School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in Iraq
Iraq: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) was 9.46 years in 2004. ▲ Rising
Latest (2004)
9.46 years
World rank
159th
of 186 countries
All-time high
10.53 years
in 1980
All-time low
6.43 years
in 1971
Years of data
22
1971–2004
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Iraq, 1971–2004
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2004, school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Iraq stood at 9.46 years.
The figure is down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Iraq peaked at 10.53 years in 1980 and was at its lowest, 6.43 years, in 1971.
Iraq ranks 159th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 6.43 years | — |
| 1972 | 6.57 years | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 6.82 years | +3.9% |
| 1974 | 7.04 years | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 7.6 years | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 8.21 years | +8.1% |
| 1977 | 8.72 years | +6.2% |
| 1978 | 9.04 years | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 10.1 years | +11.8% |
| 1980 | 10.53 years | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 10.28 years | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 10.07 years | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 9.59 years | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 9.35 years | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 9.63 years | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 9.73 years | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 9.75 years | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 9.72 years | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 9.65 years | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 8.28 years | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 8.33 years | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 9.46 years | +13.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 9.46 years is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 14.13 years, 67% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 9.46 years is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 13.3 years, 71% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.84 years | 6.43 years | 10.1 years | 9 |
| 1980s | 9.83 years | 9.35 years | 10.53 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.28 years | 8.28 years | 8.28 years | 1 |
| 2000s | 8.89 years | 8.33 years | 9.46 years | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More education data for Iraq
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 148,363 (2007)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 818,729 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 55,944 (2007)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 52,985 (2007)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.04 million (2007)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2007)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.26 % change on previous year (2004)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2007)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1713 units per person (2007)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Iraq?
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Iraq was 9.46 years in 2004, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 10.53 years in 1980.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.43 years in 1971.
- How does Iraq rank for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- Iraq ranks 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2004.
- Is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release