Iraq’s Ministry of Planning reported last week that Iraq’s population is now over 40 million, with annual population growth of 2.6%, and 40% of Iraq’s population under 14. So what? A short thread on an issue that deserves more attention:

At least 1 out of every 3 Iraqis is currently unemployed. Iraq will need to change radically the structure of its economy to create jobs for the 300,000 (and rising) who leave education every year. Source: https://bit.ly/2KlsTrB 

Population growth puts massive pressure on Iraq’s public services. Even if oil prices stay the same, spending per person would fall - equivalent to $2.9bn in real term cuts by 2025, which would be equivalent to a 7% cut in health spending. Source: https://bit.ly/39Ackkm 

Rapid population growth puts severe pressure on Iraq’s climate. Demand for clean water, already scare, is set to increase by 15% in a single decade, partly due to rapid population growth. Where is this water going to come from? Source: https://bit.ly/3bSFCxz 

Only 6 out of every 10 women who want it have access to modern contraceptive methods. Iraq has a great new National Birth Spacing & Family Planning Strategy. It now needs to implement it. The UK will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to help with this.

There are no easy fixes to create more jobs. The public sector wage bill is already too big and takes up almost 50% of government spending.

To create more private sector jobs, Iraq needs to: make it easier to set up a business, increase access to finance, and invest in infrastructure. UK Export Finance has up to £2 billion available for projects in Iraq.

As a founder of the Reform, Recovery, and Reconstruction Trust Fund, the UK is leading efforts to support private sector development. But much more needs to be done.