Full History Of Iraq In Timeline From 1908

1908: Enactment of Constitutions

In 1908, the enactment of constitutions during the Ottoman reforms was beneficial to the people in Iraq, laying the foundation for modern constitutional thought.

1915: Siege of Kut

In 1915, during World War I, British forces suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Turkish army during the Siege of Kut in the Mesopotamian campaign.

1916: Sykes-Picot Agreement

In 1916, the British and French made a plan for the post-war division of West Asia under the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

1917: British Capture of Baghdad

In 1917, during World War I, British forces regrouped and captured Baghdad, defeating the Ottomans in the Mesopotamian campaign.

1918: Armistice Signed

In 1918, during World War I, an armistice was signed, marking the end of hostilities and setting the stage for post-war developments in the region.

1918: End of Ottoman Rule

In 1918, the Ottoman rule in Iraq ended after centuries of control, marking a significant turning point in the region's history.

1920: Kingdom of Syria Declared

In 1920, Faisal, Hussein's son, briefly declared the Kingdom of Syria, encompassing parts of what are now Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Syria, before it was crushed by local opposition and French military might.

August 1921: Establishment of Hashemite Kingdom

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: Establishment of Iraq by the British

In 1921, Iraq was established by the British following the end of World War I, marking a significant shift in the region's political landscape.

1921: Faisal to Become King of Iraq

In 1921, the Cairo Conference decided that Faisal, who was exiled in London, would become the king of Iraq as a way to maintain British influence.

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

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

1932: Independence of Iraq

In 1932, Iraq transitioned into an independent kingdom after being established by the British in 1921 and being part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of World War I.

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 made up almost entirely of Jewish musicians.

1939: Death of King Ghazi

In 1939, Ghazi died in a motor accident, passing the throne to his young son, Faisal II, who ascended to the throne at just 3 years old.

April 1941: Coup d'état by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani

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 1947, the Christian population in Iraq was 550,000, accounting for 12% of the total population.

1948: Iraq Football Association Founded

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

1948: Jewish Population Estimate

In 1948, the Jewish population in Iraq was estimated at 200,000, but some sources suggest it may have been even higher.

1950: Joined FIFA

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

1953: Regency of King Faisal II Begins

In 1953, the Regency of King Faisal II began, marking a new phase in Iraq's political landscape.

1958: Coup and Establishment of the Republic

In 1958, a coup led to Iraq becoming a republic, with Abdul Karim Qasim as the first leader, marking a departure from the previous kingdom.

1958: Tensions Culminate in a Military Coup

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

1958: 14 July Revolution

In 1958, the 14 July Revolution, led by Abd al-Karim Qasim, resulted in the deaths of King Faisal II, Prince Abd al-Ilah, and Nuri al-Sa'id, marking a major turning point in Iraq's history.

1959: Uprising in Mosul

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

1959: Personal Status Law

In 1959, Law no. 188 (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 of Kuwait

In 1961, Qasim claimed Kuwait as part of Iraq, leading to a deployment of British army on the border, which forced Qasim to back down.

February 1963: Ba'ath Party Coup

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

1966: Death of Abdul Salam Arif

In 1966, Abdul Salam Arif died and was succeeded by his brother, Abdul Rahman Arif.

1967: Participation in the Six Day War

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

1967: Census Problematic

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

1968: 17 July Revolution

In 1968, the 17 July Revolution led to the Ba'ath Party coming to power, with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr as president of Iraq.

1968: Ba'ath Party Takes Power

In 1968, the Ba'ath Party seized power in Iraq, establishing a one-party state under Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and later Saddam Hussein, setting the stage for decades of authoritarian rule.

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: Joined Asian Football Confederation

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

1972: Nationalisation of Oil

Oil was nationalised in Iraq in 1972 and its revenue was spent on government development projects.

1973: Participation 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: The Algiers Agreement

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

1977: Census Problematic

The International Crisis Group points out that figures from the 1977 census are considered highly 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: Highest oil production since 1979

On 14 March 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.The country had not pumped that much oil since 1979, when Saddam Hussein rose to power.

