Energy intensity in Iraq
Iraq: Energy intensity was 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
55th
of 166 countries
All-time high
8.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1995
All-time low
0.533 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1968
Years of data
58
1965–2022
Energy intensity in Iraq, 1965–2022
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy intensity in Iraq is 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Iraq peaked at 8.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.533 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 1968.
That places Iraq 55th out of 166 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Energy intensity in Iraq, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.5474 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1966 | 0.5727 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.6% |
| 1967 | 0.5915 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 0.533 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.9% |
| 1969 | 0.5962 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +11.9% |
| 1970 | 0.7449 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +24.9% |
| 1971 | 0.7674 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 0.9346 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +21.8% |
| 1973 | 0.7842 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -16.1% |
| 1974 | 0.7254 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.5% |
| 1975 | 0.6792 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.4% |
| 1976 | 0.7122 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 0.724 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 0.6476 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.6% |
| 1979 | 0.6571 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 0.7434 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +13.1% |
| 1981 | 0.8495 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +14.3% |
| 1982 | 0.8878 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +26.0% |
| 1984 | 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +10.6% |
| 1985 | 1.44 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +16.7% |
| 1986 | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +16.5% |
| 1987 | 1.89 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 2.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +47.4% |
| 1989 | 3.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +24.9% |
| 1990 | 3.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 5.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +70.8% |
| 1992 | 6.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +13.5% |
| 1993 | 7.75 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +24.4% |
| 1994 | 8.65 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +11.5% |
| 1995 | 8.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 7.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -16.8% |
| 1997 | 8.44 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 5.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -39.6% |
| 1999 | 3.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -37.5% |
| 2000 | 3.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +19.5% |
| 2001 | 3.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 2.98 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -18.1% |
| 2003 | 3.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -35.3% |
| 2005 | 1.75 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -13.4% |
| 2006 | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -12.7% |
| 2007 | 1.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 1.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 1.29 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -12.5% |
| 2010 | 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.7% |
| 2012 | 1.14 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 1.16 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 1.09 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 1.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 1.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +19.4% |
| 2018 | 1.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 1.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.6% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.11 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 96% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5682 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.533 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.5962 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.7376 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.6476 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.9346 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.7434 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.42 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 8.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.29 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 52 Slovakia 1.2 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 53 Azerbaijan 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 54 Seychelles 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 56 Mongolia 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 57 Laos 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 58 Jordan 1.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for Iraq
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 22.9% (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Iraq?
- Energy intensity in Iraq was 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 8.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1995.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.533 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1968.
- How does Iraq rank for energy intensity?
- Iraq ranks 55th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.