Economic Insights – Baghdad
The Digital Information Center (DMC) has reported a significant increase in social media usage in Iraq this year. According to statistics released on March 3, 2025, the number of users has surged to 34.3 million, which represents approximately 73.8% of the population. This marks an increase from 31.95 million users recorded in the previous year, based on data from esteemed digital analytics firms, We Are Social and Meltwater.
Muhannad Habib Al-Samawi, the General Supervisor of the Digital Media Center, noted that the data reveals notable shifts in user engagement across various social networking platforms in Iraq. While some platforms have experienced rapid growth, others have seen declines, reflecting changing trends in the digital landscape and evolving user preferences.
Al-Samawi highlighted a substantial rise in TikTok usage, with an additional 2.35 million users, bringing the total to 34.3 million, up from 31.95 million last year. TikTok has emerged as a favored platform particularly among younger demographics, alongside influencers and content creators attracting millions of followers. In contrast, YouTube has experienced a slight decline in users, indicating a shift toward the more interactive and fast-paced content that TikTok offers, as interest in longer video formats wanes.
Further, Al-Samawi pointed to positive trends for LinkedIn, which has seen its user base grow from 1.9 million to 2.3 million. This increase underscores a growing interest in professional networking and job-seeking opportunities that the platform facilitates, reflecting the utilization of LinkedIn by numerous Iraqi firms and institutions for recruitment and professional relationship-building.
The DMC has also provided a comparison of user statistics across various social media platforms this year versus last year:
| Platform | Current Year Users | Previous Year Users |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 34.3 million | 31.95 million |
| 20.1 million | 19.30 million | |
| YouTube | 22.3 million | 22.80 million |
| 19.0 million | 18.25 million | |
| Facebook Messenger | 15 million | 15.70 million |
| Snapchat | 18.5 million | 17.74 million |
| X | 2.65 million | 2.55 million |
| 2.30 million | 1.90 million |
Ali Al-Zuhairi, co-founder of the Digital Media Center and monitoring official, emphasized that the center has been diligently tracking these statistics over the years, making careful comparisons between current and historical data.
Al-Zuhairi further stated that the center’s objective is to monitor and analyze digital transformations within Iraq, providing clear insights and data to relevant authorities and decision-makers while also highlighting the evolving trends and behaviors of Iraqi users in the digital landscape.
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