Iraq
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 60% plant-based · 70.4 yr life expectancy · UHC 64/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 213 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (213/100k) leads amid a health system weakened by decades of conflict. A diet shifting toward refined grains, sugar, and processed food, plus high smoking, drives rising CVD and diabetes.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Rebuilding health-system capacity is a first-order priority.
- Curb sugar and refined grains; sustain the traditional legume-and-vegetable elements.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 213 CVD deaths per 100k · 60% plant-based diet