Full History Of Iraq In Timeline From 1917

5 hours ago : Grief and remembrance after American airman dies in Iraq and war impact felt

An American airman's death in an Iraq plane crash deeply affected his family. The father shares his grief, highlighting the enduring cost and impact of the U.S. war with Iran on grieving families.

1917: Occupation of Baghdad

In 1917, during the First World War, the British Mesopotamian campaign led to the occupation of Baghdad.

1920: Kingdom of Syria Declared

In 1920, Hussein's son, Faisal, briefly declared the Kingdom of Syria, encompassing parts of what are now Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria.

1920: Dissolution of Ottoman Iraq

In 1920, Ottoman Iraq was formally dissolved with the establishment of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia.

August 1921: Hashemite King

On August 23, 1921, the British established the Hashemite king, Faisal I, of Iraq, and the official English name of the country changed from Mesopotamia to Iraq.

1921: Cairo Conference and Faisal's Kingship

In 1921, the Cairo Conference decided that Faisal, now exiled in London, would become the king of Iraq.

1930: Treaty with Britain

In 1930, Iraq signed a treaty with Britain that gave the country a measure of political independence while maintaining British control over key aspects, including military presence and oil rights.

1932: Formal Independence

By 1932, Iraq gained formal independence, becoming a member of the League of Nations.

September 1933: Death of King Faisal

On September 8, 1933, King Faisal died from a heart attack, leaving his son Ghazi to inherit the throne.

1936: Establishment of Iraq Radio

In 1936, Iraq Radio was established with an ensemble consisting almost entirely of Jewish musicians.

1939: Death of King Ghazi

In 1939, King Ghazi died in a motor accident, passing the throne to his young son, Faisal II.

April 1941: Coup d'état

On April 1, 1941, Rashid Ali al-Gaylani and members of the Golden Square staged a coup d'état and installed a pro-German and pro-Italian government.

1947: Christian Population in Iraq

In 1947, Christians in Iraq numbered 550,000 or 12% of the population of 4.6 millions.

1948: Foundation of the Iraq Football Association

In 1948, the Iraq Football Association was founded as the governing body of football in Iraq.

1948: Jewish Population in Iraq

In 1948, the Jewish population in Iraq was estimated at 200,000. Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, Jews emigrated due to persecution.

1950: FIFA Membership

In 1950, the Iraq Football Association became a member of FIFA.

1952: Egyptian Revolution

In 1952, the Egyptian Revolution occurred, influencing the revolutionary wave sweeping across the Arab world.

1953: Regency of King Faisal II began

In 1953, Regency of King Faisal II began.

1958: 14 July Revolution

In 1958, Brigadier General and nationalist Abd al-Karim Qasim led a coup d'état known as the 14 July Revolution.

1958: Military Coup

In 1958, a military coup led by Abdul Karim Qasim overthrew the monarchy and established a republic in Iraq.

1958: Tensions culminating in a Military Coup

In 1958, tensions culminated in a military coup, inspired by the revolutionary wave sweeping across the Arab world, particularly the 1952 Egyptian revolution.

1959: Uprising in Mosul

In 1959, Abd al-Wahab al-Shawaf led an uprising in Mosul against Qasim, which was crushed by the government forces.

1959: Personal Status Law

Law no. 188 of the year 1959 (Personal Status Law) made polygamy extremely difficult, granted child custody to the mother in case of divorce, prohibited repudiation and marriage under the age of 16.

1961: Claim over Kuwait

In 1961, Qasim claimed Kuwait as part of Iraq, when the former was granted independence.

February 1963: Ba'ath Party Coup

In February 1963, Abd al-Karim Qasim was overthrown by the Ba'ath Party in a coup.

1966: Succession of Abdul Rahman Arif

After Abdul Salam Arif's death in 1966, he was succeeded by his brother, Abdul Rahman Arif.

1967: Problematic census data

Figures from the 1967 census are considered highly problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation.

