Iraq (Republic of Iraq)

https://www.humantruth.info/iraq.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Iraq Republic of Iraq
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	182nd best
Capital	Baghdad
Land Area	434 320km²₁
Location	Asia, The Middle East
Population	38.4m₂
Life Expectancy	70.38yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$9 977 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	IQ, IRQ, 368₅
Internet Domain	.iq₆
Currency	Dinar (IQD)₇
Telephone	+964₈

1. Overview

#iran #iraq #kuwait #UK

“Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. In January 2009, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“One of the cradles of civilisation, Iraq has, despite its recent troubles and persistent bad press, a wealth of human and cultural riches to reveal. Torn between its glorious past as the cradle of civilisation and the turmoil of its recent bloody history, Iraq is a country of contradictions. It is the birthplace of writing and the legendary home of the Garden of Eden, Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Epic of Gilgamesh. But it is also a place of unimaginable horrors.
Since the 2003 US-led invasion, Iraq has been caught in a cycle of violence. The country has since intermittently hovered on the cusp of a new beginning. Even so, with the exception of Iraqi Kurdistan, much of Iraq remains too dangerous for independent travellers. The future is far from certain, but with its rich history and warm hospitality, Iraq could become one of the great travel destinations of the Middle East, insha´ Allah.
Iraqi Kurdistan´s slogan, `The Other Iraq´, could not be more fitting. This is the Iraq you don´t see in the news. It´s a safe and tranquil oasis with happening cities, soaring mountains and welcoming people.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Iraq National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
118=	Bolivia	0.692
118=	Kyrgyzstan	0.692
120	Venezuela	0.691
121	Iraq	0.686
122	Tajikistan	0.685
123=	Belize	0.683
123=	Morocco	0.683
125	El Salvador	0.675
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
107	Ecuador	$10 312
108	Tunisia	$10 258
109	Fiji	$9 980
110	Iraq	$9 977
111	Jordan	$9 924
112	Lebanon	$9 526
113	Bhutan	$9 438
114	Philippines	$8 920
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	28.1
2	Norway	31.2
3	Switzerland	32.9
	...
179	Solomon Islands	120.2
180	Papua New Guinea	120.8
181	Mozambique	121.3
182	Iraq	121.7
183	Zimbabwe	122.1
184	Comoros	122.1
185	Marshall Islands	122.4
186	Yemen	123.1
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.7
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Iraq's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Iraq's population is predicted to rise to 55.26 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 3.45. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
33	Uganda	42.7m
34	Algeria	42.2m
35	Sudan	41.8m
36	Iraq	38.4m
37	Poland	37.9m
38	Afghanistan	37.2m
39	Canada	37.1m
40	Morocco	36.0m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
111	Jamaica	70.5
112	Belize	70.5
113	Vanuatu	70.4
114	Iraq	70.4
115	Solomon Islands	70.3
116	Suriname	70.3
117	Paraguay	70.3
118	Egypt	70.2
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₅
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₅
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
23	Benin	05.8
24	Burundi	05.9
25=	Liberia	05.9
26	Iraq	06.0
27=	Guinea	06.1
27=	Guinea-Bissau	06.1
27=	Lesotho	06.1
27=	Kenya	06.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₆
Pos.		2017 %₁₆
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
153	Congo, DR	1.1%
154	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.1%
155	Guinea	1.0%
156	Iraq	1.0%
157	Mexico	0.9%
158	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	0.9%
159	Zambia	0.9%
160	Bangladesh	0.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₇
Pos.		2010 %₁₇
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
110	Turkmenistan	5.0%
111	Mozambique	5.0%
112	Senegal	5.0%
113	Iraq	4.9%
114	Denmark	4.7%
115	Yemen	4.7%
116	Hungary	4.6%
117	Colombia	4.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #iraq #iraq_women #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₈
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₈
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
181	Iran	136.5
182	Djibouti	137.2
183	Syria	137.3
184	Iraq	138.0
185	Swaziland	138.1
186	Congo, DR	141.3
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Iraq is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Iraq does worse than average when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₉, eliminating modern slavery₂₀, its average Freedom in the World rating, opposing gender inequality₂₁ (amongst the highest in Asia), supporting press freedom₂₂, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, freethought₂₄ and in LGBT equality₂₅. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₆ and in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₇ (the highest in Asia). The rich dominate the poor - just 1% of the population control 22% of the country's entire income₂₈. Violence against women is rife, and women have few legal protections to shield them from domestic abuse₂₉. Homosexual relations are illegal₂₉. As a result of the death penalty, "Iraq has long had one of the highest rates of executions in the world"₂₉.

