Iraq Education Statistics (2026)

What to know

In Iraq, adult literacy in 2021 (closest available) stood at 84.1%, reflecting moderate literacy levels with room for improvement. Primary completion in 2018 (closest available) reached 75.7%, indicating moderate completion with gaps. Tertiary enrollment in 2005 (closest available) was 16%, indicating limited participation. The out-of-school rate in 2007 (closest available) was 10.7%, with room for improvement in access.

Key statistics for 2023

Compulsory Education

6 years

Key terms

Literacy rate: — Percentage of population who can read and write a short, simple statement about everyday life.
Gross enrollment ratio: — Total enrollment in a level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the eligible school-age population.
Completion rate: — Percentage of a cohort of children who complete a given level of education.
Out-of-school rate: — Percentage of children of official school age who are not enrolled in school.
Pupil-teacher ratio: — Average number of pupils per teacher at a given level of education.
Educational attainment: — Highest level of education completed by the population aged 25 and over.