–34% being Sunni.Christianityaccounted for 1%, and the rest (1-4%) practicedYazidism,Mandaeism, and other religions.An older 2011Pew Research Centerestimated that 51% of Muslims in Iraq see themselves asShia, 42% asSunni, while 5% as "just a Muslim".Iraq is also home to two of the holiest places among the Shi'as –NajafandKarbala.Shia Muslims are mostly concentrated in southern Iraq and in parts of north region and Baghdad.Sunni Muslimsare found in theSunni Triangle region, in cities such asRamadi,TikritandFallujah, where Sunnis make majority.
Christianity in Iraqhas its roots from the conception of theChurch of the Eastin the 5th century AD, predating the existence of Islam in the region of Iraq.Iraqi Christians are predominantly nativeAssyriansbelonging to theAncient Church of the East,Assyrian Church of the East,Chaldean Catholic Church,Syriac Catholic ChurchandSyriac Orthodox Church.There is also a significant population ofArmenian Christiansin Iraq who had fledTurkeyduring theArmenian genocide.Christians numbered over 1.4 million in 1987 or 8% of the estimated population of 16.3 million and 550,000 in 1947 or 12% of the population of 4.6 millions.After the 2003invasion of Iraq, violence against Christians rose, with reports of abduction, torture, bombings, and killings.Thepost-2003 warhave displaced much of theremaining Christian community from their homelandas a result of ethnic and religious persecution at the hands ofIslamic extremists.
Iraq is home to one of theoldest Jewish communities in the Middle Eastand the first Jewish diaspora.In 1948, the Jewish population was estimated at 200,000, although some sources suggest the population may have been even higher.After the establishment ofIsraelin 1948, Jews emigrated,fleeing persecution in Iraq, while 100,000 of them remained.By the time Saddam Hussein came to power, their population had reached 15,000.Under his rule, the population dwindled—not due to persecution, but because the government lifted travel restrictions, allowing many Jews to emigrate abroad and visiting Iraq occasionally.At this point, around 1,500 Jews remained.After 2003, fear among the Jewish community increased, leading to their further decline.Today, it is estimated that only around 400 Jews remain in Iraq.Iraq is home to over250 Jewish sites.
There are also smallethno-religiousminority populations ofMandaeans,Shabaks,YarsanandYezidisremaining.Prior to 2003 their numbers together may have been 2 million, the majority Yarsan, a non-Islamic religion with roots in pre-Islamic and pre-Christian religion.Yazidis are mostly concentrated around theSinjar Mountains.Mandaeans live primarily around Baghdad, Fallujah, Basra andHillah.
The dispersion of native Iraqis to other countries is known as theIraqi diaspora. TheUN High Commission for Refugeeshas estimated that nearly two million Iraqis fled the country after themultinationalinvasion of Iraq in 2003.The UN Refugee agency estimated in 2021 that 1.1 million were displaced within the country.In 2007, the UN said that about 40% of Iraq's middle class was believed to have fled and that most had fled systematic persecution and had no desire to return.Subsequently, the diaspora seemed to be returning, as security improved; the Iraqi government claimed that 46,000 refugees returned to their homes in October 2007 alone.
In 2011, nearly 3 million Iraqis had been displaced, with 1.3 million within Iraq and 1.6 million in neighbouring countries, mainly Jordan and Syria.More than half of Iraqi Christians had fled the country since the US-led invasion.According to officialUnited States Citizenship and Immigration Servicesstatistics, 58,811 Iraqis had been granted refugee-status citizenship as of 25 May 2011.After the start of theSyrian Civil Warin 2011, numerous Iraqis in Syria returned to their native country.To escape theSyrian civil war, over 252,000Syrian refugeesof varying ethnicities have fled to Iraq since 2012.
In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 6.84% of the country's GDP. In 2008, there were 6.96 physicians and 13.92 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants.The life expectancy at birth was 68.49 years in 2010, or 65.13 years for males and 72.01 years for females.This is down from a peak life expectancy of 71.31 years in 1996.
