Iraq's Currency Issuance Rises 13.8 Percent to 113.56 Trillion Dinars Through May 2026

The volume of banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Iraq rose 13.8 percent in the first five months of 2026, reaching about 113.56 trillion Iraqi dinars (roughly $86 billion) by the end of May. According to Shafaq News, Mudhhir Mohammed Salih, financial and economic adviser to Iraq's prime minister, said the figure was 13.761 trillion dinars (about $10.4 billion) higher than at the close of 2025.

Salih said the rise was an exceptional response to a sharp drop in oil revenue rather than an attempt to stimulate demand; Iraq's oil exports fell to about 15 percent of usual levels because of the Strait of Hormuz crisis and have since recovered to around 30 percent. Most of the government's funding needs were met through treasury bills, of which the central bank now holds more than 60 percent in its investment portfolio. Salih said foreign reserves still cover the money supply above the 75 percent threshold and annual inflation has held steady at about 4.5 percent.