Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iraq
Iraq: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 13.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iraq, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Iraq recorded 13.3% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 54.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iraq peaked at 14.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 2012.
Iraq ranks 17th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.8% | — |
| 1992 | 8.5% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 8.5% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 8.4% | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 8.7% | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 8.4% | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 8.1% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 8.2% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 8.4% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 8.8% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 8.8% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 8.9% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 8.5% | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 8.2% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 7.2% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 7.8% | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 8.4% | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 10.2% | +20.5% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 11.6% | +7.5% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +17.2% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 13.1% | -7.6% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 13.1% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 13.3% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.5% | 8.1% | 8.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 8.2% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.9% | 7.2% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 13.0% | 14.2% | 6 |
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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iraq?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iraq was 13.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 2012.
- How does Iraq rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Iraq ranks 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.