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Photo: Diyar Muhammed · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 12 · Country Index 2026
Iraq: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
Iraq is placed 159th of 193 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 5 of its 5 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness -1.102 (2024); Government AI Readiness Index 29.37 (2025).
Governance & Institutions
159th
of 193 countries placed
Placed from 5 of 5 key statistics
- -1.102Government Effectiveness, 2024Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
- 29.37Government AI Readiness Index, 2025AI readiness score (0–100)
- 53.98Statistical Performance Indicators, 2024SPI overall score (0–100)
- 28Corruption Perceptions Index, 2025CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
- 45Open Data Inventory, 2024ODIN overall score (0–100)
01The evidence
The 5 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iraq on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country in that edition, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 5
Government Effectiveness
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: The quality of public services and the civil service that delivers them, and the credibility of a government's commitment to its own policies. Where the Corruption Perceptions Index asks whether a state is honest, this asks whether it is competent.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
-1.102
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Iraq: -1.102. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.173 (South Sudan) to 2.28 (Singapore); the world median is 0.01.
- World median
- 0.01
- Best in Western Asia
- 1.26 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Iran -0.706 · Jordan 0.216 · Kuwait 0.328 · Saudi Arabia 0.783 · Syria -1.673 · Türkiye -0.071
Each grey tick is one of 209 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 2 of 5
Government AI Readiness Index
Oxford Insights
Why it is a key: Government capacity to adopt modern technology in public service delivery. Correlates 0.835 with Statistical Performance, inside the 0.92 bar, and kept because readiness to use data is not the same as the ability to collect it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
29.37
AI readiness score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 128th of 195 by Oxford Insights
Iraq: 29.37. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 12.12 (Guinea-Bissau) to 88.36 (United States); the world median is 40.19.
- World median
- 40.19
- Best in Western Asia
- 71.57 Saudi Arabia
- Land neighbours
- Iran 48.34 · Jordan 56.07 · Kuwait 43.79 · Saudi Arabia 71.57 · Syria 21.72 · Türkiye 58.91
Each grey tick is one of 195 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 3 of 5
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether a state can measure its own country. Nothing else here tests the capacity of the statistical system itself.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
53.98
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Iraq: 53.98. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Western Asia
- 90.29 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Iran 63.52 · Jordan 78.81 · Kuwait 63.38 · Saudi Arabia 83.29 · Syria 32.42 · Türkiye 79.35
Each grey tick is one of 188 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 4 of 5
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
Why it is a key: How much corruption the people who actually deal with a government perceive — an outcome, where the rest of this topic measures capacity.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
28
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Ranked 136th of 181 by Transparency International
Iraq: 28. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
- Best in Western Asia
- 69 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Iran 23 · Jordan 50 · Kuwait 46 · Saudi Arabia 57 · Syria 15 · Türkiye 31
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 5 of 5
Open Data Inventory
Open Data Watch
Why it is a key: Whether official statistics are published openly and usably, which is a separate question from whether they are produced at all.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
45
ODIN overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 125th of 168 by Open Data Watch
Iraq: 45. Across the 168 countries in this edition, values run from 19 (Turkmenistan) to 90 (Poland); the world median is 59.
- World median
- 59
- Best in Western Asia
- 85 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Jordan 72 · Kuwait 52 · Saudi Arabia 73 · Syria 28 · Türkiye 64
Each grey tick is one of 168 countries in the 2024 edition.
02Over time
Which way Iraq is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from -2.098 in 2000 to -1.102 in 2024; the world median went from -0.316 to 0.01.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2024 -1.1019 0.0100 2023 -1.3399 -0.0178 2022 -1.2239 -0.0433 2021 -1.2310 -0.0445 2020 -1.2178 -0.0570 2019 -1.1066 0.0008 2018 -1.0745 -0.0850 2017 -1.0918 -0.0494 2016 -1.0919 -0.0573 2015 -1.0793 -0.0652 2014 -0.9609 -0.0643 2013 -1.0710 -0.1437 2012 -1.1168 -0.1872 2011 -1.1846 -0.2491 2010 -1.1790 -0.2029 2009 -1.0844 -0.2422 2008 -1.2292 -0.2768 2007 -1.6317 -0.2973 2006 -1.8350 -0.3138 2005 -1.9343 -0.3488 2004 -1.5863 -0.2985 2003 -2.0070 -0.4232 2002 -2.2035 -0.3086 2000 -2.0977 -0.3159 Government AI Readiness Index
AI readiness score (0–100) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq fell from 33.88 in 2020 to 29.37 in 2025; the world median went from 39.58 to 40.19.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 29 40.2 2024 41 43.3 2023 33 41.4 2022 32 40.3 2021 37 44.1 2020 34 39.6 Statistical Performance Indicators
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 36.79 in 2016 to 53.98 in 2024; the world median went from 56.25 to 69.3.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2024 54.0 69.30 2023 54.1 68.86 2022 51.7 67.99 2021 53.5 69.96 2020 40.8 62.91 2019 36.0 61.19 2018 31.8 61.17 2017 34.0 59.55 2016 36.8 56.25 Corruption Perceptions Index
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 18 in 2012 to 28 in 2025; the world median went from 37 to 39.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 28 39.0 2024 26 40.0 2023 23 40.0 2022 23 39.5 2021 23 39.0 2020 21 40.0 2019 20 39.5 2018 18 38.0 2017 18 38.5 2016 17 38.0 2015 16 37.0 2014 16 38.0 2013 16 38.0 2012 18 37.0 Open Data Inventory
ODIN overall score (0–100) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 32 in 2016 to 45 in 2024; the world median went from 39 to 59.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2024 45 59 2022 40 51 2020 48 50 2018 26 44 2017 26 38 2016 32 39 2015 — 32
03In context
Iraq beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 193 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
1st193rdNot placed · 31 countries with too few key statisticsNo data
Iraq and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 193 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Government AI Readiness IndexAI readiness score (0–100) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Open Data InventoryODIN overall score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Saudi Arabia | 34th | 0.783 | 71.57 | 83.29 | 57 | 73 |
 Jordan | 47th | 0.216 | 56.07 | 78.81 | 50 | 72 |
 Türkiye | 73rd | -0.071 | 58.91 | 79.35 | 31 | 64 |
 Kuwait | 88th | 0.328 | 43.79 | 63.38 | 46 | 52 |
 Iran | 138th | -0.706 | 48.34 | 63.52 | 23 | — |
| Iraq | 159th | -1.102 | 29.37 | 53.98 | 28 | 45 |
 Syria | =187th | -1.673 | 21.72 | 32.42 | 15 | 28 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 193.