1967: Participation in Six-Day War

In 1967, Iraq participated in the Six-Day War under the rule of Abdul Rahman Arif.

1968: Ba'ath Party to Power

In 1968, The 17 July Revolution overthrew Arif and brought the Iraqi Ba'ath Party to power.

1970: End of First Iraqi–Kurdish War

In 1970, the first Iraqi–Kurdish war ended, and a peace treaty was signed between Saddam and Barzani, granting autonomy to Kurds.

1971: Asian Football Confederation Membership

In 1971, the Iraq Football Association became a member of the Asian Football Confederation.

1972: Oil was nationalised

In 1972, oil was nationalised in Iraq and its revenue was spent on government development projects.

1973: Participation in Yom Kippur War

In 1973, Iraq participated in the Yom Kippur War against Israel, alongside Syria and Egypt.

1974: Second Iraqi-Kurdish War

In 1974, the second Iraqi–Kurdish war began, and border clashes with Iran took place on Shatt al-Arab.

1975: Algiers Agreement

In 1975, the Algiers Agreement signed by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Saddam resolved the dispute and Iran withdrew support for the Kurds, resulting in their defeat in the war.

1977: Shia Muslim Uprising

An attempt to ban an annual pilgrimage to Karbala in 1977 caused an uprising by Shia Muslims across Iraq.

1977: Problematic census data

Figures from the 1977 census are considered highly problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation.

July 1979: Saddam Becomes President

On July 16, 1979, Saddam acceded to the presidency and chairmanship of the Revolutionary Command Council.

1979: Saddam Hussein rose to power

In 1979, Saddam Hussein rose to power in Iraq. By March 2014, Iraq's oil output reached levels not seen since 1979.

September 1980: Declaration of War on Iran

In September 1980, Saddam declared war on Iran, initiating the Iran–Iraq War.

1980: Shia Uprising

In 1979-1980, another Shia uprising took place as a follow-up to the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

1980: War Against Iran

In 1980, Iraq, under Saddam Hussein's leadership, initiated a war against Iran that would last until 1988.

1981: Destruction of Nuclear Reactor

In 1981, Israel destroyed a nuclear reactor of Iraq.

1983: Kurdish Rebellion

Between 1983 and 1986, Kurds led a rebellion against the regime.

1986: Kurdish Rebellion

Between 1983 and 1986, Kurds led a rebellion against the regime.

1986: FIFA World Cup Participation

In 1986, Iraq participated in the FIFA World Cup.

1987: CIA World Factbook Population Estimate

According to a 1987 Iraqi government estimate cited in the CIA World Factbook, the population of Iraq consisted of 75-80% Arabs and 15-20% Kurds, with other minorities making up 5%.

1987: Christian Population in Iraq

In 1987, Christians in Iraq numbered over 1.4 million, representing 8% of the estimated population of 16.3 million.

1988: End of Iran-Iraq War

In 1988, the Iran-Iraq War ended in stalemate, after killing between half a million and 1.5 million people.

August 1990: Invasion of Kuwait

On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi forces invaded and annexed Kuwait as its 19th governorate, starting the Gulf War.

1990: Advanced Education System

Before 1990, Iraq already had an advanced and successful education system.

1990: Invasion of Kuwait

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait under the leadership of Saddam Hussein.

1990: Sanctions imposed against Iraq after invasion of Kuwait

In 1990, sanctions were imposed against Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait, crippling the country's oil sector.

1990: UN Compensation Commission was created

In 1990, the UN Compensation Commission was created to ensure restitution for Kuwait following the invasion.

1990: Access to Free Primary Health Care

Prior to 1990, a UNICEF/WHO report noted that 97% of urban dwellers and 71% of the rural population in Iraq had access to free primary health care.

1991: Construction of palaces and monuments after the Gulf War

A majority of Saddam Hussein's palaces and monuments were built after the 1991 Gulf War, during the United Nations sanctions.

