Iraq’s 6th Parliamentary Elections (2025)

Preliminary indicators from the 2025 parliamentary elections, compiled by IIACSS using data released by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), and compared with 2021 results and IIACSS survey findings.

 

The 2025 results presented are preliminary and subject to final verification by the IHEC 

 

Iraq’s 6th Parliamentary Elections:

On 11-11-2025 Iraqis have cast their votes in the country’s sixth parliamentary election since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, marking another milestone in Iraq’s evolving democratic process. The Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society Studies (IIACSS) has analyzed preliminary results and turnout data to provide an overview of participation trends, regional variations, and the early distribution of seats across the country.

While the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) continues to verify the results, initial figures reveal notable differences in participation between regions and a political landscape shaped by both continuity and new alignments. The analysis below summarizes the key findings from this election cycle including turnout patterns, seat allocation, and the next steps toward government formation.

2025 Voter turnout

The map illustrates voter participation rates as announced by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) across Iraq’s 18 provinces during the 2025 parliamentary elections. Turnout levels varied significantly between regions, with Duhok recording the highest participation rate in the country and Maysan registering the lowest.
While participation among registered biometric ID holders reached 56%, when calculated against all eligible Iraqis aged 18 and above, the equivalent participation rate is estimated at approximately 41%, since only those registered inside Iraq were eligible to vote in the 2025 parliamentary elections.
Highcharts Donut Chart
Highcharts Donut Chart
Between 2005 and 2021, voter turnout declined from over 70% of the eligible adult population to 41%, the lowest since Iraq’s democratic transition. In 2025, participation increased again to approximately 56% among registered biometric voters. This rise must be interpreted within the context of how turnout is calculated, as the underlying measurement method has changed over time.

Turnout over the years

( last three elections were based on card holders and not all eligable Iraqis)

Seat Allocation and Regional Variations

The modified Sainte-Laguë proportional representation system continues to shape how parliamentary seats are distributed in Iraq. Votes are divided through a sequence of divisors (1.7, 3, 5, 7, etc.), a process that generally benefits larger, well-organized alliances capable of consolidating votes across several constituencies.
Parliament Composition The Council of Representatives comprises 329 seats, allocated proportionally among Iraq’s 18 governorates based on population size. Each governorate functions as a single electoral district under the Sainte-Laguë system. The chart shown below reflects how Iraq’s 329 parliamentary seats are allocated across the provinces and quota categories. This is the official structural seat distribution. It will be updated to show the final number of seats won by each political party once IHEC announces the certified results.

A Changing Electoral Landscape

The 2025 parliamentary elections marked another pivotal moment in Iraq’s evolving political landscape. Voter participation rose compared with 2021, and competition broadened across most provinces. Yet the translation of votes into seats once again underscored the complexity of Iraq’s electoral system. The Reconstruction and Development Alliance, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, secured approximately 1.3 million votes, the highest total nationwide, but is projected to win around 47 to 48 seats, pending final allocations by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). The alliance was closely followed by Taqaddum, with about 945,000 votes, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), with roughly 1.1 million votes, both of which emerged as key power centers in their respective regions, maintaining strong support bases in Sunni-majority and Kurdish areas respectively. In comparison, the Sadrist Movement had achieved 73 seats in 2021 with 885,000 votes. The difference is partly due to higher turnout in 2025, which increased the number of votes needed per seat, but more significantly to the shift in electoral law from the 2021 Single Non-Transferable Vote system to the proportional Sainte-Laguë method, which changed how votes translate into representation.
Statement Summary
Political Bloc / Party Votes (2021) Votes (2025)
Sadrist Movement 885000 — (boycotted)
Reconstruction & Development — 1317000
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) 760000 1099000
Taqaddum 637000 945000
State of Law 502000 728000
Fatah (Badr + Sadiqoon together in 2021) 445000 (split in 2025 → Badr 557,000 + Sadiqoon 686,000)
National State Forces 235000 513000

Party Performance and Coalition Dynamics

The Shia Coordination Framework entered the 2025 elections divided into multiple lists: State of Law increased its support from 502,000 votes (2021) to 728,000 (2025). The former Fatah Alliance (Badr and Sadiqoon), which received 445,000 votes in 2021, split into two separate lists, Badr with 557,000 votes and Sadiqoon with 686,000. The National State Forces Alliance rose from 235,000 to 513,000 votes. While these blocs performed consistently, fragmentation reduced their collective efficiency in converting votes to seats. Outside the Framework, Al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Alliance positioned itself as a centrist coalition, supported by some Framework members but functioning independently. In Sunni-majority areas, Taqaddum competed alone for the first time after previously forming a coalition with Azm and Siyada in 2021, winning 945,000 votes and solidifying dominance in Anbar and Baghdad. In the Kurdistan Region, turnout remained the highest nationwide, particularly in Duhok (76–77%), where the KDP exceeded one million votes, maintaining its traditional leadership among Kurdish constituencies.

Government Formation and the “Blocking Third”

After results are certified, parties will begin negotiations to form a parliamentary majority of 165 seats, required to elect the President of the Republic, who then designates the Prime Minister. In 2021, the Sadrist Movement failed to form a government despite holding the largest bloc, due to the “blocking third”, a mechanism that allows one-third of MPs to prevent quorum for key constitutional votes such as electing the president or approving the cabinet. This interpretation, reinforced by a 2010 Federal Court ruling, allowed smaller alliances to coordinate post-election and delay majority formation.