Skip to content
Nations Inquiry — home
View of Sulaymaniyah (Slemani) City in Winter Snow

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).

Work & Labour

168th

of 182 countries placed

Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics156th of 178 →

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.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 4

    Employment-to-Population Ratio

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

    Why it is a key: How much of the working-age population is actually in work — the half of the picture unemployment hides, because people who stop looking stop being counted.

    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

    Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.

  2. Key 2 of 4

    Labour Income Share

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

    Why it is a key: How much of national income reaches workers rather than owners of capital.

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0

    41.38

    Labour income share of GDP (%)

    Higher is better

    Iraq: 41.38. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9.691 (Venezuela) to 75.13 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.23.

    World median
    46.23
    Best in Western Asia
    51.8 Georgia
    Land neighbours
    Iran 34.95 · Jordan 45.9 · Kuwait 37.74 · Saudi Arabia 30.23 · Syria 34.24 · Türkiye 41.13

    Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.

  3. Key 3 of 4

    Unemployment Rate

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

    Why it is a key: The share of people looking for work who cannot find it.

    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

    Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.

  4. Key 4 of 4

    Vulnerable Employment

    International Labour Organization (ILO)

    Why it is a key: How much work is own-account or unpaid family labour, carrying no contract and no protection.

    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

    Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.

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.

Western Asia
1st182ndNot placed · 42 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on work & labour

Iraq and the countries it borders

The standing is each country’s place among all 182 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.

CountryStandingEmployment-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)
Kuwait12th71.7737.742.1812.403
Saudi Arabia45th63.1230.233.0381.662
Jordan144th33.4345.916.547.857
Türkiye151st49.7541.138.5223.91
Iraq168th35.141.3815.4827.14
Iran175th37.5634.958.30139.52
Syria179th31.8934.2413.5738.86

“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.

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

12 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.

Every country

Ahead of the world median3

Statistics on which Iraq does better than the middle country measured.

  • Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.1▼ 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.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1635.73No 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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38454,291▼ 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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

Behind the world median4

Statistics on which Iraq does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8332.01▼ 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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6641.53No 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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3610.94No 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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.161.629No 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 here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No better end5

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 18.8826.54No 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 here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5165.3Moved 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 here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8431.66Moved 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 here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.388.169No 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 here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8930.32Moved 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 here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

No current reading for Iraq

Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2021), Informal Employment Rate, Public Sector Employment, 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.

05Country Index 2026

Work & Labour among Iraq’s 16 topics

Work & Labour is Iraq’s 12th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.

On the profile
  1. Poverty & Inequality23rd of 159
  2. Health & Wellbeing114th of 200
  3. Development & Human Capital117th of 196
  4. Education & Knowledge117th of 171
  5. Digital & Technology137th of 198
  6. Mobility & Trade103rd of 147
  7. Environment & Sustainability137th of 181
  8. Democracy & Civil Liberties163rd of 198
  9. Food & Agriculture145th of 175
  10. Risk & Resilience162nd of 192
  11. Governance & Institutions164th of 194
  12. Work & Labour168th of 182
  13. Economy & Innovation164th of 176
  14. Energy180th of 193
  15. Peace & Security167th of 177
  16. Gender & Equality174th of 183

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.

All 182 countries
  1. 1

    Iceland

    Northern Europe

    1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Japan

    Eastern Asia

    2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    South Korea

    Eastern Asia

    3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Asia

    Japan2nd4/4 keys

  2. Highest in Western Asia

    Qatar=8th4/4 keys

  3. This 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

All charts

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 Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Informal Employment Rate, Public Sector Employment, 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.

09Keep reading

Explore further

Work & Labour

Iraq, topic by topic

10Method

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.

About work & labour, in full

How the Work & Labour 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.

  1. A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 18 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.
  2. Each key is read at one edition. All of them describe 2025.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 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. 182 countries clear the bar here.
  7. 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 4.
  8. 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

The other 12 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.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Iraq: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iraq/work

Feedback

Feedback

How are we doing?

Two answers are required — a rating and your email. The rest is up to you.