History of Iraq in Timeline

Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a West Asian nation sharing borders with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, the Persian Gulf, Kuwait, Jordan, and Syria. Its area spans 438,317 square kilometers, and its population exceeds 46 million. Baghdad, its capital and largest city, has over 8 million residents.

1920: Faisal declares the Kingdom of Syria

In 1920, Hussein's son, Faisal, briefly declared the Kingdom of Syria.

August 1921: British establish Hashemite Kingdom

On 23 August 1921, the British established the Hashemite king.

1921: British establish Mandatory Iraq

In 1921, Mandatory Iraq was established by the British.

1921: Cairo Conference decides Faisal to become the king of Iraq

In 1921, the Cairo Conference decided that Faisal would become the king of Iraq.

1930: Treaty signed with Britain

In 1930, Iraq signed a treaty with Britain that gave the country a measure of political independence.

1932: Iraq gains formal independence

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

1932: Iraq gains independence as a kingdom

In 1932, Iraq transitioned to an independent kingdom.

September 1933: King Faisal dies

Untimely, King Faisal died from a heart attack on 8 September 1933.

1936: Establishment of Iraq Radio

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

1939: King Ghazi dies

In 1939, King Ghazi died in a motor accident.

April 1941: Rashid Ali al-Gaylani stages a coup

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

1947: Christian population statistics

In 1947, there were 550,000 Christians in Iraq, representing 12% of the population of 4.6 million.

1948: Jewish population estimated

In 1948, the Jewish population in Iraq was estimated at 200,000, though some sources suggest it may have been higher. Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, emigration began.

1948: Founding of the Iraq Football Association

The Iraq Football Association was founded in 1948.

1950: FIFA Membership

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

1952: Egyptian Revolution

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

1953: Regency of King Faisal II began

Regency of King Faisal II began in 1953.

1958: 14 July Revolution

A coup d'état known as the 14 July Revolution in 1958 was led by the Brigadier General and nationalist Abd al-Karim Qasim.

1958: Overthrow of the Monarchy

In 1958, a coup transformed Iraq into a republic.

1958: Military coup

In 1958, these tensions culminated in a military coup.

1959: Uprising in Mosul against Qasim

In 1959, Abd al-Wahab al-Shawaf led an uprising in Mosul against Qasim.

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: Qasim claims Kuwait

He claimed Kuwait as part of Iraq, when the former was granted independence in 1961.

February 1963: Ba'ath Party overthrows Qasim

He was overthrown by the Ba'ath Party in February 1963 coup.

1966: Abdul Rahman Arif succeeded

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

1967: Census Issues

The International Crisis Group points out that figures from the 1967 census are considered problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation.

1967: Iraq participated in the Six Day War

Under his rule, Iraq participated in the Six Day War in 1967.

1968: Ba'ath Party came to power

Arif was overthrown in the 17 July Revolution in 1968. The Ba'ath Party came to power.

1970: End of First Iraqi-Kurdish War

The first Iraqi–Kurdish war ended in 1970, after which a peace treaty was signed between Saddam and Barzani, granting autonomy to Kurds.

1971: AFC membership

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

1973: Iraq participated in the Yom Kippur War

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

1974: Second Iraqi-Kurdish War began

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

1975: Algiers Agreement signed

The Algiers Agreement signed in 1975 by Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Saddam resolved the dispute and Iran withdrew support for the Kurds.

1977: Census Issues

The International Crisis Group points out that figures from the 1977 census are considered problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation.

July 1979: Saddam acceded to the presidency

On 16 July 1979, Saddam acceded to the presidency and chairmanship of the supreme executive body in July 1979.

1979: Saddam Hussein Rose to Power

The oil output in Iraq jumped by half a million barrels a day in February to average 3.6 million barrels a day, a level not seen since 1979, when Saddam Hussein rose to power.

September 1980: Saddam declared war on Iran

Following months of cross-border raids with Iran, Saddam declared war on Iran in September 1980, initiating the Iran–Iraq War.

1980: Shia uprising took place

Another Shia uprising took place from 1979 to 1980, as a followup to the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

1981: Israel destroyed a nuclear reactor of Iraq

In 1981, Israel destroyed a nuclear reactor of Iraq.

1983: Kurds led rebellion against the regime

In midst of the war, between 1983 to 1986, Kurds led rebellion against the regime.

1986: FIFA World Cup

In 1986, Iraq participated in the FIFA World Cup.