1991: Uprisings after the Gulf War

After the end of the Gulf War in 1991, Iraqi Kurds and Shi'ite Muslims led several uprisings against Saddam's regime, but these were repressed.

January 1992: Republic of Iraq

Since January 1992, the official name of the state is "Republic of Iraq".

1994: Iraqi Kurdish Civil War

Iraq was affected by the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War from 1994 to 1997.

1995: Introduction of Sharia Punishment

In 1995 Iraq introduced Sharia punishment for certain types of criminal offences.

1996: Sanctions prohibited Iraq from exporting oil

Sanctions imposed after the invasion of Kuwait prohibited Iraq from exporting oil until 1996.

1996: Peak Life Expectancy

The life expectancy in Iraq peaked at 71.31 years in 1996.

1997: Problematic census data

Figures from the 1997 census are considered highly problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation.

1997: End of Iraqi Kurdish Civil War

Iraq was affected by the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War from 1994 to 1997.

2000: Enrollment Numbers Increase

From 2000 to 2012, enrollment numbers nearly doubled in Iraq, reaching six million students.

September 2001: Planning the overthrow of Saddam

After the 11 September 2001 attacks, George W. Bush began planning the overthrow of Saddam.

2001: Conflict with Ansar al-Islam

Between 2001 and 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam engaged in conflict, which would merge with the upcoming war.

November 2002: UN Security Council Resolution 1441

In November 2002, the UN Security Council passed resolution 1441.

March 2003: US-led Coalition Invades Iraq

On 20 March 2003, the US-led coalition invaded Iraq, as part of global war on terror.

July 2003: UNICEF/WHO Report on Healthcare System

In July 2003, a joint UNICEF and WHO report highlighted that Iraq had a centralised free healthcare system dependent on large-scale imports of medicines and medical equipment.

2003: Increased Fear Among the Jewish Community

After 2003, fear among the Jewish community in Iraq increased, leading to a further decline in their numbers.

2003: Coalition Provisional Authority began privatising the Iraqi economy

After 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority quickly began issuing many binding orders privatising the Iraqi economy and opening it up to foreign investment.

2003: Increased Violence Against Christians

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, violence against Christians increased, leading to displacement due to ethnic and religious persecution.

2003: Rebuilding Iraqi Armed Forces

After the US invasion of Iraq, the current Iraqi armed forces were rebuilt starting in 2003, with large amounts of American military aid at all levels.

2003: Advanced Education System

Before 2003, Iraq already had an advanced and successful education system.

2003: Conflict with Ansar al-Islam

Between 2001 and 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam engaged in conflict, which would merge with the upcoming war.

2003: Looting of the National Theatre of Iraq

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the National Theatre of Iraq was looted, and efforts are underway to restore it.

2003: Iraqi Diaspora After Invasion

Following the 2003 multinational invasion of Iraq, the UN High Commission for Refugees estimated that nearly two million Iraqis fled the country.

2003: Growth in broadcast media

Following the end of full state control in 2003, Iraq experienced significant growth in broadcast media. A BBC report noted the presence of multiple radio and television stations, and newspapers owned and operated by Iraqis.

2003: US invasion of Iraq stages

In 2003, Iraqi media expert Ibrahim Al Marashi identifies four stages of the US invasion of Iraq that had significant effects on Iraqi media: pre-invasion preparation, the war and the actual choice of targets, the first post-war period, and a growing insurgency and hand over power to the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

2003: U.S.-Led Invasion

In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition invaded and occupied Iraq, leading to the overthrow of the government.

2003: Armenians Flee Baghdad

In 2003, the historic Assyrian Quarter in Baghdad housed 150,000 Armenians. However, most of them fled following the escalation of war.

2003: Sanctions were lifted after the US-led invasion

In 2003, the sanctions against Iraq were lifted after the US-led invasion removed Saddam Hussein from power.

