Iraq oil revenue fiscal crisis

In late July 2026, Iraq announced a plan to raise a 10 trillion‑dinar loan—about 65 % domestic and 35 % external—to cover public‑sector salaries after oil revenues fell sharply from roughly $6.9 billion to $1.3 billion per month. Analysts warned the fiscal strain would force the government into a “forced financial discipline” phase, limiting spending mainly to salaries and essential services.

By early August, the situation had escalated into a severe liquidity crisis. An 80 % drop in oil revenue, linked to export disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, depleted foreign‑currency reserves by more than $7 billion. The government struggled to pay salaries, prompting delays that affected millions of workers. Officials considered short‑term options such as additional domestic borrowing, printing more dinars, or using foreign‑currency and gold reserves as collateral, while state banks faced limited lending capacity.

The two snapshots trace the progression from a planned borrowing strategy to an acute cash shortage and salary delays, highlighting Iraq’s mounting fiscal challenges amid a steep decline in oil income.