Photo: Diyar Muhammed · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iraq: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
Iraq is placed 164th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness -1.016 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 53.98 (2024).
Share
Governance & Institutions
164th
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- -1.016Government Effectiveness, 2025Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
- 53.98Statistical Performance Indicators, 2024SPI overall score (0–100)
- 28Corruption Perceptions Index, 2025CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
- 0.356Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, 2025Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
01The evidence
The 4 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 it was compared with, lowest on the left.
-1.016
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Iraq: -1.016. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Western Asia
- 1.192 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Iran -0.857 · Jordan 0.111 · Kuwait 0.256 · Saudi Arabia 0.74 · Syria -1.586 · Türkiye 0.029
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
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
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
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
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.356
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
Iraq: 0.356. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.857 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Iran 0.116 · Jordan 0.766 · Kuwait 0.719 · Saudi Arabia 0.285 · Syria 0.156 · Türkiye 0.202
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 -2.189 in 2000 to -1.016 in 2025; the world median went from -0.397 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 -1.0161 0.1006 2024 -1.1301 0.0098 2023 -1.4309 -0.0408 2022 -1.3634 -0.0305 2021 -1.3106 -0.0158 2020 -1.2983 -0.0171 2019 -1.1983 0.0150 2018 -1.1644 0.0159 2017 -1.1749 0.0158 2016 -1.1748 0.0225 2015 -1.1639 0.0038 2014 -1.0217 0.0194 2013 -1.1189 -0.0758 2012 -1.1605 -0.0839 2011 -1.2433 -0.1221 2010 -1.2219 -0.1145 2009 -1.1681 -0.1609 2008 -1.3164 -0.2134 2007 -1.7243 -0.3260 2006 -1.9020 -0.3310 2005 -2.0129 -0.3706 2004 -1.6204 -0.3140 2003 -2.0946 -0.4369 2002 -2.2704 -0.3366 2000 -2.1892 -0.3969 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 Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 0.334 in 2000 to 0.356 in 2025; the world median went from 0.647 to 0.676.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 0.356 0.6760 2024 0.338 0.6645 2023 0.321 0.6590 2022 0.293 0.6600 2021 0.323 0.6580 2020 0.311 0.6645 2019 0.374 0.6560 2018 0.376 0.6485 2017 0.391 0.6550 2016 0.387 0.6520 2015 0.387 0.6700 2014 0.375 0.6515 2013 0.375 0.6550 2012 0.395 0.6750 2011 0.395 0.6680 2010 0.395 0.6640 2009 0.410 0.6580 2008 0.429 0.6590 2007 0.427 0.6630 2006 0.427 0.6590 2005 0.433 0.6580 2004 0.492 0.6480 2003 0.422 0.6480 2002 0.334 0.6470 2001 0.334 0.6530 2000 0.334 0.6465
03In context
Iraq beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
Iraq and the countries it borders
Standing among all 194; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Saudi Arabia | =54th | 0.74 | 83.29 | 57 | 0.285 |
 Jordan | =59th | 0.111 | 78.81 | 50 | 0.766 |
 Kuwait | 76th | 0.256 | 63.38 | 46 | 0.719 |
 Türkiye | =115th | 0.029 | 79.35 | 31 | 0.202 |
| Iraq | 164th | -1.016 | 53.98 | 28 | 0.356 |
 Iran | 168th | -0.857 | 63.52 | 23 | 0.116 |
 Syria | 186th | -1.586 | 32.42 | 15 | 0.156 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
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
37 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 median5
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, 1st = worst.
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, 1st = worst.
Foundational ID OwnershipWorld Bank Group (ID4D) · 2024 · world median 94.496.7894.4▲ Improved since 2021
Iraq: 96.78 · world median 94.4 · Adults who own a foundational ID (% of population aged 15+). World Bank Group (ID4D), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 42.62 to 100; higher is better.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.397.2595.3▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 97.25 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
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 median29
Statistics on which Iraq does worse than the middle country measured.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7523.623.75No earlier reading
Iraq: 23.6 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.931.943.9No earlier reading
Iraq: 31.9 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
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.
Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.220.353▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 0.22 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 110th of 176 · derived.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.4640.63▲ Improved since 2022
Iraq: 0.464 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 123rd of 196 · derived.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.848.980.8No earlier reading
Iraq: 48.9 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Global Indicators of Regulatory Governance ScoreWorld Bank Group · 2018 · world median 2.251.52.25No earlier reading
Iraq: 1.5 · world median 2.25 · Regulatory governance score (0–5, where 5 is the most transparent rule-making). World Bank Group, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 5; higher is better.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1929.3740.19No real change since 2020
Iraq: 29.37 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 128th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.5150.651▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 0.515 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.