2003: Numbers of ethno-religious minorities

Prior to 2003 their numbers together may have been 2 million, the majority Yarsan, a non-Islamic religion with roots in pre-Islamic and pre-Christian religion.

2003: Arabic Was Sole Official Language

Prior to the invasion in 2003, Arabic was the sole official language in Iraq.

2003: Restoration of Flow to Mesopotamian Marshes

Since 2003 flow is restored to the Mesopotamian Marshes and the ecosystem has begun to recover.

2003: Economic boom in Najaf and Karbala due to religious tourism

Since 2003, Najaf and Karbala have experienced an economic boom due to religious tourism.

November 2004: Paris Club agreed to write off 80% of Iraq's debt

On November 20, 2004, the Paris Club of creditor countries agreed to write off 80% ($33 billion) of Iraq's $42 billion debt to Club members.

2004: Bremer's Veto Threat on Sharia Law

In 2004, the CPA chief executive L. Paul Bremer said he would veto any constitutional draft stating that sharia is the principal basis of law.

September 2005: Establishment of Joint Staff College

The Joint Staff College was established at Ar Rustamiyah on 27 September 2005.

October 2005: Approval of the New Constitution

In October 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was approved in a referendum with a 78% overall majority.

December 2005: Fresh Nationwide Parliamentary Elections

On 15 December 2005, Iraq conducted fresh nationwide parliamentary elections under the terms of the new constitution.

2005: US Relents on Sharia Role in Constitution

By 2005 the US had relented, allowing a role for sharia in the constitution to help end a stalemate on the draft constitution.

2005: Iraq elected its first Kurdish president, Jalal Talabani

In 2005, Iraq elected Jalal Talabani, its first Kurdish president.

2005: New Constitution Recognizes Arabic and Kurdish as Official Languages

In 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq recognized both Arabic and Kurdish as official languages.

2005: Constitution Reaffirmed

In 2005, the official name of the state, "Republic of Iraq", was reaffirmed in the constitution.

2005: Flourishing Iran-Iraq relations

Since 2005, Iran-Iraq relations have improved, characterized by numerous high-level visits between the two countries.

2005: Turkmen/Turkoman Switch to Turkish Alphabet

Since 2005, the Turkmen/Turkoman population in Iraq switched from using the Arabic script to the Turkish alphabet for their language.

2006: Shia-Sunni Civil War

The Shia–Sunni civil war in Iraq took place from 2006 to 2008.

May 2007: US Study estimates oil siphoning

According to a US study from May 2007, between 100,000 and 300,000 barrels per day of Iraq's declared oil production over the past four years could have been siphoned off through corruption or smuggling.

October 2007: Refugees Return to Iraq

In October 2007, the Iraqi government claimed that 46,000 refugees returned to their homes as security improved.

2007: Iraq wins AFC Asian Cup

In 2007, Iraq won the AFC Asian Cup.

2007: Iraq oil law has failed to gain approval

In 2007, the Iraq oil law, a proposed piece of legislation submitted to the Council of Representatives of Iraq, has failed to gain approval due to disagreements among Iraq's various political blocs.

November 2008: US and Iraq agreed to a Status of Forces Agreement

In November 2008, the United States and Iraq came to an agreement on a Status of Forces Agreement, forming part of a wider Strategic Framework Agreement.

2008: Al Jazeera reported $13 billion of Iraqi oil revenues in American care was improperly accounted for

In 2008, Al Jazeera reported that $13 billion of Iraqi oil revenues in American care was improperly accounted for, of which $2.6 billion is totally unaccounted for.

2008: Physicians and Nurses per Capita

In 2008, Iraq had 6.96 physicians and 13.92 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants.

2008: End of Shia-Sunni Civil War

The Shia–Sunni civil war in Iraq took place from 2006 to 2008.

