Economy, jobs and prices in Anbar, Iraq: official figures
In 2024 the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over in Anbar was 23.1%, the highest of 18 governorates and against 13.5% for Iraq.
What is youth unemployment in Anbar?
Among young people aged 15 to 24 in Anbar, 29.5% of the labour force was unemployed in 2024 (the highest of 18 governorates) and 36.8% were in the labour force; Iraq-wide the youth unemployment rate was 16.8%.
Source: Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHas unemployment in Anbar gone up since 2014?
Unemployment among people aged 15+ in Anbar was 19.6% in the 2014 household survey and 23.1% in 2024, up 3.5 percentage points (Iraq: 10.6% to 13.5%).
Source: Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHow Anbar compares with other governorates
Unemployment rate, people aged 15+ (2024) (2024)
Anbar ranks 1 of 18, highest first. Share of the labour force without work, Iraq household socio-economic survey 2024
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, people aged 15+ (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anbar | 23.1% |
| 2 | Al-Muthanna | 21.6% |
| 3 | Maysan | 20.0% |
| 4 | Basra | 18.0% |
| 5 | Duhok | 17.5% |
| 6 | Najaf | 16.6% |
| 7 | Erbil | 14.7% |
Economic activity rate, people aged 15+ (2024) (2024)
Anbar ranks 6 of 18, highest first. Share of people aged 15+ who are working or looking for work
| Rank | Region | Economic activity rate, people aged 15+ (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Duhok | 43.3% |
| 4 | Basra | 43.3% |
| 5 | Diyala | 40.7% |
| 6 | Anbar | 40.3% |
| 7 | Maysan | 38.4% |
| 8 | Kirkuk | 37.9% |
| 9 | Salah al-Din | 37.7% |
Youth unemployment rate, ages 15-24 (2024) (2024)
Anbar ranks 1 of 18, highest first. Share of the youth labour force without work
| Rank | Region | Youth unemployment rate, ages 15-24 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anbar | 29.5% |
| 2 | Al-Muthanna | 29.2% |
| 3 | Maysan | 25.3% |
| 4 | Najaf | 24.0% |
| 5 | Basra | 20.4% |
| 6 | Duhok | 19.9% |
| 7 | Baghdad | 18.3% |
More on Anbar: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Iraq
Sources
- Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning): Employment and unemployment indicators: rates by governorate 2014, 2016 and 2024 (household socio-economic surveys), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7895d40228d9…)
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