Position 116th of 176 · derived.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.022-0.822-0.022▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: -0.822 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 144th of 206 · derived.
Open Data InventoryOpen Data Watch · 2024 · world median 594559▼ Worsened since 2016
Iraq: 45 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.
Ranked 125th of 168 by Open Data Watch.
Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.7780.445▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: 0.778 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.
State Fiscal Source of RevenueV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.179-0.1031.179▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: -0.103 · world median 1.179 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.1); higher = broader taxation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -1.716 to 3.135; higher is better.
Position 139th of 176 · derived.
Rigorous and Impartial Public AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.333-0.9280.333▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: -0.928 · world median 0.333 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +4.0); higher = a more rigorous and impartial administration. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.552 to 3.99; higher is better.
Position 140th of 176 · derived.
Meritocratic Appointment in the State AdministrationV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.309-0.690.309No real change since 2015
Iraq: -0.69 · world median 0.309 · Original latent estimate (≈ −2.9 to +3.6); higher = more appointments on merit. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.442 to 3.584; higher is better.
Position 142nd of 176 · derived.
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.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-1.014-0.093No real change since 2015
Iraq: -1.014 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 182nd of 209 · derived.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.197-1.252-0.197▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: -1.252 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 187th of 211 · derived.
State Capacity IndexJonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School) · 2015 · world median 0.487-0.6330.487▲ Improved since 2005
Iraq: -0.633 · world median 0.487 · Latent estimate of state capacity (≈ −2.3 to +3.0, centred near 0); higher = a more capable state. Jonathan K. Hanson (University of Michigan) and Rachel Sigman (Naval Postgraduate School), 2015 edition, data for 2015.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.697; higher is better.
Position 149th of 166 · derived.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.102-1.39-0.102▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: -1.39 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 192nd of 211 · derived.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 81.2550.6381.25No real change since 2015
Iraq: 50.63 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.125 to 100; higher is better.
Position 178th of 190 · derived.
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.
Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.8920.518▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: 0.892 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.
Position 10th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.210.387▼ Worsened since 2014
Iraq: 0.21 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 184th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
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.
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.
Bribery IncidenceWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 7.26950.477.269No earlier reading
Iraq: 50.47 · world median 7.269 · Firms asked for a bribe at least once in six dealings with officials (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 64.26; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 175 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Expecting to Make Informal Payments to Public OfficialsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.40350.966.403No earlier reading
Iraq: 50.96 · world median 6.403 · Firms saying firms like theirs pay officials informally to get things done (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 55.03; lower is better.
Position 2nd of 178 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end3
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, counted from the highest value.
Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.4230.608Moved since 2013
Iraq: 0.423 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.
Senior Management Time Spent on Government RegulationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 6.7952.7726.795No earlier reading
Iraq: 2.772 · world median 6.795 · Senior management time spent dealing with government regulation (% of a typical week). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 31.33.
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), Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among Iraq’s 15 topics
Governance & Institutions is Iraq’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality40th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing113th of 2003/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 101st of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital117th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience134th of 1934/4 keys
- Digital & Technology141st of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture132nd of 1843/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions164th of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties177th of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 168th of 1864/4 keys
- Work & Labour168th of 1824/4 keys
- Energy153rd of 1653/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation164th of 1764/4 keys
- Peace & Security167th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality173rd of 1834/4 keys
No standing on Education & Knowledge: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Iraq can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan=10th4/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Israel=25th4/4 keysThis page
Iraq164th4/4 keys
Positions out of 194 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 164th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). 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?
-1.016 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Iraq?
53.98 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
How does Iraq compare with Iran on governance & institutions?
Iran is placed 168th of 194, and Iraq 164th. Government Effectiveness: Iran -0.857, Iraq -1.016; Statistical Performance Indicators: Iran 63.52, Iraq 53.98; Corruption Perceptions Index: Iran 23, Iraq 28; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: Iran 0.116, Iraq 0.356.
How have Iraq’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness rose from -2.189 in 2000 to -1.016 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; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index rose from 0.334 in 2000 to 0.356 in 2025.
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, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
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. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. 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
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The governance & institutions method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 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)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 37 statistics on this page come from 11 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
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iraq: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iraq/governance