February 2009: Iraq Joins Chemical Weapons Convention

On 12 February 2009, Iraq officially became the 186th State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

October 2009: Jim Cramer's endorsement of the Iraqi dinar

On October 20, 2009, Jim Cramer's endorsement of the Iraqi dinar on CNBC increased investment interest in the currency.

December 2009: Conflict with Iran over oil well

In December 2009, a conflict arose when Iraq accused Iran of seizing an oil well located on their shared border.

December 2009: Ministry of Oil awarded service contracts to international oil companies

On December 30, 2009, the Ministry of Oil awarded service contracts to international oil companies for some of Iraq's oil fields, including Majnoon oil field, Halfaya Field, West Qurna Field and Rumaila Field.

2009: FIFA Confederations Cup Participation

In 2009, Iraq participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

2009: Iraq Britain Business Council formed

In 2009, the Iraq Britain Business Council was formed.

2010: Electricity shortages led to protests

As of 2010, despite improved security and oil revenue, Iraq still generated about half the electricity that customers demanded, leading to protests during the hot summer months.

2010: Healthcare Spending and Life Expectancy

In 2010, healthcare spending accounted for 6.84% of Iraq's GDP, and the life expectancy at birth was 68.49 years.

2010: Population Rise

In 2010, the human population rose tenfold between 1890 and 2010 and continues to rise.

February 2011: Navy Personnel

As of February 2011, the Iraqi Navy had approximately 5,000 sailors, including 800 marines.

May 2011: Refugee-status citizenship

As of 25 May 2011, 58,811 Iraqis had been granted refugee-status citizenship according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services statistics.

October 2011: Turkish parliament renewed a law

In October 2011, the Turkish parliament renewed a law allowing Turkish forces to pursue rebels across the border into Iraq.

2011: Withdrawal of US Troops

Following the withdrawal of US troops in 2011, the occupation ceased and war ended.

2011: Pew Research on Muslim Identity in Iraq

In 2011, Pew Research estimated that 51% of Muslims in Iraq identified as Shia, 42% as Sunni, and 5% as "just a Muslim".

2011: Public sector employment accounted for nearly 60% of full-time employment

In 2011, public sector employment in Iraq accounted for nearly 60% of full-time employment.

2011: End of Iraq War

In 2011, the Iraq War, which began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, came to an end.

2011: Restoration of Flow to Mesopotamian Marshes

Since 2003 flow is restored to the Mesopotamian Marshes and the ecosystem has begun to recover.

December 2012: Oil production levels reached 3.4 million barrels per day

By December 2012, Iraq's oil production levels reached 3.4 million barrels per day.

2012: Iraq has about 104 airports

As of 2012, Iraq has approximately 104 airports.

2012: Enrollment Numbers Increase

From 2000 to 2012, enrollment numbers nearly doubled in Iraq, reaching six million students.

2012: Syrian Refugees Flee to Iraq

Since 2012, over 252,000 Syrian refugees of various ethnicities have fled to Iraq to escape the Syrian Civil War.

2013: Iraq housing crisis

At the end of 2013, Iraq had a housing crisis with the country set to complete only 5 percent of the 2.5 million homes it needed to build by 2016.

2013: Conflict with Islamic State

From 2013, Iraq faced a major conflict with the rise of the Islamic State.

2013: Anbar Campaign and ISIS Offensive in Mosul

In 2013, Ba'athist and Sunni militants, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, launched attacks against the Iraqi government during the Anbar campaign. This was followed by a large-scale ISIS offensive in Mosul, marking the beginning of the group's territorial expansion.

2013: Iraq's Population Reaches 35 Million

In 2013, Iraq's population reached 35 million, marking a significant post-war population boom.

2013: Closure of Mosul Airport

Mosul Airport was closed during the 2013 civil war.

March 2014: Iraq's oil output jumped

On March 14, 2014, the International Energy Agency reported that Iraq's oil output jumped by half a million barrels a day in February to average 3.6 million barrels a day, a level not seen since 1979.

