Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Iraq instead of American Samoa, you would:

Health

be 47.7% less likely to be obese

In American Samoa, 75.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Iraq, that number is 39.7% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 70.0% less money

American Samoa has a GDP per capita of $18,017 as of 2022, while in Iraq, the GDP per capita is $5,410 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

have 70.6% more children

In American Samoa, there are approximately 15.0 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iraq, there are 25.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 99.8% more likely to die during infancy

In American Samoa, approximately 10.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Iraq, on the other hand, 20.1 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 69.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In American Samoa, approximately 59% of people have electricity access (60% in urban areas, and 45% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Iraq, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 2.0 times more likely to have internet access

In American Samoa, approximately 40.3% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Iraq, about 81.5% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Geography

see 50.0% less coastline

American Samoa has a total of 116 km of coastline. In Iraq, that number is 58 km.

View global rankings →

Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2020–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: American Samoa vs. Iraq

Size Comparison · See true size
American Samoa is about 1,957 times smaller than Iraq.
→
Moving from American Samoa to Iraq · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Iraq: At a glance

Iraq is a sovereign country in Middle East, with a total land area of approximately 437,367 sq km. Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. US forces remained in Iraq under a UNSC mandate through 2009 and under a bilateral security agreement thereafter, helping to provide security and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces. In October 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and, pursuant to this document, elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR) in December 2005. The COR approved most cabinet ministers in May 2006, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half century. In January 2009 and April 2013, Iraq held elections for provincial councils in all governorates except for the three governorates comprising the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kirkuk Governorate. Iraq held a national legislative election in March 2010 - choosing 325 legislators in an expanded COR - and, after nine months of deadlock the COR approved the new government in December 2010. Nearly nine years after the start of the Second Gulf War in Iraq, US military operations there ended in mid-December 2011.
Read more

How big is Iraq compared to American Samoa? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Iraq or American Samoa. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.