Iraq

**No major new government, ILO, or World Bank releases on Iraq youth (15-24) or male unemployment in the last 60 days (since ~April 5, 2026).** Latest modeled ILO/World Bank estimates remain in the ~32% range for total youth unemployment (15-24): 32.012% for 2025 (FRED/World Bank data, updated Feb 2025 release) and 32.09% for 2024.[[1]](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLUEM1524ZSIRQ)[[2]](https://tradingeconomics.com/iraq/unemployment-youth-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-ages-15-24-modeled-ilo-estimate-wb-data.html)

An earlier Feb 22, 2026 ILO-UNICEF release noted persistently high youth unemployment and expanded job-search support via National Employment Policy and Job Search Clubs, with youth at 37% of the population.[[3]](https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/iraq-expands-nationwide-job-search-support-address-youth-unemployment-enar) Older figures (e.g., Ministry of Youth and Sports data cited in May 2025 reporting) put youth (18-35) unemployment at ~36% nationally by late 2024, exceeding 50% in some governorates like al-Muthanna, Dhi Qar, and Basra.[[4]](https://shafaq.com/en/Report/Youth-in-despair-no-jobs-to-share-Iraq-s-workforce-hanging-in-the-air) The provided baseline male youth rate (28.1% for 15-24 in 2025) aligns with the broader high-unemployment picture but shows no updates here that would shift it significantly.

**Significant events affecting young men (18-35) in the last 60 days center on militia-related tensions and economic pressures rather than large-scale youth protests or coups:**

- US Treasury sanctions (May 7, 2026) targeted three senior leaders of Iran-aligned Iraqi militias and Iraq’s deputy oil minister over alleged Iran support.[[5]](https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-iraq)
- US paused military cooperation programs and dollar shipments to Iraq (announced ~April 21, 2026) to pressure Baghdad on dismantling Iran-backed militias.[[5]](https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-iraq)
- Context of ongoing militia attacks on US sites (dozens reported in March–early 2026 period via Islamic Resistance in Iraq/PMF groups), alongside Iraqi government protests over a US strike on a PMF clinic (March 25, 2026).[[5]](https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-iraq)

These dynamics involve militia networks that often recruit or influence young men amid limited formal jobs. Broader 2026 outlook includes pressure on armed militias to disarm and shift to political roles, plus austerity measures tied to sliding oil prices (below $60/barrel after 2025 highs), which threaten public-sector hiring and could exacerbate youth economic grievances.[[6]](https://enablingpeace.org/ten-key-stories-to-watch-in-iraq-in-2026/) Smaller job-related protests occurred but remained limited overall, with no major youth-led unrest reported in the period.[[7]](https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/IRQ)

**Notable NGO/academic reports on Iraq’s youth situation from 2025 (published or covering 2025 data):** The British Council’s *Next Generation Iraq: Youth in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq* (2025) examines education, employment, and aspirations amid national/regional dynamics.[[8]](https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-iraq) UNICEF’s 2025 programming highlights (referenced into 2026) supported digital employability skills for ~19,000 young people and 448 youth-led startups.[[9]](https://open.unicef.org/country/Iraq?cid=2130) The BTI 2026 Iraq Country Report (covering through early 2025) notes relative political stability, limited major protests, and youth-led civic initiatives but persistent economic challenges.[[7]](https://bti-project.org/en/reports/country-report/IRQ) No brand-new 2025 reports surfaced specifically in the last 60 days.

**Internet/mobile infrastructure:** No major nationwide shutdowns, new rollouts, or coverage changes beyond routine exam-related measures. Iraq continued its multi-year policy of short (typically ~2-hour) national or partial internet suspensions during high school exams to curb cheating (e.g., confirmed ~May 17–20, 2026 period, with Kurdistan often exempt or less affected).[[10]](https://www.facebook.com/netblocks/posts/%EF%B8%8F-confirmed-metrics-show-that-internet-connectivity-was-cut-across-most-of-iraq-/984905057233103/)[[11]](https://pulse.internetsociety.org/en/shutdowns/internet-shutdown-for-iraq-exam-26-august-2025/) These are not full blackouts and have limited direct instability links but disrupt access periodically.

**Assessment vs. baseline (youth unemployment 28.1% male 15-24 / instability fuse 79.3/100):** No data releases or events in the last 60 days indicate a significant shift. High structural youth unemployment persists without fresh quantification, while militia-US tensions and austerity add ongoing risks for young men via recruitment pools or job scarcity. Monitor oil prices, militia disarmament talks, and any follow-on US/Iraqi economic measures for potential escalation. All figures and events drawn from cited sources above.

**Iraq Central Statistical Organization (COSIT/CSO, under Ministry of Planning)**  
- URL: http://cosit.gov.iq/en/home (or Arabic version)  
- API: No (machine-readable downloads available, e.g., XLSX from surveys/reports via site or mirrors like HDX)  
- Update frequency: Periodic (e.g., Labour Force Surveys; 2021 LFS available with unemployment/labor data)  
- Auth required: None (public downloads)[[1]](https://globaledge.msu.edu/global-resources/resource/5727)[[2]](https://ghdx.healthdata.org/organizations/central-statistical-organization-iraq)

**Central Bank of Iraq (CBI)**  
- URL: https://cbi.iq/ (Statistics section)  
- API: No (PDF/Excel bulletins and indicators available for download)  
- Update frequency: Monthly (Monthly Statistical Bulletin) and annual (Annual Statistical Bulletin); key financial/economic indicators  
- Auth required: None (public)[[3]](https://cbi.iq/language/change/english/https:----cbi.iq--news--section--90--)

**Arab Development Portal (UN ESCWA)**  
- URL: https://data.unescwa.org/  
- API: Partial (some API endpoints documented for data queries/views; primarily interactive portal with downloads)  
- Update frequency: Ongoing/regular (country breakdowns for Arab region including Iraq; economic, social, SDG-related indicators)  
- Auth required: None (public)[[4]](https://data.unescwa.org/)[[5]](https://qatar.unescwa.org/Datacatalog/Dataset/escwa/ablf/GetRegionalSubcategoriesScores_view)

**UNHCR Operational Data Portal – Iraq**  
- URL: https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/irq  
- API: Partial (JSON/CSV exports and query endpoints for population, trends, registration data)  
- Update frequency: Frequent (e.g., monthly updates; population figures, trends, operational data)  
- Auth required: None (public downloads/exports)[[6]](https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/irq)

**Iraqi News Agency (and similar local/regional RSS feeds)**  
- URL: Examples include feeds listed on aggregator sites (e.g., Iraqi News Agency RSS via feedspot or direct agency sites); reliable regional coverage via sources like Reuters, Al Jazeera, or local outlets  
- API: No (RSS feeds for syndication; general news APIs like NewsData.io cover Iraq but are not Iraq-specific)  
- Update frequency: Daily/real-time (news items)  
- Auth required: None for RSS; free tier for some aggregator APIs[[7]](https://rss.feedspot.com/iraq_news_rss_feeds/)

**Additional notes on regional coverage**: ESCWA explicitly includes Iraq with MENA/Arab country breakdowns. No dedicated public API found for African Development Bank (Africa-focused) or Asian Development Bank relevant to Iraq. Other options like HDX humanitarian datasets or ILO labour data often aggregate or mirror national sources. All listed are non-inference/raw or official statistical/news sources suitable for direct integration.