Economy, jobs and prices in Erbil, Iraq: official figures
In 2024 the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over in Erbil was 14.7%, 7th highest of 18 governorates and against 13.5% for Iraq.
What is youth unemployment in Erbil?
Among young people aged 15 to 24 in Erbil, 16.3% of the labour force was unemployed in 2024 (9th lowest of 18 governorates) and 47.5% 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 Erbil gone up since 2014?
Unemployment among people aged 15+ in Erbil was 8.3% in the 2014 household survey and 14.7% in 2024, up 6.4 percentage points (Iraq: 10.6% to 13.5%).
Source: Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyWhat was the unemployment rate in Erbil in 2016?
The 2016 household survey put unemployment among people aged 15+ in Erbil at 13.6%, with 47.5% of people in the labour force; in 2024 the figures were 14.7% and 49.0%.
Source: Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHow Erbil compares with other governorate of the Kurdistan Regions
Unemployment rate, people aged 15+ (2024) (2024)
Erbil ranks 7 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Basra | 18.0% |
| 5 | Duhok | 17.5% |
| 6 | Najaf | 16.6% |
| 7 | Erbil | 14.7% |
| 8 | Dhi Qar | 14.2% |
| 9 | Nineveh | 14.1% |
| 10 | Sulaymaniyah | 13.6% |
Economic activity rate, people aged 15+ (2024) (2024)
Erbil ranks 2 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sulaymaniyah | 49.8% |
| 2 | Erbil | 49.0% |
| 3 | Duhok | 43.3% |
| 4 | Basra | 43.3% |
| 5 | Diyala | 40.7% |
| 6 | Anbar | 40.3% |
| 7 | Maysan | 38.4% |
Youth unemployment rate, ages 15-24 (2024) (2024)
Erbil ranks 10 of 18, highest first. Share of the youth labour force without work
| Rank | Region | Youth unemployment rate, ages 15-24 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Baghdad | 18.3% |
| 8 | Kirkuk | 17.5% |
| 9 | Sulaymaniyah | 16.6% |
| 10 | Erbil | 16.3% |
| 11 | Wasit | 16.0% |
| 12 | Dhi Qar | 15.9% |
| 13 | Nineveh | 15.5% |
More on Erbil: overview · health · poverty and living standards · 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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