Human Rights Watch finds that ISIS have "carried out the most serious human rights abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity"₂₉ and the UN finds the ISIS responsible for genocide₂₉. Iraq forces have conducted widespread 'collective punishments' against families and communities₂₉.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Iraq

5. Iraq's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #iraq #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₀
1	Japan	34.5
2	Singapore	40.8
3	Hong Kong	47.0
	...
42	Tajikistan	116.8
43	Syria	119.3
44	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	120.0
45	Pakistan	123.8
46	Palestine	124.3
47	Laos	125.9
48	Iraq	130.2
49	Yemen	133.5
50	Afghanistan	145.8
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)₃₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₀
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
168	Burundi	127.8
169	Swaziland	128.3
170	Papua New Guinea	129.9
171	Iraq	130.2
172	Comoros	130.6
173	Guinea-Bissau	131.1
174	Gabon	131.1
175	Tanzania	131.2
	World Avg	96.86
q=204.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino₃₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₁.

36 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₁.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Iraq is a pretty unhealthy country. Iraq comes in the best 20 for its alcohol consumption rate₃₂. It does better than average in terms of its smoking rate₃₃. But unfortunately Iraq gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in terms of its average life expectancy₁₁, childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)₃₄, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₅ (the worst in Asia), its adolescent birth rate₃₆, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₇ and in its fertility rate₁₄ (one of the highest in Asia). And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its immunizations take-up₃₈ (one of the lowest in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Iraq improved by +13.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, much better than the global average of +7.9yrs. Iraq's peak fertility rate was 7.1 in 1969.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
111	Jamaica	70.5
112	Belize	70.5
113	Vanuatu	70.4
114	Iraq	70.4
115	Solomon Islands	70.3
116	Suriname	70.3
117	Paraguay	70.3
118	Egypt	70.2
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₂
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
9=	Syria	0.3
9=	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12=	Iraq	0.4
12=	Brunei	0.4
12=	Egypt	0.4
15	Djibouti	0.5
16=	Niger	0.5
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₄
Pos.		2022₁₄
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
161	Uzbekistan	3.31
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		Total %₃₃
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
77	Pakistan	19.0%
78	Thailand	19.2%
79	Japan	19.2%
80	Iraq	19.2%
81	Ireland	19.3%
82	Sri Lanka	19.5%
83	Azerbaijan	19.6%
84	Kuwait	19.9%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
132	Suriname	132
133	Grenada	133
134	Montenegro	134
135	Iraq	135
136	Madagascar	136
137	Congo, (Brazzaville)	137
138	Albania	138
139	Ghana	139
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		1976 %₃₇
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
145	Libya	38.9
146	Macedonia	39.2
147	Saudi Arabia	39.4
148=	Iraq	40.0
148=	Venezuela	40.0
148=	Italy	40.0
151	France	40.4
152=	Argentina	40.4
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 %₃₉
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
170	Libya	36.2%
171	Hungary	36.4%
172	Bahrain	37.2%
173	Iraq	37.4%
174	Barbados	38.2%
175	Romania	38.2%
176	Georgia	38.9%
177	Chile	39.5%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₆
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
137	Solomon Islands	59.4
138	Gambia	60.7
139	S. Africa	60.9
140	Iraq	61.2
141	Ecuador	62.1
142	Kenya	62.6
143	Bolivia	63.1
144	Namibia	63.1
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better₃₈
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₈
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
175	S. Africa	72.5
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
178	Iraq	70.7
179	Afghanistan	70.6
180	Niger	69.7
181	Samoa	68.1
182	Yemen	67.4
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₄
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
125	Dominica	28.88
126	Guatemala	29.19
127	Azerbaijan	29.20
128	Iraq	29.99
129	Micronesia	30.24
130	Syria	30.62
131	Tajikistan	31.41
132	Bhutan	32.24
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195.