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below Iraq in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iraq is ahead of the world, and behind
14 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Iraq does better than the middle country measured.
External Debt Stocks (% of GNI)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 43.946.22643.94No real change since 2015
Iraq: 6.226 · world median 43.94 · External debt stocks (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.213 to 350.57; lower is better.
Position 106th of 110 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.932.95712.93▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 2.957 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.498.898.4No earlier reading
Iraq: 98.8 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Iraq does worse than the middle country measured.
Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.141.752.1No earlier reading
Iraq: 41.7 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.3690.497▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 0.369 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.
Position 107th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median -0.02-1.022-0.02▲ Improved since 2014
Iraq: -1.022 · world median -0.02 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -2.29 to 1.929; higher is better.
Position 160th of 208 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4617.5950.46No earlier reading
Iraq: 17.59 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 170th of 198 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median -0.09-1.031-0.09No real change since 2014
Iraq: -1.031 · world median -0.09 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -2.035 to 2.132; higher is better.
Position 182nd of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median -0.1-1.358-0.1▲ Improved since 2014
Iraq: -1.358 · world median -0.1 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -2.205 to 2.021; higher is better.
Position 193rd of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8246.7965.82No earlier reading
Iraq: 46.79 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 47th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 81.2548.1381.25No real change since 2014
Iraq: 48.13 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.25 to 100; higher is better.
Position 178th of 190 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1321.4550.13No earlier reading
Iraq: 21.45 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 48th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.849.2866.8No earlier reading
Iraq: 49.28 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 48th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end1
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.97510.77.975Moved since 2012
Iraq: 10.7 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 45th of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No current reading for Iraq
Agriculture Orientation Index (last 2021), Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, General Government Consumption (last 2024), Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education (last 1989), Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among Iraq’s 12 topics
Governance & Institutions is Iraq’s 6th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 117th of 1943/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 2013/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge124th of 1822/4 keys
- Mobility & Connectivity103rd of 1472/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 162nd of 1983/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions159th of 1935/5 keys
- Economy & Innovation132nd of 1503/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability147th of 1613/3 keys
- Work & Labour168th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience178th of 1913/3 keys
- Peace & Security167th of 1773/3 keys
- Gender & Equality170th of 1783/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 193, and the leaders Iraq can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 193 · 5 of 5 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 193 · 5 of 5 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
FinlandNorthern Europe
3rd of 193 · 5 of 5 keys
Photo: Joonas Lyytinen · CC BY-SA 2.5, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Singapore4th4/5 keysHighest in Western Asia
Israel23rd5/5 keysThis page
Iraq159th5/5 keys
Positions out of 193 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Iraq and governance & institutions
08Questions
Iraq on governance & institutions: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Iraq rank on governance & institutions?
Iraq is placed 159th of 193 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 5 of its 5 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Government AI Readiness Index, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Open Data Inventory). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Iraq?
-1.102 in 2024 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.01.
What is the latest Government AI Readiness Index figure for Iraq?
29.37 in 2025 (aI readiness score (0–100)), according to Oxford Insights. The world median in the same edition was 40.19.
How does Iraq compare with Iran on governance & institutions?
Iran is placed 138th of 193, and Iraq 159th. Government Effectiveness: Iran -0.706, Iraq -1.102; Government AI Readiness Index: Iran 48.34, Iraq 29.37; Statistical Performance Indicators: Iran 63.52, Iraq 53.98; Corruption Perceptions Index: Iran 23, Iraq 28.
How have Iraq’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness rose from -2.098 in 2000 to -1.102 in 2024; Government AI Readiness Index fell from 33.88 in 2020 to 29.37 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 36.79 in 2016 to 53.98 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 18 in 2012 to 28 in 2025; Open Data Inventory rose from 32 in 2016 to 45 in 2024.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Iraq?
No current reading is published for Iraq on Agriculture Orientation Index, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, General Government Consumption, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
Iraq, topic by topic
- Economy & Innovation132nd of 150
- Work & Labour168th of 182
- Education & Knowledge124th of 182
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 201
- Development & Human Capital=117th of 194
- Environment & Sustainability147th of 161
- Gender & Equality170th of 178
- Democracy & Civil Liberties=162nd of 198
- Peace & Security167th of 177
- Risk & Resilience178th of 191
- Mobility & Connectivity103rd of 147
- The full Iraq profile
Nearby, on governance & institutions
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 5 indicators on this topic are keys and 21 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 3 of this topic’s 5 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 193 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 5.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Government AI Readiness Index — Oxford Insights, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Open Data Inventory — Open Data Watch, CC BY 4.0
The other 14 statistics on this page come from 5 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Iraq’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Iraq (banner) — Diyar Muhammed, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Finland — Joonas Lyytinen, CC BY-SA 2.5
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iraq: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iraq/governance