Iraq had developed a centralised free health care system in the 1970s using a hospital based, capital-intensive model ofcurative care.The country depended on large-scale imports of medicines, medical equipment and even nurses, paid for with oil export income, according to a "Watching Brief" report issued jointly by theUN Children's Fund(UNICEF) and theWorld Health Organization(WHO) in July 2003.Unlike other poorer countries, which focused on mass health care using primary care practitioners, Iraq developed a Westernised system of sophisticated  hospitals with advanced medical procedures, provided by specialist physicians.The UNICEF/WHO report noted that prior to 1990, 97% of the urban dwellers and 71% of the rural population had access to free primary health care; just 2% of hospital beds were privately managed.
In 2024,Mohammed Shi'a Al-Sudaniofficially inaugurated Shaab General Hospital, Baghdad's first new general hospital in nearly 40 years.The 246-bed facility, which was a long-delayed project was completed under a collaborative management model, which boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, with advanced medical equipment, and a full range of healthcare services according to Sudani.Minister of Health Salih Hasnawi highlighted the ministry's accomplishments over the past two years, including the construction of 13 new hospitals, three specialized centers, two burn units, and 25 kidney treatment centers in different governorates, while plans are in place to build 16 new hospitals, each with 100 beds, to be managed by qualified companies.In the same year, the government launched the implementation of a joint operation and management program for modern hospitals at the newly opened Najaf Teaching Hospital.
Before 1990 and later 2003, Iraq already had an advanced and successful education system.However, it has now been "de-developing" in its educational success.During his rule, Saddam turned Iraq into a leading center of higher education.Since the implementation of the MDGs, education has shown improvement in Iraq.Enrollment numbers nearly doubled from 2000 to 2012, reaching six million students.By 2015–2016, around 9.2 million children were attending school, with a steady annual increase of 4.1% in enrollment rates.
However, the rapid increase in primary education students has strained the system.Education receives only 5.7% of government spending, leading to a lack of investment in schools and poor educational rankings in the region.UNICEF found that funding has been wasted, resulting in increasing dropout and repetition rates.Dropout rates range from 1.5% to 2.5%, with girls being affected more due to economic or family reasons. Repetition rates have reached almost 17%, causing a loss of approximately 20% of education funding in 2014–2015.
Regional disparities greatly impact enrollment rates for children in primary education in Iraq.Conflict-ridden areas like Saladin Governorate have seen over 90% of school-age children out of school due to the conversion of schools into shelters or military bases.Limited resources strain the education system, hindering access to education.However, efforts have been made to reopen closed schools, with success seen in Mosul, where over 380,000 children are back in school.Access to education varies depending on location, and there are disparities between boys and girls.
In 2024, the government inaugurated 790 new schools across the country, as part of a framework agreement with China to build 1,000 schools. This initiative aims to address overcrowding and the issue of triple shifts in schools, which have been exacerbated by the destruction caused by years of conflict.Many schools have had to operate multiple shifts, sometimes giving students as little as four hours of learning per day, which negatively affects educational outcomes.The school construction project stems from a 2021 agreement between the Iraqi and Chinese governments to build 1,000 schools. Additionally, the Iraqi Prime Minister announced that the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) will soon collaborate with the private sector to build 400 more schools, addressing the current shortage of over 8,000 schools in the country.
Iraq's culture has a deep heritage that extends back in time to ancient Mesopotamian culture. Iraq has one of the longest written traditions in the world includingarchitecture,literature,music,dance,painting,weaving,pottery,calligraphy,stonemasonryandmetalworking. The culture of Iraq or Mesopotamia is one of the world's oldestculturalhistories and is considered one of the most influential cultures in the world.
Mesopotamian legacy went on to influence and shape the civilizations of theOld Worldin different ways such as inventingwriting system,mathematics,time,calendar,astrologyand thelaw code.Iraq is home to diverse ethnic groups that have each contributed in different ways to the country's long and rich heritage. The country is known for its poets, architects, painters and sculptors, who are among the best in the region, some of them being world-class. Iraq is known for producing finehandicrafts, includingrugsandcarpets.