6. Iraq's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #iraq #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
35	Kuwait	100.5
36	Azerbaijan	101.2
37	Oman	101.8
38	Iraq	102.8
39	Lebanon	103.9
40	Bahrain	107.9
41	Mongolia	108.1
42	Armenia	108.2
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
153	Azerbaijan	101.2
154	Mauritania	101.2
155	Oman	101.8
156	Iraq	102.8
157	Antigua & Barbuda	103.2
158	Seychelles	103.4
159	Bosnia & Herzegovina	103.5
160	St Lucia	103.6
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₁. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

" Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Iraq is 156th in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Iraq does better than average for reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₃. But that's it. Iraq has problems. It does worse than average in energy to GDP efficiency₄₄, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₅ and in its environmental performance₄₆. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₃
Pos.		Total₄₃
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
73	Slovakia	1.3%
74	Portugal	1.0%
75	Micronesia	0.9%
76	Iraq	0.9%
77	Russia	0.7%
78	French Polynesia	0.6%
79	Germany	0.6%
80	Norway	0.6%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2018₄₆
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
149	Zimbabwe	43.4
150	Cambodia	43.2
151	Solomon Islands	43.2
152	Iraq	43.2
153	Laos	42.9
154	Burkina Faso	42.8
155	Sierra Leone	42.5
156	Gambia	42.4
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₄
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
106	New Zealand	1.22
107	Georgia	1.22
108	Mauritania	1.24
109	Iraq	1.24
110	Australia	1.25
111	Cuba	1.25
112	Thailand	1.26
113	Slovakia	1.26
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

From the 1980s to the 1990s, Iraq starting consuming significantly more energy per GDP per capita, decreasing its energy-to-GDP efficiency more than any other country, by a wide margin. Although, from the 1990s to the 2000s, this situation reversed almost completely, and Iraq was amongst the 10 countries who improved their energy-to-GDP efficiency the most, negating 84% of that initial loss.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
189	Bhutan	35%
190	Palau	34%
191	Angola	33%
192	Iraq	28%
193	San Marino	26%
194	Haiti	25%
195	Andorra	22%
196	Palestine	19%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₅
Pos.		2011 %₄₅
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
109	Nigeria	25.3%
110	Armenia	25.3%
111	Kazakhstan	25.0%
112	Iraq	24.9%
113	Sweden	24.3%
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		2021 kg₄₂
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
32	Syria	17.8
33	Yemen	17.8
34	Algeria	17.9
35	Iraq	18.3
36	Zambia	18.3
37	Indonesia	18.6
38	Pakistan	18.6
39	Senegal	19.3
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Iraq's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #iraq #it_security #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
40	Bangladesh	121.2
41	Bhutan	123.9
42	Laos	124.4
43	Iraq	124.6
44	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	125.5
45	Syria	126.9
46	Myanmar	137.3
47	Cambodia	140.0
48	Yemen	141.2
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
142	Bhutan	123.9
143	Guinea-Bissau	124.4
144	Laos	124.4
145	Iraq	124.6
146	Malawi	125.4
147	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	125.5
148	Vanuatu	125.6
149	Togo	125.8
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₈. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₈. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₉.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₀

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₈, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₈.

