Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in Iraq
Iraq: Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected was 5.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in Iraq, 2000–2025
Source: BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in Iraq is 5.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in Iraq peaked at 5.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
Iraq ranks 218th of 240 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2002 | 0.0% | — |
| 2003 | 1.5% | — |
| 2004 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | +83.1% |
| 2008 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.9% | +39.4% |
| 2014 | 5.5% | +38.9% |
| 2015 | 5.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5.6% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 5.6% | +0.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 5.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.8%, 13% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 5.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 34.7%, 16% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.5% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 2.8% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 215 Lebanon 7.5% compare
- 216 British Virgin Islands 7.4% compare
- 217 Papua New Guinea 7.3% compare
- 219 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 5.1% compare
- 220 Solomon Islands 4.8% compare
- 221 Vanuatu 4.3% compare
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)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 6.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in Iraq?
- Share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in Iraq was 5.6% in 2025, according to BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does Iraq rank for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected?
- Iraq ranks 218th out of 240 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%).