Iraqi Kurdistan: Feeling of safety overshadowed by economic worries

According to data obtained by global analytics firm Gallup over the past two decades in Iraq, a larger part of the people living in the Kurdistan region continue to feel safe, and more see their area as a good place for ethnic and religious minorities, compared to the rest of Iraq.

Gallup data suggests, on the other hand, more concern in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) for economic prospects in contrast to a rising content in other parts of the country.

Asked if they "feel safe walking alone at night," 88% of the people in KRI said in 2022 that they do, up from 56% who answered affirmatively in 2008. The rate was 72% last year in the rest of Iraq, compared to 43% in 2008.

Asked if they "see their area as a good place" for ethnic and religious minorities, 84% in KRI said they do, compared to 59% in the rest of Iraq.

The rate of positive replies to the question are even lower in Turkey, with 55%, in Lebanon (52%) and Israel (45%).

Gallup noted:

"As much of the rest of Iraq either resisted US occupation or collapsed entirely into sectarian civil conflict, the relative peace and stability of Iraqi Kurdistan drew internally displaced people and vulnerable minorities from other parts of the country, in particular Iraq’s ancient Christian communities, which are mostly ethnic Assyrians. Once estimated at 1.5 million before the war, as few as 200,000 Iraqi Christians remain in the country today, with roughly half thought to now be living in the Kurdish region."

The positive perception in terms of safety appears to be overshadowed by economic concerns in KRI.

In 2022, two in three residents in Iraqi Kurdistan (66%) said it’s a bad time to find a job, similar to the 65% who said the same in the rest of Iraq. Further, those living in Kurdish areas are now less satisfied than other Iraqis with what they can buy and do, 45% vs. 72%, respectively.