The World Bank says it expects Iraq’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 12.6 percent in 2012, and 10.2 percent in 2013, following a growth of 9.6 percent last year.

If achieved, this would give a compound growth of 36 percent in just three years.

This follows a downward revision of growth expectations for the world as a whole, with the global economy expected to expand 2.5 and 3.1 percent in 2012 and 2013 (3.4 and 4 percent when calculated using purchasing power parity weights), versus the 3.6 percent projected in June for both years.