1986: Kurds led rebellion against the regime

In midst of the war, between 1983 to 1986, Kurds led rebellion against the regime.

1987: Iraqi Government Estimate of Population

According to the CIA World Factbook, citing a 1987 Iraqi government estimate, the population of Iraq is 75–80% Arab followed by 15–20% Kurds.

1987: Christian population numbers

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

1988: End of the Iran-Iraq War

The war ended in stalemate in 1988, killed between half a million and 1.5 million people.

August 1990: Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait

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

1990: Advanced education system

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

1990: Invasion of Kuwait

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to the creation of the UN Compensation Commission to ensure restitution.

1990: Sanctions Imposed After Kuwait Invasion

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

1990: Access to free primary healthcare

Prior to 1990, 97% of urban dwellers and 71% of the rural population in Iraq had access to free primary healthcare.

1991: Post-Gulf War Construction

After the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein built numerous palaces and monuments despite UN sanctions.

1991: Uprisings against Saddam's regime

After the end of the war in 1991, Iraqi Kurds and Shi'ite Muslims in northern and southern Iraq led several uprisings against Saddam's regime.

January 1992: Official name change to Republic of Iraq

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

1994: Iraqi Kurdish Civil War began

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

1995: Sharia punishment introduced

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

1996: Oil Export Prohibition

From 1990 until 1996, the sanctions prohibited Iraq from exporting oil.

1996: Peak life expectancy

In 1996, Iraq reached a peak life expectancy of 71.31 years.

1997: Iraqi Kurdish Civil War ended

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

1997: Census Issues

The International Crisis Group points out that figures from the 1997 census are considered problematic, due to suspicions of regime manipulation.

2000: Enrollment numbers nearly doubled

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

2001: Conflict between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam

Between 2001 and 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam engaged in conflict.

November 2002: UN Security Council passed resolution 1441

In November 2002 the UN Security Council passed resolution 1441.

March 2003: U.S.-led coalition invaded Iraq

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

July 2003: UNICEF/WHO report on healthcare

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

2003: Increased fear among Jewish community

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

2003: Privatisation of Economy

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

2003: Increased violence against Christians

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, there was a rise in violence against Christians, including reports of abduction, torture, bombings, and killings.

2003: Significant growth in broadcast media

After the end of full state control in 2003, there was a period of significant growth in the broadcast media in Iraq.

2003: Advanced education system

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

2003: Switch to Western Suppliers

Before 2003, Iraq was mostly equipped with Soviet-made military equipment, but since then the country has turned to Western suppliers.

2003: Conflict between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam

Between 2001 and 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam engaged in conflict.

2003: Looting of the National Theatre of Iraq

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

2003: Iraqi Diaspora

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

2003: US invasion of Iraq stages

In 2003, Ibrahim Al Marashi identifies four stages of the US invasion of Iraq with effects on the Iraqi media.

2003: Establishment of "Dollar Auction" System

In 2003, Iraq's "dollar auction" system was established, which later became a conduit for financial fraud.

2003: U.S.-led coalition invades Iraq

In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition forces invaded and occupied Iraq, overthrowing Saddam Hussein.

2003: Sanctions Lifted

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

2003: Armenians in Baghdad

In 2003, the historic Assyrian Quarter in Baghdad housed 150,000 Armenians.

2003: Post-war conflict in Iraq

In 2003, the overthrow of Saddam caused post-war conflict in Iraq, affecting the economy.

2003: Ethno-religious minority populations

Prior to 2003, the combined number of Mandaeans, Shabaks, Yarsan, and Yezidis populations in Iraq may have been 2 million.

2003: Pre-invasion language policy

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

2003: Economic boom in Najaf and Karbala

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

2003: Marshland Restoration

Since 2003, flow is restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover in the Mesopotamian Marshes, after draining during Saddam's government.

2003: Roots of Iranian Intervention

The Iranian intervention traces its roots to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

November 2004: Debt Relief Agreement

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

2004: CPA Chief Veto

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: Joint Staff College Established

On 27 September 2005, a Joint Staff College was established at Ar Rustamiyah to train Iraqi army, navy, and air force officers.

October 2005: New Constitution Approved

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

December 2005: Parliamentary Elections

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

2005: Role for Sharia

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

2005: Kurdish President Elected

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

2005: Constitution reaffirms Republic of Iraq

In 2005, the Constitution reaffirmed the official name as "Republic of Iraq".