For more, see:

"Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Iraq fell by almost a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased. ₅₁

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₂
2	Israel	4.11₅₂
3	Japan	3.58₅₂
	...
119=	Honduras	0.04₅₃
119=	Guatemala	0.04₅₄
119=	Bahrain	0.04₅₅
119=	Colombia	0.04₅₅
123	Iraq	0.03₅₆
124=	El Salvador	0.03₅₄
124=	China	0.03₅₅
126	Lesotho	0.01₅₆
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2018₅₇
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
112	Macedonia	49.8%
113	Indonesia	48.8%
114	Congo, (Brazzaville)	48.8%
115	Iraq	48.0%
116	Paraguay	47.8%
117	Nicaragua	47.5%
118	Maldives	47.1%
119	Bangladesh	46.7%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2021 Years₅₈
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
133	Botswana	12.3
134	Angola	12.2
135	Zimbabwe	12.1
136	Iraq	12.1
137	Ghana	12.0
138	Lesotho	12.0
139	Namibia	11.9
140	Comoros	11.9
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
156	Tanzania	156
157	Equatorial Guinea	157
158	Guyana	158
159	Afghanistan	159
160	Indonesia	160
161	Bolivia	161
162	Iraq	162
163	Angola	163
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better₅₉
Pos.		2018 %₅₉
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
73=	Tunisia	78
74	Bangladesh	80
75=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79	Palestine	86
80=	Uganda	86
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₆₀
Pos.		2006₆₀
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
62=	Mexico	88
63	Brazil	87
64=	Bolivia	87
64=	Iraq	87
64=	Azerbaijan	87
64=	Indonesia	87
64=	Turkmenistan	87
64=	Uzbekistan	87
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2016₆₁
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
165	Namibia	16%
166	Turkmenistan	15%
167	Bangladesh	13%
168	Iraq	13%
169	Kiribati	13%
170	Rwanda	12%
171	Mali	12%
172	Haiti	12%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IT Security Lower is better₆₂
Pos.		2013₆₂
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
73	Angola	1.61
74	Sri Lanka	1.67
75	Oman	1.72
76	Iraq	1.84
77	Bangladesh	1.87
78	Sudan	1.98
79	India	2.10
80	Russia	2.42
	Asia Avg	1.08
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2017 Ratio₆₃
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
141=	Kiribati	0.0
141=	Ivory Coast	0.0
141=	Mauritania	0.0
141=	Iraq	0.0
141=	Oman	0.0
141=	Papua New Guinea	0.0
141=	French Polynesia	0.0
141=	Palestine	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Iraq's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #iraq #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)₆₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₄
1	Singapore	20.2
2	Taiwan	34.9
3	Hong Kong	40.5
	...
41	Laos	96.2
42	Lebanon	97.5
43	Pakistan	99.9
44	Iraq	104.1
45	Myanmar	105.4
46	Cambodia	110.5
47	Syria	111.2
48	Yemen	124.2
49	Afghanistan	140.3
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=49.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)₆₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₄
1	Denmark	12.2
2	Netherlands	14.0
3	Norway	14.1
	...
142	Uganda	102.1
143	Nigeria	102.3
144	Guinea	103.7
145	Iraq	104.1
146	Solomon Islands	104.3
147	Benin	104.4
148	Djibouti	104.9
149	Madagascar	105.1
	World Avg	76.86
q=178.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 28 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty in the 2020s (so far), Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

World Giving Index Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2022 %₆₅
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
77=	Finland	37.0
77=	Hong Kong	37.0
77=	Cameroon	37.0
77=	Iraq	37.0
77=	Croatia	37.0
77=	Moldova	37.0
77=	Israel	37.0
77=	Mauritius	37.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2022 Points₆₆
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
158	Myanmar	23.0
159=	Azerbaijan	23.0
159=	Honduras	23.0
159=	Iraq	23.0
162	Sudan	22.0
163=	Eritrea	22.0
164	Congo, (Brazzaville)	21.0
165=	Guinea-Bissau	21.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

From 2006 to 2008, Iraq became the 3rd-worst country in terms of perceived corruption. Things have improved very slowly; throughout the 2010s it was on average only the 9th-worst.

