Photo: Diyar Muhammed · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iraq: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Iraq is placed 168th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 35.1 (2025); Labour Income Share 41.38 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
168th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iraq on work & labour — 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.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
35.1
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Iraq: 35.1. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Western Asia
- 86.9 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iran 37.56 · Jordan 33.43 · Kuwait 71.77 · Saudi Arabia 63.12 · Syria 31.89 · Türkiye 49.75
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
15.48
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Iraq: 15.48. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.13 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iran 8.301 · Jordan 16.54 · Kuwait 2.181 · Saudi Arabia 3.038 · Syria 13.57 · Türkiye 8.52
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
27.14
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Iraq: 27.14. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.456 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iran 39.52 · Jordan 7.857 · Kuwait 2.403 · Saudi Arabia 1.662 · Syria 38.86 · Türkiye 23.91
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.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq fell from 38.71 in 2000 to 35.1 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 35.10 57.720 2024 35.20 57.694 2023 35.29 58.158 2022 35.09 57.688 2021 33.25 56.066 2020 33.95 55.691 2019 34.81 57.871 2018 35.69 56.911 2017 36.44 56.738 2016 38.48 56.845 2015 38.36 56.788 2014 38.38 56.774 2013 38.09 56.229 2012 37.72 56.289 2011 37.76 56.297 2010 37.87 56.212 2009 37.94 56.255 2008 38.05 57.308 2007 38.11 56.933 2006 38.26 56.685 2005 38.24 56.129 2004 38.23 55.465 2003 38.18 55.630 2002 38.37 55.843 2001 38.57 56.018 2000 38.71 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 28.33 in 2004 to 41.38 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 41.38 46.230 2024 41.43 46.060 2023 41.34 45.900 2022 30.86 45.615 2021 38.69 45.433 2020 48.94 47.267 2019 39.30 46.277 2018 36.32 46.187 2017 41.37 46.467 2016 45.74 46.798 2015 46.70 46.876 2014 40.81 47.281 2013 36.66 46.887 2012 35.00 46.231 2011 32.12 45.679 2010 39.44 46.024 2009 41.75 47.071 2008 35.05 45.312 2007 30.36 45.246 2006 27.52 45.670 2005 27.00 46.265 2004 28.33 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq rose from 8.038 in 2000 to 15.48 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 15.485 5.08 2024 15.293 5.15 2023 15.239 5.21 2022 15.410 5.34 2021 16.173 6.04 2020 15.766 6.38 2019 14.096 5.36 2018 13.458 5.35 2017 13.020 5.59 2016 10.820 5.90 2015 10.865 6.41 2014 10.590 6.58 2013 9.222 6.71 2012 7.965 6.79 2011 8.193 6.90 2010 8.267 7.04 2009 8.415 6.67 2008 8.466 5.79 2007 8.646 6.00 2006 8.411 6.50 2005 8.570 7.09 2004 8.715 6.80 2003 8.959 6.95 2002 8.619 6.91 2001 8.249 6.96 2000 8.038 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
IraqWorld median
Iraq fell from 33.94 in 2000 to 27.14 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Iraq World median 2025 27.141 28.67 2024 27.072 29.04 2023 27.073 29.33 2022 27.018 29.67 2021 26.983 30.01 2020 27.181 30.54 2019 27.126 29.98 2018 26.567 30.15 2017 26.624 29.93 2016 27.465 29.91 2015 28.198 30.26 2014 28.555 30.47 2013 27.830 31.14 2012 28.866 31.00 2011 29.923 31.41 2010 30.913 32.37 2009 31.873 32.59 2008 32.803 31.76 2007 33.724 33.47 2006 33.790 34.27 2005 33.785 34.66 2004 33.686 35.51 2003 33.548 35.90 2002 33.483 35.96 2001 33.563 35.27 2000 33.944 35.67
03In context
Iraq beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Iraq and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kuwait | 12th | 71.77 | 37.74 | 2.181 | 2.403 |
 Saudi Arabia | 45th | 63.12 | 30.23 | 3.038 | 1.662 |
 Jordan | 144th | 33.43 | 45.9 | 16.54 | 7.857 |
 Türkiye | 151st | 49.75 | 41.13 | 8.52 | 23.91 |
| Iraq | 168th | 35.1 | 41.38 | 15.48 | 27.14 |
 Iran | 175th | 37.56 | 34.95 | 8.301 | 39.52 |
 Syria | 179th | 31.89 | 34.24 | 13.57 | 38.86 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Iraq in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iraq is ahead of the world, and behind
22 more statistics filed under work & labour, 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 median4
Statistics on which Iraq does better than the middle country measured.
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.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1635.7322.16No real change since 2015
Iraq: 35.73 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 59th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,74212,3756,742▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 12,375 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 57th of 151 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38454,29147,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: 54,291 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 168 · derived.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Iraq does worse than the middle country measured.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.944.645.9No earlier reading
Iraq: 44.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8143.9641.81No earlier reading
Iraq: 43.96 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23011,66025,230▲ Improved since 2010
Iraq: 11,660 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 105th of 151 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0716.7632.07No earlier reading
Iraq: 16.76 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8332.0112.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Iraq: 32.01 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 18th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6641.5361.66No real change since 2015
Iraq: 41.53 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 170th of 182 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.616.851.61No real change since 2015
Iraq: 6.85 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3610.9453.36No real change since 2015
Iraq: 10.94 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 180th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.161.62919.16No earlier reading
Iraq: 1.629 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 178th of 179 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▲ Improved since 2015
Iraq: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Iraq: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8826.5418.88No real change since 2015
Iraq: 26.54 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 30th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5165.359.51Moved since 2015
Iraq: 65.3 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 77th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8431.6631.84Moved since 2015
Iraq: 31.66 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 92nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95626.09657.95Moved since 2014
Iraq: 626.09 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.388.16914.38No real change since 2015
Iraq: 8.169 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 114th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8930.3238.89Moved since 2015
Iraq: 30.32 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 171st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Iraq
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2021), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2021), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2021), Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2021). 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
Work & Labour among Iraq’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Iraq’s 11th 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 work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Iraq can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Qatar=8th4/4 keysThis page
Iraq168th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 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 work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Iraq on work & labour: 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 work & labour?
Iraq is placed 168th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Iraq?
35.1 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Iraq?
41.38 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Iraq compare with Iran on work & labour?
Iran is placed 175th of 182, and Iraq 168th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Iran 37.56, Iraq 35.1; Labour Income Share: Iran 34.95, Iraq 41.38; Unemployment Rate: Iran 8.301, Iraq 15.48; Vulnerable Employment: Iran 39.52, Iraq 27.14.
How have Iraq’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 38.71 in 2000 to 35.1 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 28.33 in 2004 to 41.38 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 8.038 in 2000 to 15.48 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 33.94 in 2000 to 27.14 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Iraq?
No current reading is published for Iraq on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. 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
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour 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 work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 22 statistics on this page come from 2 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
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iraq: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iraq/work