Quality of life indicators for Iraq, post-US invasion; the number of telephone subscribers suggests a moderate growth in western-style consumerism.

Inflation

• 2003 : 36%
• 2004 : 32%
• 2005 : 20%
• 2006 : 50%

Nationwide Unemployment Rate

• June 2003 : 50-60%
• December 2003 : 45-55%
• June 2004 : 30-40%
• December 2004 : 28-40%
• June 2005 : 27-40%
• December 2005 : 25-40%
• June 2006 : 25-40%
• December 2006 : 25-40%

* Estimates of Iraq’s unemployment rate varies. The CPA has referred to a 25% unemployment rate, the Iraqi Ministry of Planning mentioned a 30% unemployment rate, whereas the Iraqi Ministry of Social Affairs claims it to be 48%.

Telephone Subscribers

• Pre-war estimate : 833,000
• December 2003 : 600,000
• June 2004 : 1,200,000
• December 2004 : 2,152,000
• June 2005 : 3,801,822
• March 2006 : 6,836,854
• January 2007: ~9,800,000

* Most post-war subscribers are cellphone customers.
** Iraq Population: 27.5 million. The US has almost two phones per person (land line and cell phone); CIA Factbook

Data from the Brookings Institution, about reconstruction and security in Post-Saddam Iraq.