Iraq marked World Diabetes Day amid growing concern over the rapid rise of the disease, as updated national and global estimates highlighted the mounting pressure on the country’s already strained healthcare system.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, over the past two decades, diabetes cases in Iraq have accelerated sharply. In 2000, the number of adults aged 20–79 living with the disease stood at 449,900. By 2011, the figure had reached 1.1 million, increasing to 2.7 million in 2024. Projections show the number could rise to 5.9 million by 2050, placing Iraq among the countries facing the steepest long-term increases in diabetes prevalence.

Based on the WHO, Iraq also recorded 21,751 diabetes-related deaths in 2021, with 7.2% occurring among adults younger than 60. Nearly 47.1% of diabetes cases remain undiagnosed, leaving almost half of patients unaware of their condition and at heightened risk of developing complications.