If you lived in Iraq instead of Kyrgyzstan, you would:

Health

see 2.4 times more spent on your healthcare

Kyrgyzstan spends $349 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Iraq spends $843 as of 2023.

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be 56.3% less likely to die by suicide

Kyrgyzstan has a suicide rate of 6.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iraq, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 80.2% more likely to be obese

In Kyrgyzstan, 22.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Iraq, that number is 39.7% of people as of 2024.

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have 34.8% fewer doctors per person

Kyrgyzstan has 15.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Iraq has 10.2 as of 2022.

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have 14.5% less access to essential health services

Kyrgyzstan scores 69 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Iraq scores 59 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 27.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Kyrgyzstan, 24.0% live below the poverty line as of 2025. In Iraq, however, that number is 17.5% as of 2023.

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make 75.6% more money

Kyrgyzstan has a GDP per capita of $3,081 as of 2025, while in Iraq, the GDP per capita is $5,410 as of 2025.

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be 4.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In Kyrgyzstan, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iraq, that number is 15.5% as of 2025.

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Life

have 31.9% more children

In Kyrgyzstan, there are approximately 19.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iraq, there are 25.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 57.1% more likely to die during childbirth

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 42.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Iraq, 66.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 15.6% less likely to be literate

In Kyrgyzstan, the literacy rate is 99.6% as of 2018. In Iraq, it is 84.1% as of 2021.

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be 35.8% more likely to die during infancy

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 14.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Iraq, on the other hand, 20.1 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 11.5% less likely to have internet access

In Kyrgyzstan, approximately 92.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Iraq, about 81.5% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 22.9% more on healthcare

Kyrgyzstan spends 4.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Iraq, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 61.7% more likely to die in a road accident

In Kyrgyzstan, road accidents kill 13.3 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Iraq, they kill 21.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 2.3 times more home broadband

Kyrgyzstan has 7.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Iraq has 17.6 as of 2024.

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live with 19.1% more strain on fresh water

Kyrgyzstan withdraws 50% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iraq withdraws 60% as of 2022.

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use 33.4% less electricity

Kyrgyzstan uses 2,069 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Iraq uses 1,377 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 3.5 times more CO2

Kyrgyzstan emits 1.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Iraq emits 5.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2018). How we calculate this

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.
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