Economy, jobs and prices in Kirkuk, Iraq: official figures
In 2024 the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over in Kirkuk was 12.8%, 7th lowest of 18 governorates and against 13.5% for Iraq.
What is youth unemployment in Kirkuk?
Among young people aged 15 to 24 in Kirkuk, 17.5% of the labour force was unemployed in 2024 (8th highest of 18 governorates) and 30.7% 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 Kirkuk gone up since 2014?
Unemployment among people aged 15+ in Kirkuk was 2.9% in the 2014 household survey and 12.8% in 2024, up 9.9 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 Kirkuk in 2016?
The 2016 household survey put unemployment among people aged 15+ in Kirkuk at 9.9%, with 39.8% of people in the labour force; in 2024 the figures were 12.8% and 37.9%.
Source: Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHow Kirkuk compares with other governorates
Unemployment rate, people aged 15+ (2024) (2024)
Kirkuk ranks 12 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Nineveh | 14.1% |
| 10 | Sulaymaniyah | 13.6% |
| 11 | Wasit | 12.9% |
| 12 | Kirkuk | 12.8% |
| 13 | Baghdad | 12.3% |
| 14 | Al-Qadisiyah | 9.9% |
| 15 | Salah al-Din | 9.4% |
Economic activity rate, people aged 15+ (2024) (2024)
Kirkuk ranks 8 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Diyala | 40.7% |
| 6 | Anbar | 40.3% |
| 7 | Maysan | 38.4% |
| 8 | Kirkuk | 37.9% |
| 9 | Salah al-Din | 37.7% |
| 10 | Nineveh | 37.2% |
| 11 | Baghdad | 36.9% |
Youth unemployment rate, ages 15-24 (2024) (2024)
Kirkuk ranks 8 of 18, highest first. Share of the youth labour force without work
| Rank | Region | Youth unemployment rate, ages 15-24 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Basra | 20.4% |
| 6 | Duhok | 19.9% |
| 7 | Baghdad | 18.3% |
| 8 | Kirkuk | 17.5% |
| 9 | Sulaymaniyah | 16.6% |
| 10 | Erbil | 16.3% |
| 11 | Wasit | 16.0% |
More on Kirkuk: overview · health · education and schools · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.