Recent regional instability in the Middle East has generated measurable economic ripple effects across Iraq, with reported impacts including disruptions to oil exports, rising market prices and intensified electricity cuts. These pressures are felt across all 18 gover-norates. In this context, timely evidence to inform emergency response is urgently needed.

This rapid assessment aims to generate evidence on the economic impact of the crisis on households and businesses across Iraq, with data collected in April–May 2026. Specifically, the assessment seeks to capture the immediate economic impact on households through the perspectives of key informants and micro, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across a range of sectors, business size, gender and other factors. Structured interviews were conducted with 93 key informants and 277 MSMEs across all 18 governorates.