There were several interconnected traditions of art in ancient Iraq. TheAbbasidDynasty developed in theAbbasid Caliphatebetween 750 and 945, primarily in its heartland ofMesopotamia. The Abbasids were influenced mainly byMesopotamian art traditionsand later influencedPersianas well as Central Asian styles. Between the 8th and 13th centuries during the Abbasid period, pottery achieved a high level of sophistication, calligraphy began to be used to decorate the surface of decorative objects and illuminated manuscripts, particularlyQ'ranictexts became more complex and stylised. Iraq's first art school was established during this period, allowing artisans and crafts to flourish.
At the height of the Abbasid period, in the late 12th century, a stylistic movement of manuscript illustration and calligraphy emerged. Now known as theBaghdad School, this movement of Islamic art was characterised by representations of everyday life and the use of highly expressive faces rather than the stereotypical characters that had been used in the past.
The architecture of Iraq has a long history, encompassing several distinct cultures and spanning a period from the 10th millennium BC and features both theMesopotamianandAbbasid architecture.Baghdad and Mosul have plethora of cultural and heritage buildings. There are numeroushistoric mosques in Baghdadand Basra,old churches in Mosulandsynagogues in Baghdad.Modern prominent architects includeZaha Hadid,Basil Bayati,Rifat ChadirjiandHisham N. Ashkouriamong others.
The capital, Ninus orNineveh, was taken by theMedesunderCyaxares, and some 200 years afterXenophonpassed over its site, then mere mounds of earth. It remained buried until 1845, when Botta andLayarddiscovered the ruins of the Assyrian cities. The principal remains are those ofKhorsabad, 16 km (10 mi) northeast ofMosul; of Nimroud, supposed to be the ancient Calah; and of Kouyunjik, in all probability the ancient Nineveh. In these cities are found fragments of several great buildings which seem to have been palace-temples. They were constructed chiefly ofsun-dried bricks, and all that remains of them is the lower part of the walls, decorated with sculpture and paintings, portions of the pavements, a few indications of the elevation, and some works connected with the drainage. Recent years's modern buildings includes shopping malls and high-rise towers.
Important cultural institutions in the capital include theIraqi National Symphony Orchestra– rehearsals and performances were briefly interrupted during theoccupation of Iraqbut have since returned to normal.The National Theatre of Iraq was looted during the 2003 invasion, but efforts are underway to restore it. The live theatre scene received a boost during the 1990s when UN sanctions limited the import of foreign films. As many as 30 cinemas were reported to have been converted to live stages, producing a wide range of comedies and dramatic productions.
Institutions offering cultural education in Baghdad include the Academy of Music, Institute of Fine Arts and theMusic and Ballet School Baghdad. Baghdad also features a number of museums including theNational Museum of Iraq– which houses the world's largest and finest collection of artefacts and relics ofAncient Iraqicivilisations; some of which werestolenduring theoccupation of Iraq. On 2021, it was announced that Iraq had reclaimed about 17,000 looted artifacts, which was considered to be the biggest repatriation.
The literature in Iraq is often referred to as "Mesopotamian literature" due to the flourishing of various civilisations as a result of the mixture of these cultures and has been called Mesopotamian or Babylonian literature in allusion to the geographical territory that such cultures occupied in theMiddle Eastbetween the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.The Sumerian literature was unique because it does not belong to any known linguistic root. Its appearance began with symbols of the things denoting it, then it turned with time to the cuneiform line on tablets. The literature during this time were mainly about mythical and epic texts dealing with creation issues, the emergence of the world, the gods, descriptions of the heavens, and the lives of heroes in the wars that broke out between the nomads and the urbanites. They also deal with religious teachings, moral advice, astrology, legislation, and history. One of which was theEpic of Gilgamesh, which is regarded as the earliest surviving notable literature.
During the Abbasid Caliphate, theHouse of WisdominBaghdad, which was a public academy and intellectual center, hosted numerous scholars and writers. A number of stories inOne Thousand and One Nightsfeature famous Abbasid figures.Iraq has various medieval poets, most remarkablyHariri of Basra,Mutanabbi,Abu Nuwas, andAl-Jahiz. In modern times, various languages are used in Iraqi literature including Arabic,Neo-Aramaic,KurdishandTurkish, although the Arabic literature remains the most influential literature. Notably poets includeJawahiri,Safa KhulusiandDunya Mikhail.