September 1980: Declaration of War on Iran

In September 1980, Saddam declared war on Iran, initiating the Iran–Iraq War (or First Persian Gulf War), following months of cross-border raids.

1980: War Against Iran

In 1980, Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, initiated a war against Iran, a conflict that would last until 1988 and have profound consequences for both nations.

1980: Shia Uprising

In 1980, a Shia uprising took place in Iraq, as a followup to the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

1981: Destruction of Nuclear Reactor

In 1981, Israel destroyed a nuclear reactor of Iraq.

1983: Kurdish Rebellion

Between 1983 and 1986, Kurds led rebellion against the regime in Iraq during the war with Iran.

1986: Kurdish Rebellion

Between 1983 and 1986, Kurds led rebellion against the regime in Iraq during the war with Iran.

1986: Participated in the 1986 FIFA World Cup

In 1986, Iraq participated in the FIFA World Cup.

1987: CIA World Factbook estimate

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

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

1988: End of Iran-Iraq War

In 1988, the Iran-Iraq War ended in stalemate, resulting in between half a million and 1.5 million deaths.

August 1990: Invasion and Annexation of 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 already had an advanced and successful education system.

1990: Invasion of Kuwait

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, leading to international condemnation and eventually the Gulf War.

1990: Sanctions imposed against Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait

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

1990: Access to Free Primary Health Care

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

1991: Construction of palaces and monuments

After the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein initiated the construction of numerous palaces and monuments across Iraq, during a period of United Nations sanctions.

1991: Uprisings Against Saddam's Regime

In 1991, Iraqi Kurds and Shi'ite Muslims led several uprisings against Saddam's regime after the end of the war, but these were repressed.

January 1992: Official Name Change to Republic of Iraq

Since January 1992, the official name of the state is "Republic of Iraq" (Jumhūriyyat al-ʿIrāq).

1994: Iraqi Kurdish Civil War

From 1994 to 1997, the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War resulted in around 40,000 deaths.

1995: Introduction of Sharia Punishment

In 1995, Iraq introduced Sharia punishment for certain types of criminal offences. The code is based on French civil law as well as Sunni and Jafari (Shi'ite) interpretations of Sharia.

1996: Peak Life Expectancy

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

1996: Sanctions prohibited Iraq from exporting oil

Until 1996, sanctions prohibited Iraq from exporting oil, leading to an 85% decline in output following the First Gulf War.

1997: Iraqi Kurdish Civil War

From 1994 to 1997, the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War resulted in around 40,000 deaths.

1997: Census Problematic

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

2000: Enrollment numbers nearly doubled

Enrollment numbers nearly doubled from 2000 to 2012, reaching six million students.

2002: U.S. Congress passes joint resolution against Iraq

In 2002, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution to authorize the use of its military against Iraq and the UN Security Council passed UNSCR 1441.

March 2003: US-led coalition invades Iraq

On 20 March 2003, a United States-organized coalition of its allies invaded Iraq, under the pretext that Iraq had failed to abandon its weapons of mass destruction program.

May 2003: CPA issues orders to exclude Ba'ath Party members

In May 2003, L. Paul Bremer, the chief executive of the CPA, issued orders to exclude Ba'ath Party members from the new Iraqi government and to disband the Iraqi Army.

July 2003: UNICEF/WHO "Watching Brief" Report

According to a "Watching Brief" report issued jointly by UNICEF and WHO in July 2003, Iraq depended on large-scale imports of medicines, medical equipment and even nurses, paid for with oil export income.

2003: Increased Fear Among Jewish Community

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

2003: Coalition Provisional Authority Orders

After 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority began issuing 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 rose, with reports of abduction, torture, bombings, and killings.

2003: 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, with numerous new radio and television stations, and newspapers.

2003: Advanced Education System

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

2003: Shift to Western Military Suppliers

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

2003: Establishment of Iraq's "dollar auction" system

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

2003: U.S.-led Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition invaded and occupied Iraq, overthrowing Saddam Hussein's regime and triggering a prolonged period of instability and conflict.

