Iraq is set to roll out a five-year anti-poverty strategy after a recent census revealed that over seven million people live below the poverty line, local reports said.
The plan, expected to launch by the end of the first quarter, will address financial hardship alongside key issues like education, healthcare, food security, housing, and income, according to the planning ministry.
Iraq’s latest census, the first in 37 years, recorded a population of 46.1 million, marking a significant increase from 6.5 million in 1957. While poverty rates have declined nationally from 20.5% in 2018 to 17.5% in 2024, regional disparities persist.
Poverty has risen in parts of the Kurdistan Region, while Muthanna remains the poorest province, despite some improvement. However, Nineveh has seen a significant decline in poverty rates.
Authorities plan targeted measures to support vulnerable populations, with coordination efforts extending to the Kurdistan Region to ensure comprehensive poverty reduction strategies.
