Kirkuk
Decide whether to visit or live in Kirkuk, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Wednesday, September 16, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
AI-assisted, evidence-constrained research · how this page is made
Would you visit or live in Kirkuk?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Suitable with normal precautions
UK advises avoiding all travel to parts of Iraq, including Kirkuk; only essential travel is permitted.
high source confidence · current planning signal, not a personal-safety guaranteeSee the evidence and calculation
- Current official alerts require extra planning
- Latest air-quality reading is not elevated
- Risk of armed conflict
- Terrorist attacks
- Potential Iranian retaliation
- Kidnapping and crime
The score combines dated official-advisory wording, weather, air quality, sourced local context, and your selections. It does not predict crime or individual outcomes. Check local authorities and professional advice before a safety-critical decision.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Kirkuk month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Kirkuk are typically March, April and November, with average daytime highs around 20–27°C. July is usually the warmest month (average high 43°C), January the coldest (average low 5°C), and December the wettest (about 82 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.8 | 5.2 | 65 | 7.7 |
| February | 15.2 | 5.8 | 70 | 8.3 |
| March | 19.9 | 9.9 | 79 | 9.2 |
| April | 26.6 | 14.9 | 41 | 10.7 |
| May | 33.3 | 20.7 | 13 | 12.2 |
| June | 39.9 | 26.6 | 0 | 13.7 |
| July | 43.1 | 29.5 | 0 | 13.3 |
| August | 43.0 | 29.4 | 0 | 12.2 |
| September | 38.2 | 24.9 | 0 | 11.8 |
| October | 31.1 | 19.2 | 9 | 10.0 |
| November | 21.9 | 12.0 | 42 | 8.6 |
| December | 15.8 | 7.4 | 82 | 7.4 |
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People and places shaping Kirkuk
AI-assisted local research, regenerated with the dated live layer. Every requested module remains visible; facts appear only after a source check, and unavailable categories explain what is still being researched.
Research updated Friday, September 11, 2026Past and future events in Kirkuk
Upcoming
No future event in Kirkuk currently has a sufficiently reliable date and source. This is checked again on every refresh.
Previously
- British occupation (1918)
British forces occupied Kirkuk on 7 May 1918 during the final stages of World War I.
- Arabization policies (1970s)
Ba'athist government implemented forced demographic changes to increase Arab population in Kirkuk.
- 1991 Kurdish uprising and loss of Kirkuk
Kurdish Peshmerga briefly seized Kirkuk in March 1991 before Iraqi forces retook it later that month.
- 2014 Peshmerga takeover
Following the ISIS offensive, Iraqi army withdrew and Kurdish Peshmerga took control of Kirkuk on 12 June 2014.
- 2017 Iraqi army recapture
Iraqi national army and PMF retook Kirkuk on 16 October 2017 after Peshmerga forces withdrew.
Sources checked (2)
Interactive geography
See Kirkuk in context
Keep the deeper context
Stable history, culture, districts, and practical reference remain in the main reading flow while the live layers above continue changing.
01 · OverviewKirkuk, in brief
Kirkuk is mapped here through verified geographic facts and source-linked daily data. Its longer editorial profile is in the enrichment queue.
02 · HistoryHow Kirkuk took shape
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
03 · VisitVisiting Kirkuk
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
04 · Food & cultureFood and everyday culture in Kirkuk
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
05 · ArtsArts and cultural life in Kirkuk
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
06 · EconomyWork and the economy in Kirkuk
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
07 · SafetySafety and practical guidance for Kirkuk
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
08 · QuestionsQuestions about Kirkuk
This section is being expanded from verified sources. Current facts, weather, mapping, and official links remain available while editorial review continues.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kirkuk
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Kirkuk located and what are its coordinates?
Kirkuk is situated in Iraq at geographic coordinates 35.4681, 44.3922 with an elevation of an elevation monitored in local geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Kirkuk?
Kirkuk has a recorded population of approximately 1,031,000 and observes the Asia/Baghdad time zone (IQD).
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Kirkuk?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Kirkuk include ar-IQ, ku, hy, and the circulating currency is IQD.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Kirkuk?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Kirkuk, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.