Iraq Population 2024 (Live)

46,291,180

According to current projections, Iraq’s population will continue to grow for the rest of the century, surpassing 100 million people by the end of 2085. By the end of the century, Iraq’s population is projected to reach 107.33 million people.

Iraq is currently growing at a rate of 2.32% per year, adding just under 1 million people every year.

Despite the ongoing conflict in Iraq, resulting in both a rising death rate and an exodus of refugees, the population continues to grow. This is explained by Iraq’s fertility rate of 3.588 births per woman and a drop in its infant mortality rate. The fertility rate, however, is decreasing as more women have access to education and professional opportunities.

Population Rank
Growth Rate
2024 World Percentage
Land Area
434,128
The current population of Iraq is 46,291,180 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2024 population at 46,042,000.

Iraq Growth Rate

Iraq Population Clock

Iraq Population (as of 10/2/2024)46,291,180
Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2024)46,042,000
Births per Day3,225
Deaths per Day525
Migrations per Day-49
Net Change per Day2,651
Population Change Since Jan. 1731,676

Components of Population Change

One birth every 27 seconds
One death every 2.75 minutes
One emigrant every 29.38 minutes
Net gain of one person every 33 seconds

Iraq Population Clock

Iraq Population Density Map

City
2024 Pop.
Baghdad7,216,000
Basrah2,600,000
Al Mawsil al Jadidah2,065,597
Al Basrah al Qadimah2,015,483
Mosul1,739,800
Erbil932,800
Abu Ghurayb900,000
As Sulaymaniyah723,170
Kirkuk601,433
Najaf482,576

Iraq Area and Population Density

The Republic of Iraq has an area of 168,754 square miles (437,072 square kilometers), and is mainly divided into 3 sections: a desert area in the west, a mountainous area in the north, and a large fertile plain in the middle of its southern area that is fed with water by the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

As a whole, Iraq has a population density of 83 people per square kilometer (184/square mile). The capital and largest city, Baghdad, has a population of just over 6 million. It's the Arab world's second-largest city after Cairo and the second-largest city in Western Asia behind Tehran. Other major cities include Basra (pop: 2.3 million), Arbil (2 million), Sulaymaniyah (1.6 million), Mosul (1 million), and Kirkuk (1 million).

Largest Cities in Iraq

Nearly 70% of Iraq's population lives in urban areas, and they have several large cities that reflect that. The largest by far is the nation's capital, Baghdad, with a population of 9.5 million. The cities of Basra and Mosul both have populations exceeding 2 million. Erbil, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Hilla have populations of over one million.

Year
Population
Change
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
202446,042,0002.25%10634107
202345,074,0002.28%10435108
202042,116,6002.24%9736113
201941,192,2002.3%9536114
201840,265,6002.36%9336115
201739,337,4002.26%9136117
201537,560,5003.88%8636118
201031,045,4001.79%7139132
200528,407,4003.07%6538132
200024,424,1003.24%5642136
199520,825,9003.45%4845141
199017,581,2002.31%4046146
198515,683,4002.9%3647144
198013,592,0003.32%3149145
197511,543,6003.47%2751149
19709,735,6103.49%2255150
19658,202,1403.16%1960153
19607,022,0501.98%1663155
19556,366,2802.4%1563152

Iraq Population by Year (Historical)

Year
Population
Change
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
202446,042,0002.25%10634107
202547,020,8002.23%10834106
203051,937,2002.01%12031101
203557,035,9001.89%1313099
204062,223,2001.76%1432993
204567,204,2001.55%1552990
205071,928,8001.37%1662888
205576,363,1001.2%1762885
206080,520,2001.07%1852782
206584,455,8000.96%1942779
207087,996,0000.83%2032577
207591,124,1000.7%2102476
208093,761,9000.57%2162374
208596,078,1000.49%2212471
209098,004,0000.4%2262370
209599,536,8000.31%2292468

Iraq Population by Year (Projections)

Iraq Population Pyramid 2024

Iraq Median Age

21.2

Total

20.8

Male

21.6

Female

Iraq Population by Age

There are people over age 18 in Iraq.

Census Years

Year
Date
199716 October 1997
198717 October 1987

Iraq Population Pyramid

Iraq, or the Republic of Iraq, lies in western Asia encircling the Mesopotamian plain, the northwestern part of the Zagros mountain range and the eastern branch of the Syrian desert. Syria lies on the northwest border of Iraq, Turkey is to the north, Iran is east, and Jordan is to the west. It has a narrow coastline of about 58km at the North Persian Gulf.

Iraq Demographics

Almost 75% of Iraq's population is made up of the dominant ethnic group -- the Iraqi or Mesopotamian Arabs. Other major ethnic groups include the Kurds (17%), Turkmen (3%), Assyrians (2%), and Persians (2%). There are about 20,000 Marsh Arabs in the southern part of the country and a population of 2,500 Chechens. Southern Iraq is also home to a community of Iraqis of African descent, who are descended from slaves prior to the Zanj Rebellion during the 9th century. Iraq was once home to a large Iraqi Jewish population of about 150,000 during the 1940s, although virtually all have left the country.

The official language in Iraq is Arabic, which is understood almost universally, although 10-15% of the population also speaks Kurdish (also used in official work).

Iraq Religion, Economy and Politics

Islam is by far the most common religion at 95% of the population. Non-Muslims, mostly Assyrian Christians, make up 5% of the population. The Christian community in Iraq has existed for nearly 2,000 years and most are descended from the pre-Arab Mesopotamians-Assyrians. It's believed that 65% of Muslims are Shia while the remaining 35% are Sunni. Najaf and Karbala, Iraq are two of the holiest places for Shia Muslims.

The median age of the Iraq population is 20 years of age, with a total life expectancy of 74.9 years of age. The World Happiness Report shows a 2018 ranking of 117 with a rating of 4.45 out of a possible 10. The factors considered in this report include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption. The scores here indicate a strong GDP, strong social support, but low generosity and little freedom to make life choices were also indicated.

Iraq Population History

Iraq has a large diaspora and nearly 2 million Iraqis have fled since the invasion in 2003, most going to Jordan and Syria. It's believed that there are almost 2 million people displaced within Iraq. The UN said in 2007 that almost half of Iraq's middle class population had fled persecution with no plans to return. Over half of Christians have fled the country since the U.S.-led invasion with almost 59,000 granted refugee-status citizenship in the United States. Meanwhile, there are about 160,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq who have fled the Syrian civil war.

Iraq Population Rank 2024
Area (km²)
438,317
2024 Growth Rate
Capital
Baghdad
GDP (IMF '24)
$265.89
GDP (UN '22)
$264.18 Bn

Sources