Is Erbil sunnier than Sulaymaniyah?

They are nearly tied: Erbil gets about 3,144 hours of sunshine a year and Sulaymaniyah about 3,158.

Which is warmer, Erbil or Sulaymaniyah?

Erbil is warmer across the year: average daytime highs of 28°C (82°F) versus 26°C.

Which is better in winter (November–February), Erbil or Sulaymaniyah?

Erbil scores better across November–February: 53/100 average versus 37, with daytime highs around 15°C.

Erbil vs Sulaymaniyah: which is sunnier?

🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇮🇶 Iraq · 144 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)

Erbil and Sulaymaniyah are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,144 vs 3,158 hours a year. Erbil has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Sulaymaniyah in 4 (3 within 2 points).

Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.

At a glance

	Erbil	Sulaymaniyah
Sunshine hours / year	3,144	3,158
Sunniest month	October (94/100)	May (94/100)
Nov–Feb average score	53/100	37/100
Jun–Aug average score	6/100	16/100
Rain / year	283 mm	340 mm
Peak midday UV	10 (very high)	10 (very high)

Erbil vs Sulaymaniyah month by month

Month	Sunshine Score		Day high °C		Rain mm
Month	Erbil	Sulaymaniyah	Erbil	Sulaymaniyah	Erbil	Sulaymaniyah
January	30	15	12°	10°	42	44
February	45	30	14°	12°	37	50
March	89	73	20°	18°	50	55
April	90	90	26°	23°	42	45
May	85	94	33°	31°	16	20
June	19	39	40°	38°	2	3
July	0	0	43°	42°	1	2
August	0	10	42°	41°	1	1
September	49	59	37°	36°	2	1
October	94	94	30°	28°	18	23
November	92	74	20°	18°	31	49
December	45	30	14°	12°	41	47

The sunnier month by month: Jan Erbil · Feb Erbil · Mar Erbil · Apr even · May Sulaymaniyah · Jun Sulaymaniyah · Jul even · Aug Sulaymaniyah · Sep Sulaymaniyah · Oct even · Nov Erbil · Dec Erbil.

When to pick which

November–February: Erbil (average score 53/100 vs 37). Erbil is the warmer, around 15°C daytime highs vs 13°C. See the winter sun ranking.
March–May: too close to call — Erbil averages 88/100, Sulaymaniyah 86/100. Erbil is the warmer, around 26°C daytime highs vs 24°C.
June–August: Sulaymaniyah (average score 16/100 vs 6). Erbil is the warmer, around 42°C daytime highs vs 40°C.
September–October: Sulaymaniyah (average score 77/100 vs 72). Erbil is the warmer, around 34°C daytime highs vs 32°C.

Full month-by-month guides: Erbil weather by month · Sulaymaniyah weather by month · Best time to visit Iraq.

More comparisons: Erbil vs Kermanshah · Erbil vs Urmia · Erbil vs Van · Sulaymaniyah vs Baghdad · Sulaymaniyah vs Kermanshah · Sulaymaniyah vs Urmia · all head-to-heads