Basic Information
Iraq’s full official name is the Republic of Iraq, and it’s located in a part of the world that many people call the “Cradle of Civilization!” — meaning the place where people first lived!
Iraq - Facts for Kids
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Facts About Iraq For Kids
Baghdad is Iraq’s capital city, and with over 8 million people living there — that’s nearly the same as New York City!
Iraq has two main languages — Arabic and Kurdish — and many children grow up speaking both!
The Iraqi Dinar is the country’s money, and some of the pretty colored bills have pictures of old treasures on them!
Iraq’s flag has three colored stripes — red, white, and black — with the words “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) written in green in the middle!
Iraq’s special animal is the goat, which has beautiful curved horns and has lived in the area for thousands of years!
The weather in Iraq can be very hot — in summer, it can reach 120°F (49°C), which is hot enough to bake cookies without an oven!
Iraq’s population is about 47 million people in 2025, which is like having all the people from Spain living in one country!
Iraq is shaped a bit like a triangle, and it’s slightly bigger than California!
The national anthem of Iraq is called “Mawtini,” which means “My Homeland” in Arabic!
The biggest city in Iraq, Baghdad, was built over 1,200 years ago in 762 CE!
Iraq’s government building is one of the biggest in the Middle East and can hold over 500 people!
The name “Iraq” comes from an old word “Uruk,” which was one of the world’s first cities!
Geography & Nature
The famous Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow through Iraq like two blue ribbons, bringing water to farms and cities!
The watery lands in southern Iraq are like a giant natural water park, filled with birds, fish, and floating islands made of tall grass!
Iraq has beautiful mountains in the north that get covered with snow in winter, even though much of the country is desert!
The Arabian leopard, though very rare, still walks around in some far-away mountain areas of Iraq!
Date palm trees grow all over Iraq, and some can make up to 300 pounds (136 kg) of dates in one year!
The watery lands of Iraq are home to the rare Sacred Ibis bird, which old Egyptians thought was magical!
Iraq has about 64,900 square miles (168,000 square kilometers) of desert, which is like having over 1.5 million soccer fields of sand!
The Zagros Mountains in Iraq are so tall that some tops reach higher than 11,000 feet (3,353 meters), which is taller than 85 Statues of Liberty stacked on top of each other!
Iraq has natural hot springs where water comes out of the ground as warm as a hot bath!
The Persian Gulf touches Iraq’s southern tip, giving the country about 36 miles (58 kilometers) of water edge!
Iraq is home to a special type of fish called the “sbour” that are famous for their long journeys up rivers like the Shatt al-Arab to lay their eggs!
The Iraqi desert comes alive with pretty wildflowers after the rare winter rains!
Iraq has special salt flats that look like giant mirrors when they show the sky!
There are over 300 different types of birds that live in Iraq’s watery lands!
Iraq’s mountains are home to wild goats that can climb almost straight up cliffs!
Some parts of Iraq’s desert have sand hills that are taller than a 10-story building!
Iraq has underground caves that stay cool even on the hottest summer days!
The rivers in Iraq are home to a special kind of fish that locals call “Abu Mulaaih” (father of salt) because it can live in both fresh and salt water!
Culture & Traditions
During Eid al-Fitr, Iraqi children often get new clothes and special treats called “kleicha” (cookies filled with dates)!
Many Iraqi women wear beautiful, colorful dresses called “hashmi” that are decorated with tiny mirrors and fancy sewing!
Iraqi children often play a game called “Seven Stones” where they build and knock down towers while running and dodging!
Old Iraqi music uses an instrument called the “oud,” which looks like a guitar with a round back!
In Iraqi homes, it’s common to take off your shoes before going in and sit on comfortable cushions on the floor!
Iraqi artists are famous for making beautiful patterns with shapes called “arabesque” that don’t have any beginning or end!
During parties, Iraqis often do the “chobi” dance, where people hold hands and dance in a line or circle!
Iraqi children often play with spinning tops called “mahana,” which can spin for several minutes!
In Iraqi culture, drinking coffee or tea together is a sign of friendship and being kind to guests!
Many Iraqi families have a way of telling stories called “hakawati,” where stories are passed down from parents to children!
Iraqi weddings often last for several days and include many different parties!
Many Iraqi children learn old poems called “qasida” from a young age!
In Iraq, it’s considered polite to say no to food or drink three times before saying yes!
