The IDP and Returnee Master List provides data on the number of IDPs and returnees at the governorate, district, subdistrict and location levels, their shelter type, the period of displacement, areas of origin for IDPs and areas of last displacement for returnees. IOM’s RARTs continuously collect data through interviews with key informants and report it every two months. Additional information is gathered from government registration data and partner agencies. The Master List presents data on the number of individuals and households: the number of individuals is calculated by multiplying the number of households by six, the average size of an Iraqi household, or by five for in-camp households.

Data in this dashboard represents population figures collected at location level over time. Each data point (month) represents the number of individuals displaced at that moment in time. You can find more details in the IDPs dataset

Data in this dashboard represents population figures collected at location level over time. Each data point (month) represents the number of individuals displaced at that moment in time. You can find more details in the Returnee dataset

Master List Datasets

IDP 131
Jan 2024

Returnee 131
Jan 2024

IDP 130
Sep 2023

Returnee 130
Sep 2023

IDP 129
May 2023

Returnee 129
May 2023

IDP 128
Dec 2022

Returnee 128
Dec 2022

IDP 127
Sep 2022

Returnee 127
Sep 2022

IDP 126
Jun 2022

Returnee 126
Jun 2022

IDP 125
Mar 2022

Returnee 125
Mar 2022

IDP 124
Dec 2021

Returnee 124
Dec 2021

IDP 123
Sep 2021

Returnee 123
Sep 2021

IDP 122
Jul 2021

Returnee 122
Jul 2021

IDP 121
Apr 2021

Returnee 121
Apr 2021

IDP 120
Feb 2021

Returnee 120
Feb 2021

IDP 119
Dec 2020

Returnee 119
Dec 2020

IDP 118
Oct 2020

Returnee 118
Oct 2020

IDP 117
Aug 2020

Returnee 117
Aug 2020

IDP 116
Jun 2020

Returnee 116
Jun 2020

IDP 115
Apr 2020

Returnee 115
Apr 2020

IDP 114
Feb 2020

Returnee 114
Feb 2020

IDP 113
Dec 2019

Returnee 113
Dec 2019

IDP 112
Oct 2019

Returnee 112
Oct 2019

IDP 111
Aug 2019

Returnee 111
Aug 2019

IDP 110
Jun 2019

Returnee 110
Jun 2019

IDP 109
Apr 2019

Returnee 109
Apr 2019

IDP 108
Feb 2019

Returnee 108
Feb 2019

IDP 107
Dec 2018

Returnee 107
Dec 2018

IDP 106
Oct 2018

Returnee 106
Oct 2018

IDP 105
Oct 2018

Returnee 105
Oct 2018

IDP 104
Sep 2018

Returnee 104
Sep 2018

IDP 103
Sep 2018

Returnee 103
Sep 2018

IDP 102
Aug 2018

Returnee 102
Aug 2018

IDP 101
Aug 2018

Returnee 101
Aug 2018

IDP 100
Jul 2018

Returnee 100
Jul 2018

The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) monitors displacement and provides information on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in Iraq. Data collection of IDP figures began in December 2013 and collection of returnee figures began in April 2015 (although returnee figures have been retroactively reported since October 2014). The Master List is carried out at the location level (including camps, sites, villages and neighbourhoods) with the IDP or/and returnee population(s). It collects data on IDPs in around 3,000 locations across 105 districts in 18 governorates and data on returnees in around 2,000 locations across 38 districts in 8 governorates.

Data are collected through IOM’s Rapid Assessment and Response Teams (RARTs), composed of 73 staff members deployed across Iraq (20% of enumerators are female). IOM’s RARTs collect data through interviews with key informants utilizing a large, well-established network of over 9,500 key informants that includes community leaders, mukhtars, local authorities and security forces. Additional information is gathered from government registration data and partner agencies.

IOM RARTs collect Master List data continuously and report it every four months. However, limited access due to security issues and other operational constraints can affect information-gathering activities. The variation in displacement figures observed between different reporting periods, in addition to true variation of the population figures, may be influenced by other factors such as the continuous identification of previously displaced groups and the inclusion of data on secondary displacements within Iraq.

The displaced populations are identified through a process of collection, verification, triangulation and validation of data. IOM continues to closely coordinate with federal, regional and local authorities to maintain a shared and accurate understanding of displacement across Iraq.

CHANGES IN IDP AND RETURNEE CASELOADS

The rate of change of the IDP caseload and that of the returnee caseload may differ due to several factors. Firstly, DTM continues to record families who are displaced for the first time, families arriving from other locations of displacement (secondary displacement) and families who become displaced after returning (failed returns). Additionally, because DTM counts IDPs and returnees at the family level, marriage and other changes within the family can influence the size of the caseload. Furthermore, some families may be counted in both caseloads if: a) part of the family remains displaced while others have returned or b) families may move back and forth between their area of displacement and return. Finally, IDPs living in inaccessible areas may not be counted due to security concerns; upon their return, however, they may be included in the returnee caseload.

DIFFERING LENGTHS OF REPORTING PERIODS

Beginning in Round 129, the Master List is produced on a tri-annual basis. Previous reports were published on a quarterly basis. Additionally, since January 2021, three reports (120, 121 and 123) covered a two-month period. The changing length of the reporting period may impact comparison between rounds.

CHANGES TO SHELTER TERMINOLOGY

Since Round 122, DTM made changes to the shelter terminology to align with the Iraq CCCM Cluster Technical Note on Informal Sites Definition for Iraq (September 2020). New shelter definitions can be found below.

CALCULATIONS USED TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS

The number of individuals is calculated by multiplying the number of households by six, the average size of an Iraqi household as per governmental statistics, for all out-of-camp IDPs and returnees. Since the July-August 2020 period (Round 117), the number of individuals for in-camp IDPs has been calculated by multiplying the number of households by five, which is the average camp household size according to the Iraq CCCM Cluster since 2018.

DEFINITIONS
Term Definition
Critical shelter For returnees, critical shelters include the following shelter types: residences of origin (uninhabitable), tents/caravans/makeshift shelters/mud or brick houses, unfinished/abandoned buildings, public buildings or collective shelters, religious buildings or school buildings.

For IDPs, critical shelters include those listed above for returnees except residences of origin, as well as apartments/houses that are not owned or are uninhabitable.
Failed return Individuals arriving from their area of origin after a failed attempt at return.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) For the purposes of the DTM assessments, all Iraqi nationals who were forced to flee from 1 January 2014 onwards and are still displaced within national borders at the moment of the assessment.
Location An area that corresponds either to a village for rural areas or a neighbourhood for urban areas (i.e. fourth official administrative division).
Location of no return A location that recorded displacement during or since the 2014-2017 conflict with ISIL but has either not recorded any returns or have subsequently recorded that all returnees have redisplaced.
Private settings For returnees and IDPs, includes hotels/motels, houses of host families or apartments/houses that are not owned. For IDPs, it also includes their own property.
Protracted displacement Displacement that has lasted for longer than three years.
Rate of return Used to estimate the proportion of returns in a district of origin and computed as the ratio of returnees to a district to the total number of returnees and IDPs originally from the same district.
Residence of origin For returnees only, refers to their residence prior to displacement.
Returnees For the purposes of DTM assessments, all those displaced since January 2014 who have returned to their location of origin, irrespective of whether they have returned to their former residence or to another shelter type.

The definition of returnees is not related to the criteria of returning in safety and dignity, nor with a defined strategy for ensuring durable solutions.
Secondary displacement Individuals displaced more than one time and arriving from another location of displacement.