Moving to Iraq from Zambia

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Zambia to Iraq — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Zambia to Iraq, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Zambia and Iraq stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2015

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
IQ
9.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
IQ
21.5

Zambia 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

ZM
$244
IQ
$843
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
IQ
10.1

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia 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

ZM
50.0
IQ
87.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
IQ
5.2t

Zambia 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

ZM
0.4
IQ
14.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
IQ
59.6%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
IQ
15.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
IQ
$12,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
IQ
73.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
IQ
19.6

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

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Baghdad
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 66°/43°F (19°/6°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 97°/67°F (36°/20°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 108°/74°F (43°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 77°/50°F (25°/10°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Baghdad
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Iraq

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

Iraq passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Iraq passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.

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?

With 14.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iraq can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Zambia and Iraq.

Is Iraq safe for expats?

Zambia performs better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iraq is 9.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Iraq compared to Zambia?

Iraq generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iraq, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Iraq scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Baghdad is 87°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Baghdad receives around 4.8 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Iraq?

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

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At a Glance

ZM IQ
Population 19,642,123 40,462,701
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
Languages English Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +964
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104