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Facts & Figures

Key statistics and facts about the Kurdistan Region of Iraq — geography, people, economy, and climate at a glance.

Geography

Total area~40,643 km² (roughly the size of Switzerland)

Governorates3 — Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok

CapitalErbil (Hewlêr)

Highest peakHalgurd Mountain — 3,607 m, near the Iranian border

Major riversGreater Zab, Lesser Zab, Diyala, Khabur

BordersTurkey (north), Iran (east), Syria (west), Iraq (south)

TerrainZagros Mountains in the north and east; plains and foothills to the south

Highest passHamilton Road (Gali Ali Beg) — one of the most scenic mountain roads in the Middle East

People & language

Population~6–7 million (KRI residents)

Main ethnicityKurdish (~85%)

MinoritiesAssyrian Christians, Yazidis, Turkmens, Arabs, Armenians

Main languageKurdish — two dialects: Sorani (south & east) and Kurmanji (north & west)

Other languagesArabic, Assyrian/Syriac, Turkish

Literacy rate~90% (rising; significant investment in education since 2003)

Universities20+ universities including University of Sulaimani (est. 1968) and Salahaddin University (est. 1968)

DiasporaLarge Kurdish diaspora in Germany, Sweden, UK, USA, and Australia

Economy

Main industryOil & gas — KRI holds significant petroleum reserves

AgricultureWheat, barley, tobacco, fruit; historically a breadbasket of Iraq

CurrencyIraqi Dinar (IQD)

GDP per capitaHigher than the Iraqi national average

Tourism growthRapidly growing sector; domestic and regional tourism surged post-2003

Main trading partnersTurkey (dominant), Iran, Europe

Special economic zonesMultiple free-trade zones near Erbil and Ibrahim Khalil border crossing

Climate

Summer (Jun–Sep)Hot and dry in the plains — 35–45°C in Erbil. Cooler at altitude (20–28°C in mountain resorts).

Autumn (Oct–Nov)Mild and pleasant. Good for hiking. Rain begins in November.

Winter (Dec–Feb)Cold; heavy snow in the mountains. Skiing possible near Rawanduz and Amadiyah.

Spring (Mar–May)Best season — green hills, wildflowers, mild temperatures. Nowruz (21 March) is a national celebration.

Best time to visit: March to May for lush landscapes; October to November for mild hiking weather. Avoid the peak summer heat in the plains if you can.

Religion & communities

Sunni Islam~75%The majority faith among the Kurdish population

Christianity~5%Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac churches with ancient roots in the region

Yazidi~3–5%An ancient syncretic faith; the Yazidi heartland is centred around Lalish

Other~15%Including Kakais (Yarsanis), Shia Muslims, and others

The Kurdistan Region is one of the most religiously diverse areas in the Middle East. Religious minorities have historically found relative safety and tolerance here — though the Yazidi community suffered greatly during the 2014 IS genocide.

Keep exploring

Learn more about where Kurdistan is, its history and culture & food, or start planning with our travel tips and the best places to visit.

VisitKurdistan.com is an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with any government tourism board or official tourism authority. Figures are estimates and may vary by source.