In 2023, the infant mortality rate in deaths per 1,000 live births in Iraq was 20.8. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 116.9, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Actual value and historical data chart for Iraq Mortality Rate Infant Male Per 1000 Live Births

Historical dataset showing Iraq infant mortality rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Infant: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 23.300 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 24.000 Ratio for 2015. Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Infant: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 27.300 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.700 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 23.300 Ratio in 2016. Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Infant: Female: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iraq – Table IQ.World Bank: Health Statistics. Infant mortality rate, female is the number of female infants dying before reaching one year of age, per 1,000 female live births in a given year.; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Iraq Infant Mortality Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1960-12-31 to 2023-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) in Iraq was reported at 18.7 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iraq - Mortality rate, infant, female (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) in Iraq was reported at 20.8 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iraq - Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 30.400 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.300 Ratio for 2016. Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 55.650 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 191.600 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 30.400 Ratio in 2017. Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iraq – Table IQ.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data was reported at 28.100 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.000 Ratio for 2015. Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data is updated yearly, averaging 33.500 Ratio from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.000 Ratio in 1990 and a record low of 28.100 Ratio in 2016. Iraq IQ: Mortality Rate: Under-5: Female: per 1000 Live Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iraq – Table IQ.World Bank: Health Statistics. Under-five mortality rate, female is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn female baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to female age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.; ; Estimates Developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Weighted Average; Given that data on the incidence and prevalence of diseases are frequently unavailable, mortality rates are often used to identify vulnerable populations. Moreover, they are among the indicators most frequently used to compare socioeconomic development across countries. Under-five mortality rates are higher for boys than for girls in countries in which parental gender preferences are insignificant. Under-five mortality captures the effect of gender discrimination better than infant mortality does, as malnutrition and medical interventions have more significant impacts to this age group. Where female under-five mortality is higher, girls are likely to have less access to resources than boys.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in Iraq stood at 25.73. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 10.97, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Actual value and historical data chart for Iraq Number Of Infant Deaths

Over the last two observations, the life expectancy has significantly increased in all gender groups As part of the positive trend, the life expectancy reaches the maximum value for the different genders at the end of the comparison period. Particularly noteworthy is the life expectancy of women at birth, which has the highest value of 74.06 years. Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years that the average newborn can expect to live, providing that mortality patterns at the time of their birth do not change thereafter.Find further similar statistics for other countries or regions like Samoa and Jamaica.

In 1870, it is estimated that life expectancy from birth in the area of modern-day Iraq was just over the age of 31 years. Life expectancy would remain largely stagnant at this level for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, interrupted only by a temporary dip in the late-1910s as the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic would spread through the region. Life expectancy would begin to rise sharply in the years following the Second World War, however, as rising petroleum sales allowed a rapid modernization of the country, causing access to healthcare and standards of living to rise throughout the country. The large reductions in infant and child mortality were the driving force behind the increase in life expectancy.

This growth would continue steadily until the 1980s, when life expectancy would fall from just under 62 years in 1980, to 58.5 years in 1985, as the decade long Iran-Iraq War would lead to widespread fatalities and displacement in the country. As the fighting eased in the late 1980s, life expectancy began to rise once more in Iraq, reaching 69 years by the start of the 21st century. However, this growth would reverse once more in the 2000s, due to the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, which in turn led to an insurgency of paramilitary and terrorist groups, and the subsequent civil war from 2011 to 2017. As Iraq continues its recovery following four decades of violence and instability, life expectancy is on the rise again, and in 2020, it is estimated that life expectancy from birth in Iraq is over seventy years.

Actual value and historical data chart for Iraq Birth Rate Crude Per 1 000 People

Historical dataset showing Iraq birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

The total life expectancy at birth in Iraq stood at 72.32 years in 2023. Between 1960 and 2023, the life expectancy at birth rose by 20.86 years, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

This scatter chart displays life expectancy at birth (year) against death rate (per 1,000 people) in Iraq. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Iraq: The number of crude births per 1000 people, per year: Pour cet indicateur, La Banque mondiale fournit des données pour la Iraq de 1960 à 2023. La valeur moyenne pour Iraq pendant cette période était de 38.03 births per 1000 people avec un minimum de 25.73 births per 1000 people en 2023 et un maximum de 47.89 births per 1000 people en 1962.

Abstract

This survey represents the fourth round of the Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey (MICS4) carried out in Iraq. MICS4 surveys have been conducted in around fifty countries throughout the world. The sample of the survey was designed to cover all districts (118) and governorates (18), urban and rural areas, with a total sample size of 36,580 households. The objective of the survey is to provide up-to-date information for assessing the situation of children and women in Iraq, which will be used for monitoring progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, the goals of A World Fit for Children (WFFC), and the national goals.

In each of the interviewed households, information was collected on the sex and age of all household members, a total of 230,000 persons. Their access to water and sanitation, education levels, child labour, methods used to discipline children, salt iodization, and other living conditions were registered. More than 55,000 women 15-49 years living in those households were interviewed to obtain information on marriage, child mortality, contraception, FGM/C, maternal and newborn health, attitudes towards domestic violence, practices and knowledge related to HIV/AIDS. The mothers or caretakers of more than 36,000 children under five years were interviewed to collect information on birth registration, child development, immunization, breastfeeding, vitamin A supplementation, care of illness, and anthropometry.