2003: Sanctions lifted

In 2003, sanctions were lifted after the US-led invasion, but ongoing conflict hampered oil resource development.

2003: Assyrian Quarter in Baghdad

In 2003, the historic Assyrian Quarter in Baghdad housed 150,000 Assyrians, but most fled following the escalation of war, leaving only 1,500 Assyrians remaining.

2003: Insurgency begins; Abu Ghraib scandal surfaces

In the summer of 2003, an insurgency against the U.S-led coalition-rule of Iraq began within elements of the former Iraqi secret police and army. In the fall of 2003, jihadist groups began targeting coalition forces. Also in late 2003, the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal came to light.

2003: Turning points in history of Iraq

Many ethnic groups have faced significant turning points throughout the history of Iraq, specially since 2003.

2003: US-led coalition invades Iraq

On 20 March 2003, a United States-organized coalition of its allies invaded Iraq, under the pretext that Iraq had failed to abandon its weapons of mass destruction program.

2003: Ethno-religious Minorities

Prior to 2003, the numbers of Mandaeans, Shabaks, Yarsan and Yezidis together may have been 2 million.

2003: Arabic sole official language

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

2003: Economic Boom in Najaf and Karbala

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

2003: Looting of the National Theatre of Iraq

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

2003: Regional Power Status

Until 2003, Iraq was considered as a regional power.

April 2004: Mahdi Army fights Coalition forces; First Battle of Fallujah

In April 2004, the Mahdi Army—a Shia militia created in the summer of 2003 by Muqtada al-Sadr—began to fight Coalition forces. April 2004 also saw the First Battle of Fallujah.

June 2004: Iraqi Interim Government installed

In June 2004, the new Iraqi Interim Government was installed.

November 2004: Paris Club Debt Relief

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 Executive's Stance on Sharia

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

September 2005: Establishment of Joint Staff College

On September 27, 2005, the Joint Staff College was established at Ar Rustamiyah to train army, navy, and air force officers, with support from the NATO Training Mission — Iraq.

October 2005: Approval of the New Constitution of Iraq

In October 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was approved in a referendum with a 78% overall majority, although support varied across territories. The constitution was backed by Shia and Kurdish communities but rejected by Arab Sunnis.

December 2005: Nationwide Parliamentary Elections

On December 15, 2005, Iraq conducted fresh nationwide parliamentary elections under the terms of the new constitution. Voting occurred largely along ethnic lines among the major ethnic groups and minorities.

2005: Role for Sharia in the Constitution

By 2005, the US had relented and allowed a role for sharia in the constitution to help end a stalemate on the draft constitution. The Iraqi Penal Code is the statutory law of Iraq.

2005: Election of First Kurdish President

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

2005: Insurgent attacks increased

In 2005, insurgent attacks increased.

2005: New Constitution of Iraq

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

2005: Reaffirmation of "Republic of Iraq" in the Constitution

In 2005, the official name of the state, "Republic of Iraq" (Jumhūriyyat al-ʿIrāq), was reaffirmed in the Constitution.

2005: Flourished Relations with Iran

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

2005: Turkmen/Turkoman Script Switch

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

2006: Fighting intensifies; Saddam Hussein is hanged

During 2006, fighting continued and reached its highest levels of violence, more war crimes scandals were made public, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed by US forces and Iraq's former dictator Saddam Hussein was hanged for crimes against humanity.

May 2007: US Study on Iraq's oil production

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.

October 2007: Refugee Returns

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

2007: Champions of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup

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

2007: Iraq oil law

In 2007, the proposed Iraq oil law failed to gain approval due to political disagreements.

November 2008: Status of Forces Agreement

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

2008: Report of unaccounted Iraqi 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: Iraqi forces launch attacks against militants

In 2008, fighting continued and Iraq's newly trained armed forces launched attacks against militants.

