Moving to Iraq from Ethiopia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Ethiopia to Iraq? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ethiopia to Iraq, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Baghdad averages 87°F vs 74°F in Addis Ababa, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iraq compared to Ethiopia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

per 100,000 people per year

ET
8.6
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ET
17.7
IQ
21.5

Ethiopia performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ET
$86
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ET
1.1
IQ
10.1

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ET
46.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ET
0.1t
IQ
5.2t

Ethiopia performs better than Iraq across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ET
0.5
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ET
32.3%
IQ
59.6%

Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Ethiopia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ET
3.5%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ET
$2,800
IQ
$12,600

Iraq generally does better on employment & economy, though Ethiopia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ET
68.2 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ET
33.5
IQ
19.6

Iraq generally does better on family life, though Ethiopia leads in literacy rate.

Data: Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Addis Ababa Rain: 45.9 in/yr (1165 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Addis Ababa Baghdad
Jan–Mar 76°/48°F (24°/9°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 71°/50°F (21°/10°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Addis Ababa Baghdad
Jan 75°/46°F (24.0°/8.0°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 75°/48°F (24.0°/9.0°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 77°/50°F (25.0°/10.0°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.0°/11.0°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 77°/52°F (25.0°/11.0°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.0°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.0°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.0°/10.0°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 73°/48°F (23.0°/9.0°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 73°/45°F (23.0°/7.0°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI), Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ethiopia and Iraq. To live, work, or study long-term in Iraq, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iraq's immigration authority.

Ethiopia passport

Ethiopia passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Ethiopia passport holders need a visa to enter Iraq.
Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Ethiopia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Ethiopia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iraq?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iraq: 14.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iraq offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iraq safe for expats?

Ethiopia performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 8.6 in Ethiopia.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Ethiopia?

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ethiopia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 1.1 in Ethiopia. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ethiopia: 35).

What's the weather like in Iraq compared to Ethiopia?

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 74°F in Addis Ababa. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Addis Ababa gets 45.9 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

The official languages in Iraq are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. In Ethiopia, the official language is Amharic.

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At a Glance

ET IQ
Population 113,656,596 40,462,701
Currency Ethiopian Birr (ETB) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages Amharic Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +251 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 104