Reported cases of measles in Iraq
Iraq: Reported cases of measles was 32,494 Cases in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
32,494 Cases
Change on year
up 163.5%
World rank
2nd
of 210 countries
All-time high
76,329 Cases
in 1977
All-time low
12 Cases
in 2022
Years of data
48
1974–2024
Reported cases of measles in Iraq, 1974–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Cases.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reported cases of measles in Iraq is 32,494 Cases, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 163.5% on the previous year and up 2,367.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported cases of measles in Iraq peaked at 76,329 Cases in 1977 and was at its lowest, 12 Cases, in 2022.
That places Iraq 2nd out of 210 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported cases of measles in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Cases | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 65,391 Cases | — |
| 1975 | 55,889 Cases | -14.5% |
| 1976 | 37,884 Cases | -32.2% |
| 1977 | 76,329 Cases | +101.5% |
| 1978 | 52,634 Cases | -31.0% |
| 1979 | 73,243 Cases | +39.2% |
| 1980 | 26,542 Cases | -63.8% |
| 1981 | 64,294 Cases | +142.2% |
| 1982 | 31,564 Cases | -50.9% |
| 1983 | 37,903 Cases | +20.1% |
| 1984 | 38,148 Cases | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 22,186 Cases | -41.8% |
| 1986 | 10,122 Cases | -54.4% |
| 1987 | 7,978 Cases | -21.2% |
| 1988 | 9,284 Cases | +16.4% |
| 1989 | 11,617 Cases | +25.1% |
| 1990 | 3,045 Cases | -73.8% |
| 1991 | 11,358 Cases | +273.0% |
| 1992 | 20,106 Cases | +77.0% |
| 1993 | 16,339 Cases | -18.7% |
| 1994 | 10,657 Cases | -34.8% |
| 1995 | 7,650 Cases | -28.2% |
| 1996 | 256 Cases | -96.7% |
| 1997 | 708 Cases | +176.6% |
| 1998 | 43,735 Cases | +6077.3% |
| 1999 | 9,920 Cases | -77.3% |
| 2000 | 726 Cases | -92.7% |
| 2001 | 4,088 Cases | +463.1% |
| 2004 | 9,081 Cases | +122.1% |
| 2005 | 908 Cases | -90.0% |
| 2006 | 474 Cases | -47.8% |
| 2007 | 230 Cases | -51.5% |
| 2008 | 5,494 Cases | +2288.7% |
| 2009 | 30,328 Cases | +452.0% |
| 2010 | 492 Cases | -98.4% |
| 2011 | 15 Cases | -97.0% |
| 2012 | 15 Cases | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 669 Cases | +4360.0% |
| 2014 | 1,317 Cases | +96.9% |
| 2015 | 1,433 Cases | +8.8% |
| 2016 | 37 Cases | -97.4% |
| 2017 | 41 Cases | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 489 Cases | +1092.7% |
| 2019 | 3,799 Cases | +676.9% |
| 2021 | 197 Cases | -94.8% |
| 2022 | 12 Cases | -93.9% |
| 2023 | 12,331 Cases | +102658.3% |
| 2024 | 32,494 Cases | +163.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 32,494 Cases is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.5 Cases, 3420.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 32,494 Cases is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 91 Cases, 357.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reported cases of measles in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +102658.3% | 12 Cases | 12,331 Cases |
| 1998 | +6077.3% | 708 Cases | 43,735 Cases |
| 2013 | +4360.0% | 15 Cases | 669 Cases |
| 2008 | +2288.7% | 230 Cases | 5,494 Cases |
| 2018 | +1092.7% | 41 Cases | 489 Cases |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 60,228 Cases | 37,884 Cases | 76,329 Cases | 6 |
| 1980s | 25,964 Cases | 7,978 Cases | 64,294 Cases | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,377 Cases | 256 Cases | 43,735 Cases | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,416 Cases | 230 Cases | 30,328 Cases | 8 |
| 2010s | 830.7 Cases | 15 Cases | 3,799 Cases | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,258 Cases | 12 Cases | 32,494 Cases | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 1 Democratic Republic of Congo 311,500 Cases compare
- 3 Ethiopia 31,044 Cases compare
- 4 Kazakhstan 28,147 Cases compare
- 5 Romania 25,505 Cases compare
More health data for Iraq
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.4 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 5,830 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.988 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0587 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9818 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0618 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported cases of measles in Iraq?
- Reported cases of measles in Iraq was 32,494 Cases in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported cases of measles recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 76,329 Cases in 1977.
- What is the lowest reported cases of measles recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 12 Cases in 2022.
- How does Iraq rank for reported cases of measles?
- Iraq ranks 2nd out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is reported cases of measles rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,367.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reported cases of measles. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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