Iraq's domestic debt rises to 95.7 trillion dinars; external debt declines

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's domestic debt reached 95.7 trillion dinars by the end of April 2026, up from 90.5 trillion dinars at the end of 2025 and 83.05 trillion dinars at the close of 2024, according to Central Bank of Iraq data. The increase was driven primarily by the Finance Ministry's total obligations to the central bank, which climbed from 45.7 trillion dinars to 55.7 trillion dinars during the period. Within the domestic debt structure, loans declined from 22.9 trillion dinars to 20.3 trillion dinars, while bonds fell from 13.1 trillion dinars to 10.9 trillion dinars. Treasury bills held steady at 8.8 trillion dinars. Iraq's external debt stood at $54.1 billion as of 2025, down from $54.6 billion in 2024 and $56.2 billion in 2023. The figures show domestic debt continuing to rise through the first four months of 2026, while external debt has maintained a downward trend compared with previous years.