Iraq: Flag and Facts
Iraq's flag shows three horizontal bands of red, white, and black, with the Takbir, an Arabic phrase meaning God is great, written in green script across the white band.
- Official name
- Republic of Iraq
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Region
- Western Asia
- Population
- 43 million (2025)
- Languages
- Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani
- Currency
- Iraqi dinar
- Area
- 438,317 km² (169,235 sq mi)
- People
- Iraqi
- Calling code
- +964
- Highest point
- Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m
- Independence
- 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under…)
- National symbols
- golden eagle
About Iraq
The colors are borrowed from the Arab Liberation flag. Black stands for oppression, red for the struggle to overcome it, and white for a bright future. Lawmakers approved this design in 2008 as a compromise to replace the flag used under Saddam Hussein.
Iraq was once part of the Ottoman Empire. Britain occupied it during World War I, and in 1920 the League of Nations placed it under a British-run mandate. Independence as a kingdom followed on 3 October 1932, and a coup made it a republic in 1958. Wars with Iran (1980 to 1988) and over Kuwait in 1991 shaped later decades. In 2005, voters approved a constitution that also set up the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government. The land is mostly broad plains, with reedy marshes in the south and mountains along the borders with Iran and Turkey.
Did you know?
- Cheekha Dar, the highest point at 3,611 m, takes its name from the Kurdish for Black Tent.
- Half of all Iraqis are younger than 22.7 years, the country's median age.
- The golden eagle is Iraq's national symbol.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Iraq
What languages are spoken in Iraq?
Arabic, Aramaic, and Sorani are listed among Iraq's languages.
What is the capital of Iraq?
Baghdad is the capital, with about 7.7 million people in 2023. Mosul and Basra are the next largest cities.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.