Iraq: Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Iraq's monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) rose 1.44 percentage points on 2023 (from 12.55% to 13.99%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1966 to 2023), the average change was +0.09 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.68 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 6.22 percentage points in 1965 and the biggest yearly fall was 5 percentage points in 1974. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.4 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 41% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Iraq had the 43rd highest value of the 46 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Iraq in the 2024 ranking

• Liberia — 40th of 46: 17.21%
• Madagascar — 41st of 46: 16.48%
• Comoros — 42nd of 46: 15.32%
• Gambia, The — 44th of 46: 9.4%
• Malawi — 45th of 46: 7.91%
• Somalia, Fed. Rep. — 46th of 46: 5.43%

What this measures

Domestic credit to private sector refers to financial resources provided to the private sector, such as through loans, purchases of nonequity securities, and trade credits and other accounts receivable, that establish a claim for repayment. For some countries these claims include credit to public enterprises. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 38 values

Monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) in nearby economies

• Afghanistan — 3.1% (2020)
• Algeria — 19.59% (2025)
• Bahrain — 70.55% (2015)
• Djibouti — 25.16% (2025)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 25.84% (2025)
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 57.83% (2016)
• Israel — 72.47% (2025)
• Jordan — 71.31% (2025)
• Kuwait — 4.92% (2025)
• Lebanon

More financial sector data for Iraq

• GDP deflator (base year varies by country) — 159.49 (2025)
• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$1,300 (2025)
• Inflation, GDP deflator (annual % growth) — -7.03% (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$1,300 (2025)
• Consumer price index (2010 = 100) — 143.6 (2025)
• Inflation, consumer prices (annual % growth) — 0.3% (2025)
• Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) — 13.99% (2024)
• Net domestic credit (current LCU) — 78.52 trillion (2024)
• Net foreign assets (current LCU) — 167.41 trillion (2024)
• Broad money (current LCU)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Iraq's monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP)?

13.99% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 4.65 percentage points from 9.34% in 1960. The highest value was 15.22% in 1965 and the lowest 1.27% in 2004.

How does Iraq rank?

43rd highest of 46 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) unusual for Iraq?

In 2024, Iraq's monetary sector credit to private sector (% of GDP) rose 1.44 percentage points on 2023 (from 12.55% to 13.99%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1966 to 2023), the average change was +0.09 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.68 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator FM.AST.PRVT.GD.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF); World Development Indicators Database, World Bank (WB); National Accounts data files, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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