Iraq is known primarily for its richmaqamheritage which has been passed down orally by the masters of the maqam in an unbroken chain of transmission leading up to the present. TheIraqi maqamis considered to be the most noble and perfect form of maqam. Al-maqam al-Iraqi is the collection of sung poems written either in one of the sixteen meters of classical Arabic or in Iraqi dialect (Zuhayri).This form of art is recognised by UNESCO as "an intangible heritage of humanity".
Early in the 20th century, many of the most prominent musicians in Iraq wereJewish.In 1936,Iraq Radiowas established with an ensemble made up entirely ofJews, with the exception of the percussion player.At the nightclubs of Baghdad, ensembles consisted of oud, qanun and two percussionists, while the same format with aneyandcellowere used on the radio.
The most famous singer of the 1930s–1940s was perhapsSalima Pasha(later Salima Murad).The respect and adoration for Pasha were unusual at the time since public performance by women was considered shameful.The most famous early composer from Iraq wasEzra Aharon, anoudplayer, while the most prominent instrumentalist wasYusuf Za'arur.Za'arus formed the official ensemble for the Iraqi radio station and were responsible for introducing the cello and ney into the traditional ensemble.
Iraq was home to the second television station in the Middle East, which began during the 1950s. As part of a plan to help Iraq modernise, English telecommunications companyPye Limitedbuilt and commissioned a television broadcast station in the capital city of Baghdad.
After the end of the full state control in 2003, there were a period of significant growth in the broadcast media in Iraq.By mid-2003, according to aBBCreport, there were 20 radio stations from 0.15 to 17 television stations owned by Iraqis, and 200 Iraqi newspapers owned and operated.
Iraqi media expert and author of a number of reports on this subject, Ibrahim Al Marashi, identifies four stages of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 where they had been taking the steps that have significant effects on the way for the later of the Iraqi media since then. Stages are: pre-invasion preparation, and the war and the actual choice of targets, the first post-war period, and a growing insurgency and hand over power to the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) and Prime MinisterIyad Allawi.
Iraqi cuisine can be traced back some 10,000 years – to theSumerians,Akkadians,Babylonians,AssyriansandAncient Persians.Tabletsfound in ancient ruins in Iraq show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals – the first cookbooks in the world.Ancient Iraq, orMesopotamia, was home to many sophisticated and highly advanced civilisations, in all fields of knowledge – including the culinary arts.However, it was in themedieval erawhen Baghdad was the capital of theAbbasid Caliphatethat the Iraqi kitchen reached its zenith.Today the cuisine of Iraq reflects this rich inheritance as well as strong influences from the culinary traditions of neighbouringTurkey,Iranand theGreater Syriaarea.
Some characteristic ingredients of Iraqi cuisine include – vegetables such asaubergine,tomato,okra,onion,potato,courgette,garlic,peppersandchilli, cereals such asrice,bulgurwheatandbarley, pulses and legumes such aslentils,chickpeasandcannellini, fruits such asdates,raisins,apricots,figs,grapes,melon,pomegranateandcitrus fruits, especiallylemonandlime.
Similarly with other countries ofWestern Asia, chicken and especially lamb are the favourite meats. Most dishes are served with rice – usuallyBasmati, grown in themarshesof southern Iraq.Bulgurwheat is used in many dishes, having been a staple in the country since the days of theAncient Assyrians.
Footballis the most popular sport in Iraq.Basketball,swimming,weightlifting,bodybuilding,boxing,kick boxingandtennisare also popular sports.
TheIraq Football Associationis the governing body of football in Iraq, controlling theIraq national football teamand theIraq Stars League. It was founded in 1948, and has been a member ofFIFAsince 1950 and theAsian Football Confederationsince 1971. Iraq were champions of the2007 AFC Asian Cup, and they participated in the1986 FIFA World Cupand the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
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