Despite the remarkable differences in the levels of security and access throughout Iraq's territory, MICS4 has been conducted under the leadership of the two organizations: the Central Statistics Organization and the Kurdistan Regional Statistics Office. The location of interviewed households was registered using GPS devices, which will help identifying children living in the most disadvantaged communities.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Individuals
• Households

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents), all women aged between 15-49 years, all children under 5 living in the household.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The primary objective of the sample design for the Iraq Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey was to produce statistically estimates of most indicators with high precision at the national level, and with lower precision levels for smaller geographical units (governorates and districts). Urban and rural areas in each of the 118 Districts were defined as the sampling strata.

A multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample.

The target sample size for the Iraq MICS was calculated as 35,580 households. For the calculation of the sample size, the key indicator used was the full immunization coverage among children aged 0-4 years according to MICS3.

The resulting number of households from this exercise was 311 households, taken to be 310, which is the sample size needed in each District -thus yielding about 36,580 in total. The average number of households selected per cluster for the Iraq MICS was determined as 10 households, based on a number of considerations, including the design effect, the budget available, and the time that would be needed per team to complete one cluster given the security conditions for the field teams. Dividing the total number of households by the number of sample households per cluster, it was calculated that 85 sample clusters would need to be selected in each region.

Equal allocation of the total sample size to the 118 districts was used. Therefore, 31 clusters were allocated to each district, with the final sample size calculated at 36,580 households (31 clusters*118 regions*10 sample households per cluster). In each region, the clusters (primary sampling units) were distributed to urban and rural domains, proportional to the size of urban and rural populations in that region.

The sampling procedures are more fully described in appendix A in document "Iraq Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2011 - Report" pp.1-4.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaires for the Generic MICS were structured questionnaires based on the MICS4 model questionnaire with some modifications and additions. Household questionnaires were administered to a knowledgeable adult living in the household. The household questionnaire includes Household Listing Form, Education, Water and Sanitation, Household Characteristics, Child Labour, Child Discipline, Handwashing, Salt Iodization and Water Testing.

In addition to a household questionnaire, the Questionnaire for Individual Women was administered to all women aged 15-49 years living in the households. The women's questionnaire includes Women's Background, Marriage, Child Mortality (with Birth history), HIV/AIDS, Desire for Last Birth, Maternal and Newborn Health, Illness Symptoms, Contraception, Unmet Need, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, and Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence.

The Questionnaire for Children Under-Five was administered to mothers or caretakers of children under 5 years of age living in the households. The children's questionnaire includes Age, Birth Registration, Early Childhood Development, Breastfeeding, Care of Illness, Immunization, and Anthropometry.

Cleaning operations

Questionnaires were edited in the field by the local editors. A second round of editing was performed centrally at CSO office in Baghdad and KRSO office in Erbil. The data entry process began using 95 microcomputers (70 in Baghdad and 25 in Kurdistan Region) using the Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro). In order to ensure quality control, all questionnaires were double entered and internal consistency checks were performed. Procedures and standard programs developed under the global MICS4 programme and adapted to the Iraq questionnaires were used throughout. Data entry took place in Baghdad from May until August 2011. In the Kurdistan Region, the entry process began in April and ended in June 2011. Data processing ended in October 2011, and overall data quality was assessed in November 2011. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, Version 18, and the model syntax and tabulation plans developed by UNICEF were used for this purpose.

Response rate

The original selected sample of 36,580 was increased up to 36,592 households because 12 housing units included 2 households each. Out of those, 35,828 were found to be occupied. Of these, 35,701 were successfully interviewed for a household response rate of 99.6%. In the interviewed households, 56,445 women (age 15-49 years) were identified. Of these, 55,194 were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 97.8% within interviewed households. In addition, 36,599 children under age five were listed in the household questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed for 36,307 of these children, which corresponds to a response rate of 99.2% within interviewed households. Overall response rates of 97.4 and 98.9 are calculated for the women's and under-5's interviews respectively. Generally, response rates were high and similar within urban and rural areas and within the governorates.

Sampling error estimates

Sampling errors are a measure of the variability between the estimates from all possible samples. The extent of variability is not known exactly, but can be estimated statistically from the survey data.

The following sampling error measures are presented in this appendix for each of the selected indicators: - Standard error (se): Sampling errors are usually measured in terms of standard errors for particular indicators (means, proportions etc). Standard error is the square root of the variance of the estimate. The Taylor linearization method is used for the estimation of standard errors. - Coefficient of variation (se/r) is the ratio of the standard error to the value of the indicator, and is a measure of the relative sampling error. - Design effect (deff) is the ratio of the actual variance of an indicator, under the sampling method used in the survey, to the variance calculated under the assumption of simple random sampling. The square root of the design effect (deft) is used to show the efficiency of the sample design in relation to the precision. A deft value of 1.0 indicates that the sample design is as efficient as a simple random sample, while a deft value above 1.0 indicates the increase in the standard error due to the use of a more complex sample design. - Confidence limits are calculated to show the interval within which the true value for the population can be reasonably assumed to fall, with a specified level of confidence. For any given statistic calculated from the survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error (r + 2.se orr- 2.se) of the statistic in 95 percent of all possible samples of identical size and design.

For the calculation of sampling errors from MICS data, SPSS Version 18 Complex Samples module has been used. In addition to the sampling error measures described above, the tables also include weighted and unweighted counts of denominators for each indicator.

Sampling errors are calculated for indicators of primary interest, for the national level, for the regions, and for urban and rural areas. Three of the selected indicators are based on households, 8 are based on household members, 13 are based on women, and 15 are based on children under 5. All indicators presented here are in the form of

Actual value and historical data chart for Iraq Completeness Of Birth Registration Percent