June 2014: Ali al-Sistani's Fatwa and International Assistance Request

In June 2014, Iraq's leading Shii Grand Ayatollah, Ali al-Sistani, issued a Fatwa calling on able-bodied men to join the Armed Forces to fight against ISIS. The government of Iraq also requested international assistance against ISIS.

July 2014: Kurdistan Regional Government forces seized control of oilfields

On July 14, 2014, as sectarian strife had taken hold, Kurdistan Regional Government forces seized control of the Bai Hassan and Kirkuk oilfields in the north of the country from Iraq's control.

2014: Agreement allowing Washington to help Iraq

In 2014, an agreement allowed Washington to assist Iraq against Islamic State groups by sending troops. The January 2020 resolution called for ending this 2014 agreement.

2014: Education Funding Loss

Repetition rates have reached almost 17%, causing a loss of approximately 20% of education funding in 2014–2015.

2015: Children Attending School

By 2015–2016, around 9.2 million children were attending school in Iraq.

2015: Demographic Report

In 2015, a report by the European Parliamentary Research Service estimated the population of Iraq to include 24 million Arabs, 4.7 million Kurds, 3 million Iraqi Turkmens, 1 million Black Iraqis, 500,000 Christians, 500,000 Yazidis, and smaller numbers of other groups.

2015: CIA World Factbook on Religion in Iraq

In 2015, the CIA World Factbook reported that 90-95% of Iraqis followed Islam, with 61-64% being Shia and 29-34% Sunni. Christianity accounted for 1%, and other religions for the remainder.

2015: Education Funding Loss

Repetition rates have reached almost 17%, causing a loss of approximately 20% of education funding in 2014–2015.

2016: Children Attending School

By 2015–2016, around 9.2 million children were attending school in Iraq.

2016: Iraq was set to complete 5 percent of the 2.5 million homes

In 2016, Iraq was set to complete only 5 percent of the 2.5 million homes it needed to build.

2016: Government Budget Deficit

In 2016, the government budget deficit is near 25% of GDP.

December 2017: Government Declares Victory Over ISIS

In December 2017, the Iraqi government declared victory over ISIS after the group lost all its territory in Iraq.

2017: Defeat of Islamic State

In 2017, Iraq achieved a major victory with the defeat of the Islamic State.

2017: Closure of Mosul Airport

Mosul Airport was closed during the 2017 civil war.

2018: Oil accounts for 99% of Iraq's revenue

In 2018, the UN estimated that oil accounts for 99% of Iraq's revenue.

2018: Planned Expansion of Iraqi Air Force (Unrealized)

It was planned to increase the Iraqi Air Force to 18,000 personnel, with 550 aircraft by 2018, but that did not happen as planned.

October 2019: Nationwide Protests Erupt in Iraq

In October 2019, nationwide protests erupted in Iraq, with demands for systemic reform, an end to the party-based quota system, disarmament of non-state militias, and an end to foreign interference.

November 2019: Australian Defence Force Personnel Deployment

On 4 November 2019, more than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel left Darwin for the 10th rotation of Task Group Taji, based north of Baghdad.

January 2020: Iraqi parliament voted for a resolution

On January 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling on the government to expel US troops from Iraq. This occurred two days after the US drone strike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani.

September 2020: US prepared to withdraw diplomats from Iraq

On September 28, 2020, Washington prepared to withdraw diplomats from Iraq following rocket attacks on the American Embassy in Baghdad by Iranian-backed militias.

December 2020: Launch of the Grand Faw Port

In December 2020, Al-Sudani initiated the second phase of the Grand Faw Port project by awarding the head contractor bid to Daewoo for $2.7 billion. This development aims to enhance Iraq's port infrastructure.

2020: Prime Minister Resignation and COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi resigned due to popular demand, and was succeeded by Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The COVID-19 pandemic also erupted, causing a macroeconomic shock and devastating the Iraqi economy.

