Data from the Central Bank of Iraq shows that around 94% of the country’s total currency is circulating outside the banking system, while only 6% is held inside banks. This highlights how much cash remains in the hands of the public and how little money is being kept within Iraqi banks.
According to the Central Bank’s latest figures, cash circulating outside banks reached 101.868 trillion dinars in September 2026, up from 100.186 trillion dinars in August. This represents an increase of 1.682 trillion dinars, or 1.7%.
The data also showed that the total currency issued by the Central Bank reached 108.306 trillion dinars in September, compared to 107.998 trillion dinars in the previous month, an increase of 308 billion dinars.
Meanwhile, cash held inside banks fell sharply to 6.438 trillion dinars in September, down from 7.812 trillion dinars in August. This represents a decrease of 1.374 trillion dinars, or 17.6% in just one month.
On an annual basis, cash circulating outside banks increased by around 10% compared to the end of 2025, when it stood at 92.560 trillion dinars. Total currency in circulation also increased from 99.799 trillion dinars to 108.306 trillion dinars over the same period.