Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Iraq instead of United States, you would:
Health
be 81.0% less likely to die by suicide
United States has a suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Iraq, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 6.5 years less
In United States, the average life expectancy is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Iraq, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2024.
see 93.7% less spent on your healthcare
United States spends $13,473 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Iraq spends $843 as of 2023.
have 72.2% fewer doctors per person
United States has 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Iraq has 10.2 as of 2022.
have 31.4% less access to essential health services
United States scores 86 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Iraq scores 59 as of 2021.
Economy
be 3.7 times more likely to be unemployed
In United States, 4.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Iraq, that number is 15.5% as of 2025.
make 94.0% less money
United States has a GDP per capita of $90,027 as of 2025, while in Iraq, the GDP per capita is $5,410 as of 2025.
Life
have 2.4 times more children
In United States, there are approximately 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Iraq, there are 25.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 3.9 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United States, approximately 17.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Iraq, 66.0 women do as of 2023.
be 3.7 times more likely to die during infancy
In United States, approximately 5.5 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.
Basic Needs
be 14.0% less likely to have internet access
In United States, approximately 94.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Iraq, about 81.5% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 66.9% less on healthcare
United States spends 16.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Iraq, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 99.7% less coastline
United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Iraq, that number is 58 km.
Safety
be 51.4% more likely to die in a road accident
In United States, road accidents kill 14.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Iraq, they kill 21.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 54.6% less home broadband
United States has 38.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Iraq has 17.6 as of 2024.
live with 2.1 times more strain on fresh water
United States withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Iraq withdraws 60% as of 2022.
use 89.3% less electricity
United States uses 12,839 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Iraq uses 1,377 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
emit 62.0% less CO2
United States emits 13.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Iraq emits 5.2 tonnes as of 2024.
be 6.2 times more likely to die from air pollution
In United States, air pollution causes 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Iraq, it causes 87.0 as of 2019.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: United States vs. Iraq
Iraq: At a glance
How big is Iraq compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.