Iraq
Iraq

Iraq Environment Overview

Iraq, located in the heart of the Middle East, is characterized by its predominantly arid climate, marked by hot, dry summers and mild winters. The northern mountainous regions, adjacent to Iran and Turkey, experience harsh winters with heavy snowfall, which can lead to springtime flooding in central and southern areas. Approximately 21.8% of Iraq's land is utilized for agriculture, with 11.4% designated as arable land. Urbanization is on the rise, with 71.6% of the population residing in urban areas, growing at an annual rate of 2.91% from 2020 to 2025. Environmental challenges persist, including habitat loss from wetland drainage, soil degradation, and pollution from industrial and military activities. Iraq's carbon dioxide emissions are significant, totaling 190.815 million metric tonnes in 2023, primarily from petroleum consumption. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing sustainable strategies to address Iraq's environmental issues.

Climate

primarily arid; winters that are mild to cool, accompanied by dry, hot, and clear summers; the northern mountainous areas near the borders of Iran and Turkey experience frigid winters with occasional heavy snowfall, which typically melts in early spring, occasionally leading to significant flooding in central and southern Iraq

Land use

other

76.5% (2023 est.)

forest

1.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land

21.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

71.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane emissions

other

2.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

325 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

2,243 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture

157 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

13.14 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

15.4% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues

loss of habitat due to the drainage of wetlands; insufficient drinking water; degradation of soil (salinization) and erosion; desert encroachment; pollution of air, soil, and groundwater stemming from military activities and industrial operations; contamination of water from oil refineries and the discharge of factory and sewage waste; soil contamination from fertilizers and chemicals; air quality issues in metropolitan regions

Total water withdrawal

municipal

6.735 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

4.52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

31.169 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

190.815 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

37.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

152.931 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

89.86 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification

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