Iraq is a country in West Asia, in the region commonly called the Middle East.

Where Iraq is on the map

  • Iraq lies in Western Asia, on the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula and within the wider Middle East region.
  • It sits around the historic Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Borders and neighbors

  • To the north, Iraq borders Turkey, and to the east it borders Iran.
  • To the south and southwest it borders Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and to the west and northwest it borders Syria.
  • To the southeast it borders Kuwait and has a short coastline on the Persian Gulf.

Key facts at a glance

  • Capital city: Baghdad, located roughly in the central-eastern part of the country.
  • Region: Part of the Middle East and the area historically known as Mesopotamia.
  • Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, in the continent of Asia.

Very short answer

Iraq is in Western Asia (the Middle East), bordered by Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, with a small coastline on the Persian Gulf.