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Iraq

Asia · 44 million

About Iraq

Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the Western Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Baghdad, and the country is home to approximately 46.1 million people. In its native languages, the country is known as “العراق”, “ܩܘܼܛܢܵܐ”, “کۆماری”. Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Iraq. The official currency in circulation is the Iraqi dinar (ع.د), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Iraq is widely recognised for ancient Mesopotamia, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and being the cradle of writing. People from Iraq are referred to as Iraqi.

Geography & climate

Iraq covers approximately 438,317 km² of territory, making it a mid-sized country by land area. It shares land borders with 6 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Iraq sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 33.0° N, 44.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+03:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Iraq can be summarised as: mesopotamian plain & desert with hot & arid. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 46.1 million inhabitants, Iraq is a country of significant population size. Linguistic life is plural here: Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Locals refer to their homeland as “العراق” or “ܩܘܼܛܢܵܐ”, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Iraqi, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Iraqi dinar (ع.د) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Iraq should familiarise themselves with the capital, Baghdad, the local time zone (UTC+03:00), the local currency (Iraqi dinar). The international dialling prefix is +964, which is required when phoning a Iraq number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .iq, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Sunday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Iraq is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Iraq is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the Western Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "Middle East" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.

Bordering countries

Iraq shares land borders with 6 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Between two ancient rivers lies the birthplace of writing, the wheel, the 60-minute hour, and the first cities — all arising around 4,000 BC.

Iraq in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Iraq appears as a moderately challenging puzzle, suited to players who already know the major continents. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Iraq carries the personality tags “🏛️ Cradle of Civilization” and “🌾 Mesopotamian Heart”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Iraq to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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