2008: Physicians and Nurses

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

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: Jim Cramer's Endorsement of the Iraqi Dinar

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

November 2009: Civilian death toll falls to lowest level since invasion

In November 2009, Iraqi Interior Ministry officials reported that the civilian death toll in Iraq fell to its lowest level since the 2003 invasion.

December 2009: Accusation of Oil Well Seizure

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

December 2009: Ministry of Oil awarded service contracts

On 30 June and 11 December 2009, the Ministry of Oil awarded service contracts to international oil companies for some of Iraq's many oil fields.

2009: Participated in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup

In 2009, Iraq participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

2009: Formation of the Iraq Britain Business Council

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

2010: Electricity shortage

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

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.

2010: Rising temperatures and reduced rainfall

Iraq is highly vulnerable to climate change. The country is subject to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, and suffers from increasing water scarcity for a human population that 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, organized into operational headquarters, afloat squadrons, and marine battalions.

February 2011: Arab Spring protests spread to Iraq

In February 2011, the Arab Spring protests spread to Iraq; but the initial protests did not topple the government.

May 2011: Refugee-status Citizenship

According to official US Citizenship and Immigration Services statistics, 58,811 Iraqis had been granted refugee-status citizenship as of May 2011.

October 2011: Renewal of Law for Turkish Forces

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

2011: Pew Research Estimate of Muslims

A 2011 Pew Research estimated that 51% of Muslims in Iraq see themselves as Shia, 42% as Sunni, while 5% as "just a Muslim".

2011: US troops withdraw; insurgency continues

Following the withdrawal of US troops in 2011, the insurgency continued and Iraq suffered from political instability.

2011: End of the Iraq War

In 2011, the Iraq War, which began in 2003 with the U.S.-led invasion, officially ended, though instability and conflict continued in various forms.

2011: Public Sector Employment

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

2011: Flow is restored

Since the 2003–2011, flow is restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover.

December 2012: Iraq's oil production levels

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

December 2012: Sunni Arabs protest against the government

In December 2012, Sunni Arabs protested against the government, who they claimed marginalised them.

2012: Iraq's Airports and Ports

As of 2012, Iraq had about 104 airports, including major airports at Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, and Najaf.

2012: Enrollment numbers nearly doubled

Enrollment numbers nearly doubled from 2000 to 2012, reaching six million students.

2012: Syrian Refugees Flee to Iraq

Since 2012, over 252,000 Syrian refugees of varying ethnicities have fled to Iraq to escape the Syrian civil war.

2013: Housing crisis in Iraq

At the end of 2013, Iraq was facing a housing crisis, with only 5 percent of the 2.5 million needed homes set to be completed by 2016.

2013: Sunni militant groups step up attacks

During 2013, Sunni militant groups stepped up attacks targeting the Iraq's population in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Nouri al-Maliki-led government.

2013: War with the Islamic State

From 2013, Iraq faced another major conflict with the rise of the Islamic State, resulting from an Islamist insurgency that started between 2011 and 2013.

2013: Iraq's population reached 35 million

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

2013: Civil War

In 2013, the Mosul Airport was closed during the 2013–2017 civil war.

2013: Many states began to intervene against the Islamic State.

In response to rapid territorial gains made by the Islamic State in early 2014, and its universally-condemned executions and reported human rights abuses, many states began to intervene against it in the War in Iraq (2013–2017).

March 2014: International Energy Agency on Iraq's oil output

On 14 March 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.

April 2014: Inconclusive election held

After an inconclusive election in April 2014, Nouri al-Maliki served as caretaker-Prime-Minister.

June 2014: Insurgents capture Mosul

On 4 June 2014, insurgents began their efforts to capture Mosul, and after six days of combat and massive desertions, Iraqi soldiers received orders to retreat. The city of Mosul fell under ISIL's control and an estimated 500,000 civilians fled from the city.

July 2014: Kurdistan Regional Government forces seized oilfields

On 14 July 2014, as sectarian strife had taken hold, Kurdistan Regional Government forces seized control of the Bai Hassan and Kirkuk oilfields.

