Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq
Iraq: Share of electricity generation from hydropower was 1.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq, 1985–2024
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq stood at 1.3%.
The figure is up 40.4% on the previous year and down 68.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq peaked at 26.9% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2023.
That places Iraq 137th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 2.9% | — |
| 1986 | 2.7% | -7.4% |
| 1987 | 11.6% | +329.0% |
| 1988 | 11.1% | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 10.9% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 16.4% | +50.4% |
| 1991 | 16.1% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 23.8% | +48.3% |
| 1993 | 22.7% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 23.4% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 26.9% | +14.7% |
| 1996 | 25.0% | -7.0% |
| 1997 | 24.8% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 23.2% | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 14.4% | -37.9% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | -86.7% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | -20.1% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 1.5% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 19.7% | +1200.6% |
| 2006 | 18.0% | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 17.3% | -4.2% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | -45.4% |
| 2009 | 8.5% | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | +14.3% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | -35.3% |
| 2012 | 9.5% | +51.2% |
| 2013 | 8.1% | -15.3% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -47.5% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | +13.9% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -43.4% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -20.6% |
| 2019 | 4.3% | +132.8% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | -17.5% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -21.7% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | -28.8% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | -51.9% |
| 2024 | 1.3% | +40.4% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 1.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.2%, 10% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +1200.6% | 1.5% | 19.7% |
| 1987 | +329.0% | 2.7% | 11.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.8% | 2.7% | 11.6% | 5 |
| 1990s | 21.7% | 14.4% | 26.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 1.5% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 1.8% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 1.0% | 3.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 134 Belarus 2.0% compare
- 135 Taiwan 1.9% compare
- 136 United Kingdom 1.9% compare
- 138 Poland 1.0% compare
- 139 South Africa 0.8% compare
- 140 Bangladesh 0.6% 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 share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq?
- Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Iraq was 1.3% in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 26.9% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2023.
- How does Iraq rank for share of electricity generation from hydropower?
- Iraq ranks 137th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.