Iraq ranks first among countries with the largest number of artifacts displayed at the British Museum, according to the museum’s data. Iraq leads with approximately 164,000 archaeological items, surpassing nations renowned for their deep historical and cultural legacies.

Italy comes in second with 147,697 pieces, followed by Egypt with 119,854. The remaining rankings include France (81,980), Turkey (73,992), Germany (66,263), Greece (64,928), China (58,749), India (52,518), and Iran (50,602).

This vast number reflects the immense cultural heritage of Mesopotamia, which spans thousands of years. At the same time, it raises ongoing debates about the restitution of looted artifacts and demands for their return to their original homeland⁽¹⁾.