2020: Religious Demographics in Iraq

In 2020, the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) estimated that 97% of Iraqis followed Islam, with 61% being Shia and 35% Sunni.

2020: Prolonged Drought Since 2020

Since 2020 the country has been in a prolonged drought.

2021: Oil sector provided about 92% of foreign exchange earnings

As of 2021, the oil sector in Iraq provided approximately 92% of the country's foreign exchange earnings.

2021: Repatriation of looted artifacts

In 2021, Iraq announced the reclamation of approximately 17,000 looted artifacts, marking the biggest repatriation.

2021: Prolonged Drought and Second-Driest Season

In 2021, Iraq experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades, with a prolonged drought impacting the country.

2021: Second-Driest Season

In 2021, Iraq experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades.

2021: Agreement between Iraq and China to build schools

In 2021, the Iraqi and Chinese governments agreed to a project for the construction of 1,000 schools across Iraq.

2021: Internal Displacement in Iraq

In 2021, the UN Refugee agency estimated that 1.1 million people were displaced within Iraq.

2021: Iraqi Population Estimate

In 2021, the estimated total population of Iraq was 43,533,592.

October 2022: Election of President and Prime Minister

In October 2022, the Council of Representatives elected Abdul Latif Rashid as president, and Mohammed Shia al-Sudani became Prime Minister.

2022: Iraq completed war reparations payments to Kuwait

In 2022, the UN Compensation Commission announced that Iraq had completed payments of $52.4 billion in war reparations to Kuwait, following the 1990 invasion.

August 2023: Establishment of Iraq Development Fund

In August 2023, Prime Minister al-Sudani established the Iraq Development Fund to strengthen the private sector and finance projects of crucial social and environmental value.

2023: Electoral Democratic Country

According to the 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices Iraq was the third most electoral democratic country in the Middle East.

2023: Government Climate Action Plan

In 2023, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that the government was working on a wider "Iraqi vision for climate action", which included promoting clean and renewable energy, new irrigation and water treatment projects and reduced industrial gas flaring.

2023: Water Flow Decline in Tigris and Euphrates

In 2023, water flows in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were down 30-40%, and nearly 40% of Iraq has been overtaken by blowing desert sands.

2023: Government Announces Plans to Build 15 New Cities

In late 2023, the Iraqi government revealed its plan to construct 15 new cities across the country to address housing shortages. The initial phase of the plan began in late 2023 with the foundation stone being laid for Al-Jawahiri city which will host 30,000 housing units costing $2 billion.

2023: Kurdistan Region considered economically more stable

Until 2023, the Kurdistan Region was considered economically more stable due to independent oil exports.

2024: Increased Rainfall Boosts Water Reserves

In 2024, Iraq experienced unprecedented rainfall that boosted Iraq's strategic water reserves by 10%, significantly easing the drought crisis.

2024: Quadrilateral Memorandum Signed for Iraq–Europe Development Road Project

In 2024, Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE signed a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding in Baghdad to cooperate on the Iraq–Europe Development Road project. This 1,200-km project includes railways and motorways to connect the Grand Faw Port and aims to strengthen Iraq's geopolitical position.

2024: Inauguration of Shaab General Hospital

In 2024, Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani inaugurated Shaab General Hospital in Baghdad, the city's first new general hospital in nearly 40 years. The 246-bed facility boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced medical equipment.

2024: Government inaugurates new schools

In 2024, the Iraqi government inaugurated 790 new schools as part of an agreement with China to construct 1,000 schools, aiming to alleviate overcrowding and triple shifts. The Iraqi Prime Minister also announced a collaboration between the Iraq Development Fund and the private sector to build an additional 400 schools.

February 2025: Iraq Development Fund Gains Foreign Direct Investments

In February 2025, the Iraq Development Fund had gained $7bn in foreign direct investments, and signed Memoranda of Understanding with the United Kingdom and Japan.