Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iraq
Iraq: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 73.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
73.1%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
71st
of 202 countries
All-time high
73.1%
in 2025
All-time low
2.5%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iraq, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 73.1% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Iraq peaked at 73.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1000.
That places Iraq 71st out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.5% | — |
| 1100 | 2.6% | +6.0% |
| 1200 | 2.8% | +5.6% |
| 1300 | 2.9% | +5.3% |
| 1400 | 3.1% | +5.1% |
| 1500 | 3.2% | +4.8% |
| 1600 | 3.4% | +4.6% |
| 1700 | 3.5% | +4.4% |
| 1710 | 4.0% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 4.7% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 5.2% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 5.7% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 6.2% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 6.8% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 7.5% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 8.2% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 9.0% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 9.8% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 10.8% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 11.8% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 12.9% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 14.1% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 15.5% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 17.0% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 18.6% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 20.3% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 22.3% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 24.4% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 26.7% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 29.3% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 32.1% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 35.1% | +9.5% |
| 1951 | 35.8% | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 36.5% | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 37.1% | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 37.8% | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 38.4% | +1.6% |
| 1956 | 39.0% | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 39.6% | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 40.9% | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 42.5% | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 44.1% | +3.8% |
| 1961 | 45.7% | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 47.4% | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 49.0% | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 50.6% | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 52.2% | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 53.5% | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 54.6% | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 55.7% | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 56.7% | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 57.8% | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 58.7% | +1.5% |
| 1972 | 59.6% | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 60.6% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 61.5% | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 62.6% | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 63.6% | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 64.6% | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 65.4% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 66.1% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 66.9% | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 67.8% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 68.8% | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 69.8% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 70.7% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 71.5% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 72.1% | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 72.7% | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 72.7% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 72.5% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 72.5% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 71.9% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 71.5% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 71.2% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 71.1% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 71.1% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 70.8% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 70.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 70.4% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 70.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 70.1% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 70.1% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 70.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 70.3% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 70.4% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 70.5% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 70.6% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 70.7% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 70.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 71.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 71.1% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 71.5% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 71.9% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 72.3% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 72.7% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 73.1% | +0.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 73.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 69.2%, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 73.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 72.8%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1100s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1300s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1400s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1710s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1740s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 1760s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1770s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1780s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1830s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 1850s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 1 |
| 1860s | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 1 |
| 1870s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 1890s | 20.3% | 20.3% | 20.3% | 1 |
| 1900s | 22.3% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 1 |
| 1910s | 24.4% | 24.4% | 24.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 29.3% | 29.3% | 29.3% | 1 |
| 1940s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 1 |
| 1950s | 38.3% | 35.1% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 51.0% | 44.1% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 62.0% | 57.8% | 66.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 70.5% | 66.9% | 72.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.1% | 70.2% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.1% | 70.1% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.5% | 70.1% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.1% | 71.1% | 73.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.65 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,515 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4379 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 231.84 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.99 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Iraq?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iraq was 73.1% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 73.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1000.
- How does Iraq rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Iraq ranks 71st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.