Socio-Economic Indicators in Iraq: Historical Context and Analysis

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of socio-economic indicators in Iraq, examining the impact of historical events like the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and subsequent international sanctions. It explores the development of the banking sector, compares Iraq's GDP to neighboring countries, and delves into the significant influence of religious and ethnic factors. The essay investigates infant mortality rates, highlighting the effects of conflict and economic hardship on public health, and compares these rates with those of other nations. Furthermore, it assesses the state of education in Iraq, contrasting literacy rates with regional counterparts and discussing the challenges faced in balancing religious education with a more open knowledge system. Finally, the essay considers life expectancy as another critical socio-economic indicator, providing a holistic view of the challenges and developments within Iraq.

Running head: SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
Socio-economic indicators in Iraq
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ 1
Chapter 1
1.0 Over view
Towards the end of the twentieth century, several sanctions were imposed on the country
of Iraq. These sanctions were mainly economical in nature, aiming to prevent or obstruct the
flow of commodities and services from and to the region. The sanctions were imposed by the
United Nations Organization. This was necessitated mainly because of the reason that Iraq had
decided to invade Kuwait because of the presence of certain ethnic minorities (Reardon 2018).
The blow on the standard of living of the citizens of Kuwait greatly hampered the country. As an
implication of this, the United Nations decided to hold Iraq responsible for the actions. It urged
the country to withdraw its troops from Kuwait and to pay the reparations. Furthermore, Iraq was
also compelled to eliminate the various weapons of mass destruction that was manufactured and
used by the country. The purpose of this essay is to understand such different socio-economic
indicator as existing in the land of Iraq. In this context, different societal situations are taken in to
consideration such as that of the war with Iran (1980-1988), the aggression on Kuwait and the
first Gulf War of 1990-1991, followed by the international sanctions. The essay also looks in to
the issue of the Second Gulf War of 2003 and the situation prevailing in the region of Middle
East in the contemporary world order. Data collected from Iraq has been compared with the
neighboring countries in the context of all these different international occurring, so as to get a
comprehensive understanding of the lives of the people as existing within this region.
1.1 Banking sector in Iraq
The banking sector in Iraq developed through the times, passing through several stages of
development. The oldest bank in the country was that of the Ottoman Bank, then the Bank of

2SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
Shah of Tran was established. The eastern British Bank was founded next, followed by the Iraqi
national banking system which started from the years of 1935. By 1940, there were two kinds of
banks, the Agricultural Bank and the Industrial Bank. In the year of 1941, the Rafidian Bank was
founded as a commercial bank for the government. In the contemporary world of today, the
banking system of Iraq consists of nearly fifty four banks along with several other kinds of
banks, established for various purposes.
1.1.1 GDP of the countries (2017)
Countries Gross Domestic Product
Iran $454 billion
Iraq $192 billion
Egypt $235 billion
Algeria $168 billion
Morocco $110 billion
Source: Created by the author

3SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
Iran Iraq Egypt Algeria Morocco
0.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
350.00
400.00
450.00
500.00
Gross Domestic Product ($bn)
Source: Created by the author (year:2017)
1.2 Background on Iraq
Modern day Iraq covers almost the same landmass as did the region of ancient
Mesopotamia which was located in between the rivers of Euphrates and Tigris. With the birth of
Iraq, it can be noticed that the major religion that emerged in this area is that of Islam. More than
ninety five percent of the population identified with the Islamic religion and the culture of the
Arabs (Peyrovi et al. 2015). Besides the Arabs, the ethnic group of the Kurds also occupies a
significant portion within the region, causing serious regional imbalances within the area as a
result of the ongoing skirmishes between the two ethnic groups.
With regards to the culture of Iraq it can be observed that the rule of the Arabs in the
medieval time period has had a significant influence in determining the religion doctrines that
would be followed in this region of the world (Khodary 2016). In this context, the influence of
the Arab rulers ensured that the Middle East region adheres to the religious scriptures of the

4SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
Islamic faith. This meant that the doctrines laid down in the Quran were followed in Iraq in both
the political context as well as the social structuring of the community.
The region of Iraq has seen a continuous battle between the Kurds as well as that of the
Arabs. Furthermore, the ethnic population of Turkomans who occupy the mountains in the
northern part of the country, also face a stiff relations with the ethnic group of the Kurds. As a
result of so many internal conflicts within the region, Iraq has faced a lot of challenges in its
growth and development, particularly with regard to the issue of the health and well-being of its
own citizens.
1.2.1 Infant mortality rate
The infant mortality rate of Iraq is affected to a significant extent by the various social
and the economic factors present in the country (Zangana, Al-Banna and Al-Hadithi 2019). With
regard to its society, it can be seen that the strict adherence to the Holy Quranic doctrines both in
the political sphere as well as in the personal spheres of the lives of the people.
The infant mortality rate of Iraq can be judged from the prevalence of certain historically
significant conflicts. During the Iran Iraq War, the number of people killed in both the countries
as well as in the entire Middle East region was considerably high. The Iran Iraq War broke out in
the year of 1980 (Gordon 2018).
The health of the people suffered to a considerable extent in the period from 1990s
(Daponte 2018). The reign of Saddam Hussein reduced the expenditure on public health by a
considerable ninety percent as a result of which the health of the country suffered to a great
extent. People did not have access to the basic medical facilities and the medicines were
provided at extremely expensive rates (Li et al. 2016). It was at during this time that the maternal

5SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
mortality rate of the citizens of Iraq increased at a considerable rate while the medical people
were paid less salaries. It was this health dilemma which led to the increase in the infant
mortality rate after the Iran Iraq War. The refugee camps did not have the proper personnel to
care for the mothers who had to leave their home state because of the war like conditions.
The infant mortality rate continued to suffer a decline even after the end of the War. The
Gulf crisis that occurred during the last years of the twentieth century further dealt a damaging
blow to the entire region of the Middle East (Al-Janabi et al. 2016). After the end of the Gulf
War, the country of Iraq specifically was left completely ravaged and the entire infrastructural
sphere was damaged. Most of the Iraqi population did not have access to proper sanitary
conditions as well as to clean drinking water. This led to the rise in the water borne diseases at a
time when nearly twelve percent of the hospitals in the country were destroyed (Shabila 2017).
The distribution of the water sources and essential medical aid was also stalled because the
transport system was also affected and it reached a critical level whereby nothing could be
transported within the country for a very wide distance. As a consequence of this, several disease
broke out such as there was the outbreak of typhoid, cholera, gastroenteritis and malaria. The
number of Iraqis who were killed as a result of such health problems after the end of the Gulf
War was estimated to be around one hundred thousand in number. Furthermore, after the end of
the War in the year of 1991, the infant mortality rate increased significantly by almost three fold
which indicated that the number of citizens in the country were dying at an unprecedented
number.
1.2.1.1 Infant mortality rates of different countries (2017)
Iraq 43.8
Iran 35.7

6SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
Egypt 27.2
Algeria 27.7
Morocco 36.8
Source: Created by the author
Iraq Iran Egypt Algeria Morocco
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Infant mortality rates (2017)
Source: Created by the author
Furthermore, another reason which also affected the infant mortality rate in Iraq was the
declaration of the economic sanctions against Iraq by the United Nations. This declaration came
after the announcement of Iraq to invade Kuwait in the year of 1991. These economic sanctions
made it impossible on the part of the government of Iraq to rebuild the entire economic structure
of the country, especially that of the infrastructure. The economic sanctions greatly affected the
medical supplies that were being given to the country during this point of time. As a result of
this, many citizens further died from such untreated diseases and this is seen to be continuing in
existence even till today in the contemporary world order.

7SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
1.2.2 Education
The level of education received by the citizens of Iraq can be noted in comparison with
the other neighboring countries of the world. The politics and the society of Iran is based on the
doctrines as enunciated in the Holy Scripture of Quran (Barnett-Vanes et al. 2016).
Furthermore, it can be observed that various wars broke out in the region as a result of
severe shortage of the use of rational thought process within the territorial boundary of Iraq
(Abdullatif, Omar and Udin 2017). As a result of such lack of the use of rational thought process,
the leaders thought that it would be prudent to fight a war amongst themselves, which led to the
outbreak of the Iran Iraq War in 1980 (Mazawi 2017).
In this context, it can be observed that Iraq was one of the leading nations of the world
which was fast approaching the level of attaining a one hundred percent literacy rate
(Counterview.net. 2019). However, in the contemporary world, Iraq is seen to be struggling to be
recovering from a decade long worth of violent and hostile activities which has completely
ravaged the entire economy of the country (Shanks 2015). The Gulf War and the sanctions
imposed by the United Nations as a result of the conspiracy of Iraq to invade Kuwait, have
combined together to lead to the decline of the prosperity of the region. Majority of the schools
were destroyed, while the soldiers consisted of former teachers, many of whom could not survive
the war. As a result of this, the education system declined to a significant level at the dawn of the
twenty first century.
A major problem which is seen to be plaguing Iraq in the contemporary world time is that
of the conflict between the want of a fundamentalist religious education system and the need for
a more democratic and open system of knowledge requirement (Diwakar 2015). In the primary
level school, young children are allowed to learn where both the male and the female genders are

8SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
seen to attending the classes. However, in the secondary level schools, the number of female
students reduces drastically and from this level of education, it is the male gender who
predominantly occupies the education level field (Wadsworth 2017).
As a result, it can be noted that almost half of the population of Iraq is without any
educational knowledge. Education is deemed to be important for the individuals of the society as
it makes them aware about the different occurings of the society. Furthermore, it provides them
with the opportunity to critically reflect on societal issues and make their own judgements based
on the knowledge acquired by them. The field of education makes the important contribution to
society by enhancing their rational thinking ability. In the absence of this, the society of Iraq is
bound to suffer as most of its population hold a misplaced notion in high regard without having
the necessary knowledge available with them to rationalize it.
1.2.2.1 Comparison of adult literacy rate among the different nations of the world
Iraq (2013) 43.7
Iran (2016) 85.5
Egypt (2013) 85.5
Algeria (2008) 75.01
Morocco (2012) 69.4
Source: Created by the author

9SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
Iraq (2013) Iran (2016) Egypt (2013) Algeria (2008) Morocco (2012)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Adult literacy rate (2017)
Source: Created by the author
1.2.3 Life expectancy
A third socio-economic indicator which affects the region of Iraq is that of life
expectancy. In the recent world order, it can be observed that according to the Report published
by the World Health Organization in 2018, the life expectancy of Iraq is that of 67.5 for the male
population while for the female it is 72.2 (World Life Expectancy, 2019). The total life
expectancy of the overall population in Iraq is that of 69.8. This shows that in the world, Iraq
occupies the rank of 119 among all the countries (World Life Expectancy, 2019). According to
the Report published by the World Health Origination, the leading cause of such a low ranking
of Iraq in the category of life expectancy was attributed to that of the high rate of death.
The life expectancy of Iraq was considerably low during the years of 1965 to 1970. It
started to grow at a gradual pace after 1970, before taking a hit again in the 1980s. This can be
attributed to the outbreak of the Iran Iraq War in 1980 (Faiq et al. 2017). The war was fought for
over a period of eight years during which most of the male population of both the countries were

10SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
engaged in a fierce battle with each other. As a result of the continuous bloodshed and the on-
going conflict, the life expectancy rate of the entire country decreased significantly (Moazzem
Hossain et al. 2018).
The life expectancy rate of the Iraqi population started to grow after that when the state
leaders undertook significant measures to improve on the health management system of the
country (de Souza and Rêgo 2018). The hospitals which were destroyed in the region slowly
started to be rebuilt. However, it needs to be noted that more three significant wars in the region
in the past twenty five years, such as the Iran Iraq War, the Gulf Crisis and the invasion of Iraq in
Kuwait, had completely destroyed the social system and the welfare mechanism of the country.
In the 1970s, Iraq was considered to be one of the most developed countries in the region of
Middle East. However, the life expectancy at birth reduced drastically to 58 years in 2003
compared with that of 65 years in the time frame of 1985 to 1990. When compared with Kuwait,
it can be seen that the life expectancy at birth in Kuwait is that of 76 years.
In the context of life expectancy at birth, in Iraq, it needs to be observed that it is mainly
the children and the women who suffered the most after the end of each war period. The war was
fought by the male population mostly but after the wars were over, it was the female population
who were relegated to the back ground (Vermette et al. 2015). They did not have access to
proper and clean sanitation and water sources. Furthermore, the already ravaged hospitals and
the clinics were over flown with the soldiers who survived in the war. As a consequence, the
women did have access to even the most basic medical aid and assistance due to which their life
expectancy reduced significantly. The vulnerability of the children population also reduced their
life expectancy. They could not survive the poor conditions of the country which was negatively

11SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
affected even furthermore as a result of the economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations
during the early years of the twenty first century.
1.2.3.1 Life expectancy rates of different countries (2017)
Iraq 74.85
Iran 71.15
Egypt 73.70
Algeria 76.59
Morocco 76.71
Source: Created by the author
1.3 Impact of the sanctions
From the examination of the above sources, it can be seen that the sanctions which were
imposed on Iraq had a severe impact on the various socio-economic indicators of the country.
The health and nutrition level of the individuals suffered to a significant level (Nadeem, Asghar
and Rehman 2016). The sanctions dictated that all kinds of financial aid and support to the
country would be banned except the import of medicines on humanitarian ground. This led to the
decrease in the life expectancy rate. The women who were involved in the war were found to be
incapable to bringing up their children in a safe and secure environment. As a consequence, the
future generation suffered to a significant level. This was coupled with the fact that the education
level of the individuals of the country was quite low during the years of skirmishes.
From this, it can be observed that economic sanctions affect the citizens of a country in
an adverse manner. Iraq, however, has found the means to progress and develop itself over the

12SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
years so as to attain a stable foundation. In the present scenario, it can be seen that the life
expectancy rate of Iraq is that of 75.85, while the adult literacy rate is 43.7%. Furthermore, the
infant mortality rate stands at 43.8. This shows the slow and gradual and yet steady progress of
the country which is trying to recuperate from the damages of the sanctions.
1.4 Conclusion
Thus, to conclude it can be observed that the situation in Iraq is quite dire as compared to
its neighbouring countries in the region of Middle East. The Middle East region is essentially one
of the most conflict ridden zones of the world. Many hostilities take place in this area and they
are mainly based on the religious aspirations of the people. The Arab population of Middle East
is highly culturally integrated which means that they try to ensure that no other ethnic group in
the region holds any considerable power over them. In respect of Iraq, it can be observed that the
various conflicts which plagued the country since the middle of the twentieth century, has
severely impacted the life expectancy ratio of its citizens. Furthermore, the education level of its
people is also considerably low and the infant mortality rate is significantly higher in the region.
The war with Iran in 1980 led to the vast demolishment of its infrastructural sphere of activity.
The hospitals were ravaged and the health system in general was left in shambles. The country
could not formulate an effective welfare mechanism after the end of the Gulf War and the
sanctions of the United Nations further aggravated the issue of financial crisis within the region.
As a result of all of these intervening factors, it can be noted that the socio-economic indicators
of Iraq is extremely poor when compared with the neighbouring countries in the region and in
the world.

13SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN IRAQ
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