SULAIMANI,— Recent census and investment data show that Iraq’s Kurdistan Region has more than 2 million residential units. Despite this large housing stock, more than 400,000 units are currently empty.
Officials say this is largely due to the rapid growth of real estate projects, most of which are apartment buildings, The Channel8 TV reported.
According to Amanj Jalal, Director of Investment in Sulaimani, about 80% of all residential units in the Kurdistan Region are apartments, while only 20% are houses and villas.
He explained that apartments are widely used because they make more efficient use of land.
One dunam of land can hold around 190 to 200 apartment units, while the same area can only accommodate about 15 to 20 houses. This approach is intended to save land and reduce urban sprawl.
Demand for housing varies across the region. In Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok, apartments are in higher demand.
However, in areas such as Garmian, Raparin, Soran, and Kirkuk, apartment purchases are much lower. Prices also differ significantly.
The average price per square meter ranges from $400 to $800. In some luxury villas, the price can reach up to $1,000 per square meter. Villa prices overall range from about $250,000 to $1 million.
Over the past 19 years, from 2006 to July 2025, a total of 366 residential projects have received investment licenses in the Kurdistan Region, with a combined value of about $33.488 billion. Between 2019 and 2024 alone, nearly 60 new residential projects were approved.
This rapid development has increased the number of housing units on the market, while demand has not grown at the same pace.
The 2024 census shows that the Kurdistan Region has a population of 6,370,688 people and 2,028,937 residential units.
This means there is roughly one housing unit for every three people. With 1,379,163 households, there are about 649,774 extra housing units overall.
Even if around 200,000 households are renting, there would still be approximately 449,774 vacant homes. In addition, more than 100,000 units are still under construction.
On February 19, 2024, the Kurdistan Region Investment Board decided to suspend new investment licenses in the housing sector.
The goal is to better organize the market and shift development toward projects that benefit low-income families and renters.
However, the decision does not apply to municipal building permits on privately owned land. It only affects projects that require approval from the Investment Board.
(With files from channel8.com)
Copyright © 2026 iKurd.net. All rights reserved.
Related posts:
Iraq: Revenge and Corruption
Iraq – The Cynical Swindle
Iraq holds its first nationwide census since 1987
Iraqi Kurdistan – “Sold Out!” – Part II
Business with ISIS – Updated
The Assassination of Abdurrahman Ghassemlou: No Friends but the Mullahs?
Anfal – The Black Stain on Iraqi History Spreads
Sulaimani protesting teachers blocked from entering Erbil
The 19th Anniversary of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq, 20 March 2022
The Resurrection (Ba’ath) Party – Before the Iran-Iraq War