September 2014: Haider al-Abadi becomes prime minister

On 8 September 2014, Haider al-Abadi became prime minister, promising to stamp out corruption and ease sectarian tensions.

2014: Agreement Allowing the U.S to help Iraq

In 2014, an agreement allowing the U.S to help Iraq against Islamic State groups by sending troops was established.

2014: Many states began to intervene against the Islamic State.

In response to rapid territorial gains made by the Islamic State in early 2014, and its universally-condemned executions and reported human rights abuses, many states began to intervene against it in the War in Iraq (2013–2017).

2014: Loss of Education Funding

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

2015: Ethnic Groups in Iraq

A report by the European Parliamentary Research Service suggests that, in 2015, there were 24 million Arabs (14 million Shia and 9 million Sunni); 4.7 million Sunni Kurds (plus 500,000 Faili Kurds and 200,000 Kaka'i); 3 million (mostly Sunni) Iraqi Turkmens; 1 million Black Iraqis; 500,000 Christians (including Assyrians and Armenians); 500,000 Yazidis; 250,000 Shabaks; 50,000 Roma; 3,000 Mandaeans; 2,000 Circassians; 1,000 of the Baháʼí Faith; and a few hundred Jews.

2015: Children Attending School

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

2015: Discovery of widespread fraud in the dollar auction system

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

2015: CIA World Factbook Estimate of Religions

In 2015, the CIA World Factbook estimated that 90 to 95% of Iraqis followed Islam, with a Shia majority and a Sunni minority; Christianity accounted for 1%, and the rest practiced other religions.

2015: Loss of Education Funding

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

2015: Iranian Nuclear Deal

Since 2019, Iraq has attempted to play a mediating role between the U.S and Iran following the withdrawal of Donald Trump's administration from the landmark 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.

2016: Housing crisis in Iraq

At the end of 2013, Iraq was facing a housing crisis, with only 5 percent of the 2.5 million needed homes set to be completed by 2016.

2016: Children Attending School

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

2016: Government Employment and Budget Deficit

In 2016, government employment in Iraq had risen to approximately 7 million, a significant increase from the 1 million under Saddam Hussein's regime. Coupled with decreasing oil prices, this led to a government budget deficit close to 25% of the GDP in 2016.

2016: Karrada bombing

The 2016 Karrada bombing killed nearly 400 civilians and injured hundreds more.

March 2017: Coalition airstrike in Mosul kills civilians

On 17 March 2017, a US-led coalition airstrike in Mosul killed more than 200 civilians.

September 2017: Referendum held regarding Kurdish independence

In September 2017, a referendum was held regarding Kurdish independence in Iraq. 92% of Iraqi Kurds voted in favor of independence.

December 2017: Iraq declares victory over ISIL

On 9 December 2017, then-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIL and announced full liberation of borders with Syria from Islamic State militants.

2017: Defeat of the Islamic State

By 2017, Iraq, with international support, achieved the defeat of the Islamic State, marking a turning point in the fight against the extremist group.

2017: Civil War

In 2013, the Mosul Airport was closed during the 2013–2017 civil war.

March 2018: Turkey launches military operations against Kurdish separatists

In March 2018, Turkey launched military operations to eliminate active Kurdish separatist fighters in the far north of the country.

July 2018: Civil unrest rocks the country

Serious civil unrest rocked the country beginning in Baghdad and Najaf in July 2018 and spreading to other provinces in September as rallies to protest corruption, unemployment, and public service failures turned violent.

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

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

October 2019: Months of protests

Following months of protests that broke out across Iraq in October 2019 and the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and his cabinet, Mustafa al-Kadhimi became a leading contender for the Premiership.

October 2019: Protests escalate into calls to overthrow the government

Protests started again on 1 October 2019, against corruption, unemployment and inefficient public services, before they escalated into calls to overthrow the administration and to stop Iranian intervention.

November 2019: Australian Defence Force Personnel left Darwin

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.

