Photo: Diyar Muhammed · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iraq: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Iraq is placed 40th of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 29.77 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.07 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
40th
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iraq on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Iraq’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
29.77
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Iraq: 29.77. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Western Asia
- 26.37 Syria
- Land neighbours
- Iran 35.88 · Syria 26.37 · Türkiye 43.68
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Iraq’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.07
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Iraq: 0.07. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Western Asia
- 0 United Arab Emirates and Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iran 0.49 · Syria 4.09 · Türkiye 0.04
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
28
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Iraq: 28. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.7 Azerbaijan
- Land neighbours
- Iran 37.4 · Jordan 2.2 · Syria 61.1 · Türkiye 4
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.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 28.6 in 2006 to 29.77 in 2023; the world median went from 35.63 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2023 29.8 33.72 2022 — 33.91 2021 — 34.04 2020 — 34.18 2019 — 33.51 2018 — 35.25 2017 — 34.86 2016 — 34.47 2015 — 35.52 2014 — 34.79 2013 — 36.16 2012 29.5 35.40 2011 — 33.96 2010 — 33.71 2009 — 34.91 2008 — 34.60 2007 — 34.26 2006 28.6 35.63 2005 — 36.28 2004 — 34.29 2003 — 35.46 2002 — 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 0.05 in 2006 to 0.07 in 2023; the world median went from 0.465 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2023 0.07 0.345 2022 — 0.420 2021 — 0.335 2020 — 0.280 2019 — 0.380 2018 — 0.460 2017 — 0.300 2016 — 0.440 2015 — 0.500 2014 — 0.635 2013 — 0.515 2012 0.07 0.640 2011 — 0.430 2010 — 0.530 2009 — 0.600 2008 — 0.350 2007 — 0.360 2006 0.05 0.465 2005 — 1.250 2004 — 0.790 2003 — 1.650 2002 — 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 23.4 in 2017 to 28 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 28.0 26.40 2024 27.1 27.10 2023 25.4 27.15 2022 24.5 27.90 2021 27.0 29.65 2020 27.3 31.80 2019 21.0 29.05 2018 22.9 29.85 2017 23.4 32.40
03In context
Iraq beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Iraq and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | 40th | 29.77 | 0.07 | 28 |
 Türkiye | 57th | 43.68 | 0.04 | 4 |
 Iran | =82nd | 35.88 | 0.49 | 37.4 |
 Syria | 84th | 26.37 | 4.09 | 61.1 |
 Jordan | not placed | — | — | 2.2 |
 Kuwait | not placed | — | — | — |
 Saudi Arabia | not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Iraq in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iraq is ahead of the world, and behind
27 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, 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 median10
Statistics on which Iraq does better than the middle country measured.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.020.185▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 0.02 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.14.885▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: 0.1 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.128.867.12▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 8.86 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 14th of 60 · derived.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.1011.332▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 1.101 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 44th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1824.2126.18▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 24.21 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.10.592.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Iraq: 0.59 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.215.3717.2▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 15.37 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 37th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2614.3521.26No earlier reading
Iraq: 14.35 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 69th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.930.550.93▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 0.55 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 36th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0330.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Iraq: 0.033 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 57th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Iraq does worse than the middle country measured.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2525.7984.252No earlier reading
Iraq: 5.798 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 71st of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.342.361.34▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 2.36 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 27th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4720.446No earlier reading
Iraq: 0.472 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 65th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.3170.529No earlier reading
Iraq: 0.317 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.5340.609No real change since 2013
Iraq: 0.534 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 106th of 169 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0522.8417.05No real change since 2013
Iraq: 22.84 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7542.8471.754▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 2.847 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 21st of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,8006,46912,800No real change since 2017
Iraq: 6,469 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 118th of 173 · derived.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.8227.987.82▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 27.98 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 19th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7610.8922.76▼ Worsened since 2006
Iraq: 10.89 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 45th of 60 · derived.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.659.52518.65No earlier reading
Iraq: 9.525 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.320.25▲ Improved since 2014
Iraq: 0.32 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.7920.413▲ Improved since 2013
Iraq: 0.792 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 333333▼ Worsened since 2013
Iraq: 33 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 40th of 79 · 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.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.884.55No real change since 2017
Iraq: 4.88 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.817.521.8No earlier reading
Iraq: 17.5 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.883.7036.88No earlier reading
Iraq: 3.703 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
No current reading for Iraq
Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Income Growth of the Poorest 40% (last 2017), Low Pay Rate and Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity. 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
Poverty & Inequality among Iraq’s 15 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Iraq’s 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 poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Iraq can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
United Arab Emirates=3rd3/3 keysThis page
Iraq40th3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 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.
07Questions
Iraq on poverty & inequality: 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 poverty & inequality?
Iraq is placed 40th of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Iraq?
29.77 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Iraq?
0.07 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Iraq compare with Iran on poverty & inequality?
Iran is placed joint 82nd of 159, and Iraq 40th. Gini Index: Iran 35.88, Iraq 29.77; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Iran 0.49, Iraq 0.07; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Iran 37.4, Iraq 28.
How have Iraq’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index rose from 28.6 in 2006 to 29.77 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day rose from 0.05 in 2006 to 0.07 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet rose from 23.4 in 2017 to 28 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Iraq?
No current reading is published for Iraq on Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Income Growth of the Poorest 40%, Low Pay Rate and Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 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 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 27 statistics on this page come from 9 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
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iraq: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iraq/poverty