Priority
Power generation & grid
Gas-fired generation, transmission upgrades and solar tenders aimed at closing a persistent supply gap.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Profile content in preparationRepublic of Iraq
Reconstruction at national scale.
OPEC's second-largest producer, with a 40-million-person consumer market and one of the largest reconstruction and infrastructure programs in the world.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $264 billion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 45.5 million
- Currency
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Economic growth
- ≈ -1.5% (oil cuts); non-oil sector growing
Statistics year: 2024 (latest full-year estimates)
Iraqi statistical reporting is improving but remains partial in some sectors; figures are the latest verified international estimates.
Overview
Scale, need and a rebuilding economy
Iraq is the second-largest oil producer in OPEC and one of the largest markets in the Arab world by population, with an overwhelmingly young consumer base.
Reconstruction spans electricity generation and transmission, housing, water, roads, hospitals, schools and telecoms — much of it financed by oil revenue and executed through international contractors.
American energy majors, engineering firms and equipment suppliers already hold significant positions, and the government continues to court US technology and services partners.
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Population
- ~45 million
- Language
- Arabic and Kurdish
- Currency
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
- Oil reserves
- ~145 billion barrels
- Membership
- OPEC, Arab League, UN
Economy
Oil revenue funding a national rebuild
Hydrocarbons dominate exports, but the spending they fund flows into construction, power, transport and consumer sectors.
$0B+
GDP (nominal)
Among the largest Arab economies
0M bpd
Oil production
Second-largest in OPEC
0%
Population under 25
A very young consumer market
$0B+
Reconstruction need
Across infrastructure sectors
Oil & gasSouthern fields and Kurdistan
Electricity & powerGeneration, transmission, gas capture
Construction & housingNational housing programs
Transport & logisticsPorts, roads, rail, airports
Agriculture & foodTigris–Euphrates farmland
Telecom & digitalMobile and fibre expansion
Priority sectors
Where Iraqi buyers are looking
Sectors where ministries, provincial governments and private groups actively seek international suppliers.
Anchor sector
Oilfield services
Field development, gas capture, water injection and maintenance contracts across southern Iraq.
Reconstruction
Construction & housing
Large residential programs plus schools, hospitals and municipal infrastructure.
Critical need
Water & environment
Treatment, desalination and irrigation projects addressing severe water stress.
Growth
Agriculture & agri-machinery
Mechanization, seed technology and food processing across a large farming base.
Digital
Telecom & IT
Fibre rollout, data centers, banking digitization and payment infrastructure.
National development
Rebuilding infrastructure and diversifying revenue
Iraq's development plans prioritise electricity, gas capture, housing and transport corridors that reconnect the country to regional trade.
- 2018
Reconstruction conference
International pledges mobilised for post-conflict rebuilding.
- 2021
Gas capture programs
Major agreements to stop flaring and feed domestic power generation.
- 2023
Development Road announced
A rail and road corridor plan linking the Gulf to Türkiye and Europe.
- 2030
Target state
Reliable national power supply and a substantially rebuilt transport network.
Major development projects
Projects shaping the next decade
Programs of a size that require international engineering, equipment and finance.
Grand Faw Port
A deep-water port on the Gulf designed to become one of the largest in the region.
Development Road
A planned 1,200 km rail and highway corridor from Faw to the Turkish border.
Gas capture & power
Multi-billion-dollar programs to capture associated gas and convert it into domestic electricity.
New city housing programs
Large planned residential cities around Baghdad and provincial capitals.
US – Iraq trade
A major oil supplier and a growing buyer of American goods
Iraq is a significant source of US crude imports, while American machinery, vehicles and agricultural products flow the other way.
Top exports to the world
Crude oilOverwhelming majority of exports
Refined products
Agricultural goods
Top imports
Machinery & power equipment
Vehicles & parts
Food & agricultural products
Construction materials
Leading products to the United States
- Crude oil
Leading products from the United States
- Power generation equipment
- Vehicles and heavy machinery
- Aircraft and parts
- Wheat and rice
- Medical equipment
- One of the largest infrastructure procurement pipelines in the Arab world
- Strong preference for American engineering and power technology
- A young population driving consumer, telecom and retail demand
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Iraq and the United States, reported from Iraq's perspective.
Total U.S. goods trade
$8.5B
2024
Exports to the United States
$7.4B
2024
Imports from the United States
$1.1B
2024
Trade balance
$6.3B
Surplus for Iraq
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Iraq exports to the United States$7.4B
Iraq imports from the United States$1.1B
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Iraq records a large goods surplus with the United States because crude petroleum dominates its shipments, while American exports concentrate on vehicles, power and industrial equipment supporting reconstruction and electricity capacity.
Scope of these figures
These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- Office of the United States Trade Representative — country trade fact sheets
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Crude petroleum
- Petroleum derivatives
- Precious metals
- Dates and agricultural products
Leading imports from the United States
- Vehicles and automotive parts
- Aircraft and parts
- Power generation and industrial machinery
- Electrical equipment
- Agricultural products, including wheat and rice
- Pharmaceuticals
Culture & tourism
The cradle of civilization
Mesopotamian heritage, religious pilgrimage and a mountainous north.
Babil
Babylon
The ancient Mesopotamian capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kurdistan Region
Erbil Citadel
One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited settlements.
Central Iraq
Najaf & Karbala
Pilgrimage cities receiving millions of visitors each year.
Why invest
Why American companies look at Iraq
Scale and need, for companies with the right partner and risk framework.
01
Market size
Roughly 45 million people with rising consumption and unmet infrastructure demand.
02
Oil-funded budgets
Capital programs financed directly from export revenue rather than external debt alone.
03
US commercial ties
Established American presence in energy, engineering, aviation and agriculture.
04
Regional gateway
Land routes connecting the Gulf, Türkiye, Jordan and Iran.
At the Expo
Iraq at AAIX 2027
The Iraq pavilion connects American engineering, power and equipment firms with ministries and private contractors.
- Infrastructure and power procurement briefings
- Oilfield services and gas-capture partner meetings
- Provincial reconstruction project introductions
- Distributor and agency matchmaking for US equipment brands
World heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iraq
Sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a core part of the country's cultural and tourism offer.
Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)
The first capital of the Assyrian empire on the Tigris.
Hatra
A fortified Parthian caravan city in the northern desert.
Samarra Archaeological City
An Abbasid capital with the spiral Malwiya minaret.
Erbil Citadel
A continuously inhabited mound at the heart of the Kurdistan Region.
The Ahwar of Southern Iraq
The Mesopotamian marshes and the ancient cities of Ur, Uruk and Eridu.
Babylon
The Neo-Babylonian capital on the Euphrates.
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Iraq through the Expo.
For American companies
Bid on power, water and oilfield contracts, and appoint distributors for equipment and consumer brands.
For Arab companies
Construction, building materials, food distribution and logistics into a 45-million-person market.
For international investors
Upstream and gas-capture partnerships, the Development Road corridor and housing programmes.
Represent Iraq at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve space in the Iraqi pavilion, or register as an American supplier to meet Iraqi buyers and contractors.
Sources & data
- Iraq Ministry of Planning
- Iraq National Investment Commission
- OPEC Annual Statistical Bulletin
- World Bank & IMF country data
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
- UN Comtrade
Last updated: August 2026