Overview

Following the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was established as a British Protectorate in 1920 by the League of Nations. A monarchy was established in 1921, with Iraq gaining its independence in 1932. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown in a military coup d'état and the Republic of Iraq was created. It came under the control of the Ba'ath Party in 1968, with General Saddam Hussein gradually assuming control and formally acceding to the Presidency in 1979. He ruled until the collapse of his regime, following US-led coalition military action launched in March 2003 over Iraq's failure to cooperate in relation to suspected stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 687. Iraq has been led by a democratically-elected government since 2006. 

Iraq shares borders with Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. It has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km on the northern Gulf. Its capital is Baghdad. It has a total area of 438,317 km² and a population of around 42 million. There are 18 provinces in Iraq, including three provinces under the partial control of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), an autonomous regional government recognised under the Iraqi Constitution. 

Political Overview

System of Government

Iraq is a federal constitutional democracy. The Head of State is the President. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, who appoints the Council of Ministers (Cabinet). The Council of Representatives (CoR) is the unicameral legislature. The Iraqi people elect the 329 members of the CoR through an open-list, proportional representation electoral process. Nine seats are set aside for representation of Iraqi minorities. The Constitution sets a quota of 25 per cent of CoR seats to be held by women. Members serve four-year terms. The Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers do not have to be elected members of the CoR but the CoR must approve their nominations. Ministers must forgo their CoR seats to serve in Cabinet.

Security

During late 2013 and 2014, the terrorist organisation Da'esh seized territory in west and northwest Iraq, including the city of Mosul. Da'esh systematically persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, and committed abuses against vulnerable groups including women and children. On 9 December 2017, then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the defeat of Da'esh in Iraq. 

Despite the territorial defeat of Da'esh in Iraq and Syria (announced by the Syrian Democratic Forces in March 2019), Da’esh remains a very real threat to the region. At the request of the Government of Iraq, the Global Coalition to Defeat Da’esh continues to support the Iraqi Security Forces to combat the threat posed by remnants of Da'esh. See 'Australian Assistance' below for more information on Australia's contribution to the Coalition. 

The Australian Government advises Australians not to travel to Iraq. Due to the security situation, consular assistance is extremely limited within Iraq. See travel advice for Iraq.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Iraq engage regularly on political, security, economic and humanitarian issues. 

Australia has had diplomatic relations with Iraq in various forms since 1935. Australia opened an Embassy in Baghdad in 1976 and Iraq established an Embassy in Canberra in 1995. 

After the closure of the Australian Embassy in Baghdad in 1991, and the closure of the Iraqi Embassy in Canberra in 2003, full diplomatic relations resumed when both Embassies reopened in 2004, following the transfer of authority from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the Iraqi Interim Government. 

Australian assistance

Australia has made a significant contribution to the Global Coalition to Defeat Da’esh and remains committed to its mission. Together with New Zealand, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) trained over 47,000 Iraqi security personnel as part of Task Group Taji, which concluded in June 2020. The ADF continues to make practical contributions in Iraq towards countering terrorism and ensuring security and stability through Operation Okra. Australia also provides personnel to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mission Iraq’s headquarters through Operation Steadfast. 

Australia committed over $589 million in humanitarian and stabilisation assistance to Iraq between 2003 to 2023. Australian funding helped provide food, medical services and protection to people in need, as well as stabilisation support to areas liberated from Da’esh control.

Economic overview

Iraq is classified as an upper-middle income economy. The International Monetary Funded estimates Iraq’s real GDP growth for 2023 was 3.7 per cent.

Oil remains critical to Iraq’s economy, accounting for over 85 per cent of government revenue and 99 per cent of exports. Iraq holds the fourth largest crude oil reserves within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest crude oil producer. 

Iraq faces post-conflict challenges, as well as longstanding political and sectarian divisions. Economic progress depends on improved internal security, combatting corruption and further economic reform. 

For more information on the Iraqi economy, please see our Iraq fact sheet [PDF].

Trade and investment

Two-way goods and services trade between Australia and Iraq was valued at $610.4 million in 2023. 

Australia has exported wheat to Iraq for over 50 years. Wheat was the largest Australian export to Iraq in 2023, valued at $486.7 million.

As Iraq seeks to diversify its economy, there is strong potential for growing the trade relationship, especially in grains and other food products, pharmaceuticals, education and agricultural technology.

Information on doing business and opportunities in Iraq

People to people links

There is a sizeable Iraqi community in Australia. According to the ABS Migration Australia data, as of June 2022, 104,170 people born in Iraq were living in Australia.

Recent High Level Visits

• Governor General, David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) visited Baghdad in December 2019 to meet then-President Dr Barham Salih and Australian Defence Force personnel. 
• Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Baghdad in December 2018 to meet then-Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi and Australian Defence Force personnel. 
• Then-Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, visited Baghdad November 2018 to meet then-President Barham Salih and Australian Defence Force personnel.