December 2019: K-1 Air Base attacked

On 27 December 2019, the K-1 Air Base was attacked by more than 30 rockets, killing a U.S. civilian contractor and injuring others. The U.S. blamed the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah militia.

December 2019: Government responds harshly to protests

The government reacted harshly to protests that had started in October, resulting in over 500 deaths by 12 December 2019.

2019: Mediating Role Between the U.S. and Iran

Since 2019, Iraq has attempted to play a mediating role between the U.S and Iran following the withdrawal of Donald Trump's administration from the landmark 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.

January 2020: Parliamentary Resolution to Expel U.S. Troops

On 5 January 2020, the Iraqi parliament voted for a resolution urging the government to work on expelling U.S troops from Iraq, following a U.S. drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani.

April 2020: Mustafa al-Kadhimi named prime minister-designate

On 9 April 2020, Mustafa al-Kadhimi was named by President Barham Salih as prime minister-designate.

September 2020: Withdrawal of Diplomats from Iraq

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

December 2020: Launch of the second phase of the Grand Faw Port

In December 2020, Al-Sudani launched the second phase of the Grand Faw Port, awarding the project to Daewoo at $2.7 billion.

2020: Country in prolonged drought

The country has been in a prolonged drought since 2020.

November 2021: Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc wins election

On 30 November 2021, the political bloc led by Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr was confirmed the winner of the October election.

2021: Oil sector provides foreign exchange earnings

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

2021: Baghdad Regional Security Summit

In 2021, Baghdad hosted a regional security summit, which included Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, France, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and the European Union.

2021: Internally Displaced People

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

2021: Repatriation of Looted Artefacts

On 2021, it was announced that Iraq had reclaimed about 17,000 looted artefacts, which was considered to be the biggest repatriation.

2021: Total Iraqi population

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

2021: Experiences its second-driest season

The country experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades in 2021. Water flows in the Tigris and Euphrates are down between 30 and 40%.

2021: Agreement to Build Schools

The school construction project stems from a 2021 agreement between the Iraqi and Chinese governments to build 1,000 schools.

July 2022: Parliament building stormed by protesters

On 27 July 2022, the parliament building was stormed by protesters for the second time in a week.

2022: Finished paying reparations to Kuwait

In 2022, Iraq finished paying reparations to Kuwait for its invasion.

2022: Payment of War Reparations to Kuwait

In 2022, the UN Compensation Commission announced that Iraq has paid a total of $52.4 billion in war reparations to Kuwait.

2023: Home to world's largest oasis of palm trees.

Around the city of Karbala, is home to world's largest oasis of palm trees. In 2023, it surpassed Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahsa Oasis.

2023: Government working on "Iraqi vision for climate action"

However, in 2023, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that government was working on a wider "Iraqi vision for climate action".

2023: Economic Conference

In 2023, Iraq hosted an economic conference for Economic Integration and Regional Stability.

2023: Iraq's Democracy Index

In 2023, according to the V-Dem Democracy indices, Iraq was ranked as the third most electoral democratic country in the Middle East.

2023: Announcement of 15 new cities across Iraq

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

2024: Inauguration of Shaab General Hospital

In 2024, Mohammed Shi'a Al-Sudani officially inaugurated Shaab General Hospital, Baghdad's first new general hospital in nearly 40 years, featuring advanced medical equipment and a full range of healthcare services.

2024: Quadrilateral memorandum of understanding for Iraq Development Road project

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

2024: Inauguration of New Schools

In 2024, the Iraqi government inaugurated 790 new schools across the country as part of an agreement with China to build 1,000 schools.

2025: Iraq's stability in security and economy

In 2025, parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani emphasized Iraq's stability in terms of security and economy, noting its non-aligned approach.

2025: Completion of the Iraq Development Road project

The Iraq Development Road project, a 1,200-km railway and motorway connecting the Grand Faw Port to the Turkish border, is planned to be completed by 2025.

2030: One third of electricity demand by 2030

Sudani said Iraq was "moving forward to conclude contracts for constructing renewable energy power plants to provide one-third of our electricity demand by 2030".