2005: New constitution recognizes multiple languages

In 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was approved, recognizing both Arabic and Kurdish as official languages. Additionally, Turkmen, Syriac, and Armenian were recognized as minority languages.

2005: Flourished Relations

Relations with Iran have flourished since 2005 by the exchange of high-level visits.

2005: Turkmen Alphabet Switch

Since 2005, the Turkmen/Turkoman have switched from the Arabic script to the Turkish alphabet.

2006: Shia–Sunni civil war took place

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

May 2007: US Study on Oil Corruption

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

October 2007: Refugees return to homes

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

2007: AFC Asian Cup Champions

In 2007, Iraq were champions of the AFC Asian Cup.

2007: Iraq Oil Law Proposal

In 2007, the Iraq oil law was submitted to the Council of Representatives of Iraq, but failed to gain approval.

November 2008: Status of Forces Agreement

On 17 November 2008, the US and Iraq agreed to a Status of Forces Agreement, as part of the broader Strategic Framework Agreement.

2008: Reported Mismanagement of Oil Revenues

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

2008: Physician and nurse statistics

In 2008, there were 6.96 physicians and 13.92 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants in Iraq.

2008: Shia–Sunni civil war took place

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

February 2009: State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention

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

October 2009: Endorsement of Iraqi Dinar

Jim Cramer's 20 October 2009 endorsement of the Iraqi dinar on CNBC has further piqued interest in the investment.

December 2009: Conflict with Iran

A conflict occurred in December 2009, when Iraq accused Iran of seizing an oil well on the border.

December 2009: Service Contracts Awarded

On December 2009, the Ministry of Oil awarded service contracts to international oil companies for some of Iraq's many oil fields.

2009: FIFA Confederations Cup

In 2009, Iraq participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

2009: Formation of Iraq Britain Business Council

In 2009, the Iraq Britain Business Council was formed, with Lady Nicholson as a key figure.

2010: Electricity Shortages

As of 2010, Iraq still generated about half the electricity that customers demanded, despite improved security and oil revenue.

2010: Rising population

By 2010, Iraq's population had increased tenfold since 1890, exacerbating the country's vulnerability to climate change and water scarcity.

2010: Healthcare spending and life expectancy

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

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 May 25, 2011, official United States Citizenship and Immigration Services statistics showed that 58,811 Iraqis had been granted refugee-status citizenship.

October 2011: Turkish Parliament Renewed Law

In October 2011, the Turkish parliament renewed a law that gives Turkish forces the ability to pursue rebels over the border in Iraq.

2011: Withdrawal of US troops

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

2011: End of Iraq War

In 2011, the Iraq War ended.

2011: Pew Research Center Muslim estimates

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

2011: Public Sector Employment

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

2011: Marshland Restoration

Since 2003, flow is restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover in the Mesopotamian Marshes, after draining during Saddam's government.

2011: End of the 2003-2011 war

Since the end of the 2003-2011 war, the Kurdish and Shia populated regions of Iraq experienced economic boom.

December 2012: Oil Production Levels

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

2012: Iraq's Airports

As of 2012, Iraq has about 104 airports including Baghdad International Airport and Basra International Airport.

2012: Enrollment numbers nearly doubled

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

2012: Syrian refugees flee to Iraq

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

2013: Housing Crisis in Iraq

At the end of 2013, Iraq faced a housing crisis, expected to complete only 5% of the 2.5 million homes needed by 2016.

2013: War with the Islamic State begins

From 2013, Iraq faced another war with the rise of the Islamic State.

2013: Post-war population boom

In 2013 Iraq's population reached 35 million amid a post-war population boom.

March 2014: Increased Oil Output

On March 14, 2014, the International Energy Agency said Iraq's oil output jumped by half a million barrels a day in February to average 3.6 million barrels a day.

July 2014: Kurdish Forces Seize Oilfields

On July 14, 2014, Kurdistan Regional Government forces seized control of the Bai Hassan and Kirkuk oilfields in the north of the country.

2014: Mosul International Airport Captured

During the 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, Mosul International Airport was captured by ISIS militants.

2014: Agreement against Islamic State

In 2014 agreement allowed Washington to help Iraq against Islamic State groups by sending troops.

2014: Islamic State group seized control of swathes of land

In 2014, Sunni insurgents belonging to the Islamic State group seized control of large swathes of land including several major cities.

2014: Education funding wastage

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

2014: Iranian Intervention

Since 2014, Iran has intervened in Iraq, expanding its influence through sectarian parties and Khomeinist militias.

