Governments / Countries / Iraq
How is Iraq governed?
Iraq is a parliamentary republic. Its head of state is the president and its head of government is the prime minister. Real power sits with the prime minister.
Questions people ask
- Is Iraq a monarchy or a republic?
- Iraq is a republic (parliamentary republic).
- Who really rules Iraq?
- The prime minister holds the real executive power. Head of state: President. Head of government: Prime Minister.
- How is the head of state of Iraq chosen?
- Elected by parliament.
- Does Iraq have a king?
- No. Iraq has no monarch; its last monarchy ended in 1958.
- Is Iraq a federation?
- Yes, a federation: sovereignty is divided between the centre and states or provinces the centre cannot abolish.
- How many chambers does the parliament of Iraq have?
- One chamber: Council of Representatives (329 seats).
- When did Iraq become a republic?
- The present republic dates from 2005.
Parliament: Council of Representatives
Iraq's legislature has one chamber, 329 seats in all. Each dot is one seat; party seat counts are on IPU Parline.
Regime history
One label per period, on Iraq's present-day identity.
15342026
| Years | Regime | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1534–1920 | Part of another state | Ottoman rule source |
| 1920–1932 | Colony, protectorate or mandate | British Mandate (kingdom under mandate from 1921) source |
| 1932–1958 | Constitutional monarchy | Kingdom of Iraq source |
| 1958–1968 | Military rule | Republic after the 14 July Revolution source |
| 1968–2003 | One-party state | Ba'athist Iraq source |
| 2003–2005 | Foreign occupation | Coalition occupation and interim government source |
| 2005–today | Republic | Republic of Iraq (federal parliamentary) source |