Municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq
Iraq: Municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals was 15.9% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq, 1975–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
In 2022, municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq stood at 15.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 301.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq peaked at 18.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1975.
Iraq ranks 102nd of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 1.4% | — |
| 1976 | 1.5% | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 1.6% | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 1.6% | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 1.7% | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 1.8% | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 1.8% | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 1.9% | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 2.0% | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 2.1% | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 2.3% | +9.2% |
| 1987 | 2.4% | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 2.6% | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 3.0% | +6.3% |
| 1991 | 3.5% | +17.2% |
| 1992 | 4.0% | +13.3% |
| 1993 | 4.4% | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 5.1% | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 6.0% | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 6.5% | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 6.4% | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 5.9% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 5.7% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 5.1% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 4.5% | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 3.2% | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | -16.3% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +19.4% |
| 2019 | 12.2% | +282.3% |
| 2020 | 18.9% | +55.1% |
| 2021 | 15.9% | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.0% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 4.8% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 2.7% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 15.9% | 18.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Plywood and LVL — Import quantity, annual growth rate 33.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Plywood and LVL — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Plywood and LVL — Import quantity, per capita 0.0075 m3 per person (2024)
- Plywood and LVL — Import value, annual growth rate 33.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Plywood and LVL — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq?
- Municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iraq was 15.9% in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1975.
- How does Iraq rank for municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals?
- Iraq ranks 102nd out of 180 countries with data for 2022.
- Is municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 301.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Municipal water as a share of total water withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Municipal (domestic) water withdrawals as a percentage of total water withdrawals (which is the sum of water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal purposes).