2015: Ethnic and Religious Groups in Iraq

A report by the European Parliamentary Research Service suggests that in 2015, there were 24 million Arabs, 4.7 million Kurds, 3 million Iraqi Turkmens, and various other ethnic and religious groups.

2015: Children attending school

By 2015–2016, around 9.2 million children were attending school, with a steady annual increase of 4.1% in enrollment rates.

2015: Education funding wastage

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

2015: Fraud Uncovered by Parliamentary Committee

In 2015, an Iraqi parliamentary committee uncovered widespread fraud within the "dollar auction" system, including $6.5 billion fraudulently obtained by Al-Huda Bank.

2015: CIA World Factbook religion estimates

In 2015, the CIA World Factbook estimated that 90-95% of Iraqis followed Islam, with 61-64% Shia and 29-34% Sunni. Christianity accounted for 1%, and the rest (1-4%) practiced Yazidism, Mandaeism, and other religions.

2016: Government Budget Deficit

As of 2016, Iraq's government budget deficit is near 25% of GDP due to increased public sector employment and decreased oil prices.

2016: Children attending school

By 2015–2016, around 9.2 million children were attending school, with a steady annual increase of 4.1% in enrollment rates.

2016: Expected Housing Completion

By 2016, Iraq was set to complete only 5 percent of the 2.5 million homes it needed to build to keep up with demand.

2017: ISIS lost all its territory

By the end of 2017, ISIS had lost all its territory in Iraq.

2017: Defeat of the Islamic State

In 2017, Iraq defeated the Islamic State.

2017: Iraqi government declared victory over ISIS

The war officially ended in 2017, with the Iraqi government declaring victory over ISIS.

2018: Oil Dominance in Iraq's Revenue

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

November 2019: Australian Defence Force Rotation

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: Parliament Resolution

On 5 January 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted for a resolution that urges the government to work on expelling US troops from Iraq.

September 2020: Withdrawal of Diplomats

On 28 September 2020, Washington made preparations to withdraw diplomats from Iraq, as a result of Iranian-backed militias firing rockets at the American Embassy in Baghdad.

December 2020: Grand Faw Port Phase Two Launched

In December 2020, Al-Sudani launched the second phase of the Grand Faw Port via winning bid of project head contractor Daewood at $2.7 billion.

2020: Prolonged Drought

Since 2020, Iraq has been in a prolonged drought, facing systemic pressures on its electrical grid due to climate change and fuel shortages.

2021: Oil as Foreign Exchange

As of 2021, the oil sector provided about 92% of foreign exchange earnings for Iraq.

2021: Mediation Talks

In 2021, Baghdad hosted a meeting between Iranian and Saudi officials.

2021: Second-driest Season

In 2021, Iraq experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades, exacerbating water scarcity, with water flows in the Tigris and Euphrates down 30-40%.

2021: Repatriation of looted artifacts

In 2021, Iraq reclaimed about 17,000 looted artifacts, which was considered to be the biggest repatriation.

2021: Agreement for school construction

In 2021, an agreement was made between the Iraqi and Chinese governments to build 1,000 schools in Iraq.

2021: Internally displaced Iraqis

In 2021, the UN Refugee agency estimated that 1.1 million Iraqis were displaced within the country.

2021: Iraqi Population Estimate

The 2021 estimate of the total Iraqi population is 43,533,592.

October 2022: Abdul Latif Rashid was elected president

In October 2022, Abdul Latif Rashid was elected president after winning the parliamentary election.

2022: Iraq Paid War Reparations to Kuwait

In 2022, Iraq completed paying a total of $52.4 billion in war reparations to Kuwait, following the 1990 invasion, as announced by the UN Compensation Commission.

2023: Democracy Index

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

2023: Government Climate Action Vision

In 2023, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the government was working on a wider "Iraqi vision for climate action" to promote clean energy and reduce gas flaring.

2023: New Cities Project Announced

In late 2023, the Iraqi government announced plans to build 15 new cities across Iraq to address the persistent housing problem, with the initial phase beginning with Al-Jawahiri city.

2024: Inauguration of Shaab General Hospital

In 2024, Mohammed Shi'a Al-Sudani officially inaugurated Shaab General Hospital in Baghdad, the first new general hospital in nearly 40 years.

2024: Quadrilateral Memorandum Signed for Iraq Development Road

In 2024, a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding was signed between Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar, and the UAE, regarding cooperation in the Iraq Development Road project during a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad.