Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Iraq

Iraq: Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 was 16.17 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
16.17
World rank
3rd
of 69 countries
All-time high
16.17
in 2021
All-time low
7.96
in 2012
Years of data
6
2007–2021

Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Iraq, 2007–2021

0510152007201420212007: 8.62012: 82014: 10.62016: 10.82017: 132021: 16.2

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2021, unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Iraq stood at 16.17. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 103.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Iraq peaked at 16.17 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.96, in 2012.

Iraq ranks 3rd of 69 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Iraq, 2007 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2007 8.65
2012 7.96 -7.9%
2014 10.59 +33.0%
2016 10.82 +2.2%
2017 13.02 +20.3%
2021 16.17 +24.2%

Iraq compared with similar countries

  • Iraq's 16.17 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.43, 1.9× the median. (17 countries reporting)
  • Iraq's 16.17 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.47, 1.7× the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 8.65 8.65 8.65 1
2010s 10.6 7.96 13.02 4
2020s 16.17 16.17 16.17 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 1 Palestine, State of 28.71 compare
  2. 2 Jordan 16.62 compare
  3. 4 Tunisia 15.11 compare
  4. 5 Syrian Arab Republic 14.9 compare
  5. 6 Yemen 13.47 compare

See the full ranking of 69 places →

More health data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Iraq?
Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 in Iraq was 16.17 in 2021, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 16.17 in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 7.96 in 2012.
How does Iraq rank for unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2?
Iraq ranks 3rd out of 69 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - sdg 8.5.2 rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is up 103.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2 in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-national-estimate-percent-of-total-labor-force-sdg-8-5-2/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, national estimate (% of total labor force) - SDG 8.5.2
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
69 places, 2,350 data points, 1969–2025
Last refreshed