Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq
Iraq: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 40,320 tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq is 40,320 tonnes, measured in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 35.4% on the previous year and down 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq peaked at 74,433 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3,565 tonnes, in 2005.
That places Iraq 48th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 6,585 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 6,718 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 3,565 tonnes | -46.9% |
| 2006 | 5,227 tonnes | +46.6% |
| 2007 | 5,071 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 14,895 tonnes | +193.7% |
| 2009 | 19,889 tonnes | +33.5% |
| 2010 | 14,212 tonnes | -28.5% |
| 2011 | 14,555 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 21,042 tonnes | +44.6% |
| 2013 | 23,312 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2014 | 41,910 tonnes | +79.8% |
| 2015 | 68,159 tonnes | +62.6% |
| 2016 | 67,042 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 61,524 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 51,900 tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 74,433 tonnes | +43.4% |
| 2020 | 46,288 tonnes | -37.8% |
| 2021 | 40,405 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 45,756 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 43,178 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 50,452 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 2025 | 62,392 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 2026 | 40,320 tonnes | -35.4% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 40,320 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,584 tonnes, 7.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 40,320 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1,273 tonnes, 31.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +193.7% | 5,071 tonnes | 14,895 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8,850 tonnes | 3,565 tonnes | 19,889 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 43,809 tonnes | 14,212 tonnes | 74,433 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 46,970 tonnes | 40,320 tonnes | 62,392 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More climate change data for Iraq
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 672.48 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 10,634 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,750 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,884 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.15 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 245.84 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,859 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,294 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,565 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 16.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Iraq was 40,320 tonnes in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 74,433 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,565 tonnes in 2005.
- How does Iraq rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Iraq ranks 48th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
PM2.5 emissions represent the quantity of fine particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) released by wildfires, in tonnes. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.