Happiness Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2024 Score₆₇
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
98	Ivory Coast	5.1
99	Iran	5.1
100	Congo, (Brazzaville)	5.0
101	Iraq	5.0
102	Guinea	4.9
103	Namibia	4.9
104	Cameroon	4.9
105	Nigeria	4.9
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
153	Liberia	153
154	Venezuela	154
155	Yemen	155
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
158	Gabon	158
159	Central African Rep.	159
160	Burundi	160
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
150	Cameroon	150
151	Suriname	151
152	Gabon	152
153	Iraq	153
154	Paraguay	154
155	Grenada	155
156	Venezuela	156
157	Bahrain	157
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2023 Score₆₈
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
151	Ethiopia	2.87
152	Central African Rep.	2.93
153	Mali	2.96
154	Iraq	3.01
155	Sudan	3.02
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
157	Yemen	157
158	Iraq	158
159	Bahrain	159
160	Slovenia	160
161	Tonga	161
162	Marshall Islands	162
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₅
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
112	Libya	112
113	Belize	113
114	Morocco	114
115	Iraq	115
116	Dominica	116
117	Saudi Arabia	117
118	Lesotho	118
119	Oman	119
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₉
Pos.		2019 Score₆₉
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
146	Pakistan	7.89
147	Syria	8.01
148	Nigeria	8.60
149	Iraq	9.24
150	Afghanistan	9.60
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better₇₀
Pos.		Total %₇₀
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
31	Slovakia	0.45%
32	Latvia	0.47%
33	UK	0.50%
34	Iraq	0.55%
35	Austria	0.60%
36	Tunisia	0.65%
37	Lithuania	0.67%
38	Israel	0.73%
	Asia Avg	3.54%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₁
Pos.		2019₇₁
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
114	Fiji	14.90
115=	Trinidad & Tobago	14.90
116	Philippines	15.30
117	Iraq	15.90
118	Micronesia	16.10
119	Tajikistan	16.70
120=	Dominican Rep.	17.00
120=	Sao Tome & Principe	17.00
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₂
Pos.		2023 %₇₂
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₃
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₃
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₄
	...
27=	Kazakhstan	29.2%₇₃
28	Maldives	29.3%₇₅
29	Albania	29.4%₇₄
30	Iraq	29.5%₇₆
31=	Pakistan	29.6%₇₇
31=	Guinea	29.6%₇₇
33	Sweden	29.8%₇₃
34	Nepal	30.0%₇₈
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Iraq - only for 2 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₇₉
Pos.		2018 Severity₇₉
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
37	Syria	.029
38	Tajikistan	.029
39	El Salvador	.032
40	Iraq	.033
41	Suriname	.041
42	Mongolia	.042
43	Peru	.053
44	Gabon	.066
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #iraq #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_iraq #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)₅₉
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₉
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
73=	Tunisia	78
74	Bangladesh	80
75=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79	Palestine	86
80=	Uganda	86
80=	Chad	86
80=	Niger	86
83	Kenya	87
84=	Mozambique	87
85	Congo, DR	88
86=	Nigeria	88
86=	Nicaragua	88
88	Djibouti	89
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₀:

	2010	2020
Muslim	99.2%	99.5%
Christian	0.637%	0.375%
Other	0.128%	0.125%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None
Buddhist	None	None

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 100% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 82% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

"Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (official) 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%. note: while there has been voluntary relocation of many Christian families to northern Iraq, recent reporting indicates that the overall Christian population may have dropped by as much as 50 percent since the fall of the Saddam HUSSEIN regime in 2003, with many fleeing to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon₈₁.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: When it comes to religious freedom and persecution, sociologists Grim & Finke place Iraq into the worst category, along with just 13 other countries. In this category, severe restrictions on religious freedom and freedom of belief stem simultaneously from top-down pressure from government and institutionalized religion, and from bottom-up grassroots movements that often go even further than the government in harassing those who do not believe the right things (2011)₈₂.

Links: