Net migration (UNICEF) in Iraq
Iraq: Net migration was -1,064 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1,064
Change on year
up 94.0%
World rank
41st
of 74 countries
All-time high
753,907
in 2012
All-time low
-1.21 million
in 2006
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Iraq, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Iraq stood at -1,064.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 94.0% on the previous year and up 95.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Iraq peaked at 753,907 in 2012 and was at its lowest, -1.21 million, in 2006.
Iraq ranks 41st of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,573 | — |
| 1961 | 2,981 | +89.5% |
| 1962 | 3,343 | +12.1% |
| 1963 | 3,197 | -4.4% |
| 1964 | 3,224 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 4,555 | +41.3% |
| 1966 | 1,298 | -71.5% |
| 1967 | 2,531 | +95.0% |
| 1968 | 928 | -63.3% |
| 1969 | 312 | -66.4% |
| 1970 | 1,377 | +341.3% |
| 1971 | -6,479 | -570.5% |
| 1972 | -2,600 | -59.9% |
| 1973 | -1,507 | -42.0% |
| 1974 | -4,090 | +171.4% |
| 1975 | -6,237 | +52.5% |
| 1976 | -13,915 | +123.1% |
| 1977 | 8,204 | -159.0% |
| 1978 | 7,434 | -9.4% |
| 1979 | -20,617 | -377.3% |
| 1980 | 15,757 | -176.4% |
| 1981 | -23,640 | -250.0% |
| 1982 | -22,302 | -5.7% |
| 1983 | 23,115 | -203.6% |
| 1984 | 21,709 | -6.1% |
| 1985 | -199,505 | -1019.0% |
| 1986 | 39,136 | -119.6% |
| 1987 | -108,426 | -377.0% |
| 1988 | -81,562 | -24.8% |
| 1989 | 19,392 | -123.8% |
| 1990 | -601,469 | -3201.6% |
| 1991 | -95,155 | -84.2% |
| 1992 | 20,292 | -121.3% |
| 1993 | 581,818 | +2767.2% |
| 1994 | 54,355 | -90.7% |
| 1995 | 40,424 | -25.6% |
| 1996 | 14,652 | -63.8% |
| 1997 | 15,429 | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 48,446 | +214.0% |
| 1999 | 69,491 | +43.4% |
| 2000 | 87,624 | +26.1% |
| 2001 | 14,451 | -83.5% |
| 2002 | 133,839 | +826.2% |
| 2003 | -27,236 | -120.3% |
| 2004 | 69,948 | -356.8% |
| 2005 | 51,019 | -27.1% |
| 2006 | -1.21 million | -2465.5% |
| 2007 | -824,428 | -31.7% |
| 2008 | 396,792 | -148.1% |
| 2009 | 120,092 | -69.7% |
| 2010 | 92,779 | -22.7% |
| 2011 | 261,880 | +182.3% |
| 2012 | 753,907 | +187.9% |
| 2013 | 474,379 | -37.1% |
| 2014 | -5,033 | -101.1% |
| 2015 | -22,338 | +343.8% |
| 2016 | -113,980 | +410.3% |
| 2017 | -21,998 | -80.7% |
| 2018 | 15,775 | -171.7% |
| 2019 | -43,919 | -378.4% |
| 2020 | 29,858 | -168.0% |
| 2021 | 17,474 | -41.5% |
| 2022 | 76,821 | +339.6% |
| 2023 | -5,710 | -107.4% |
| 2024 | -17,735 | +210.6% |
| 2025 | -1,064 | -94.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's -1,064 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -6,994, 15% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- Iraq's -1,064 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -376.5, 2.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -3201.6% | 19,392 | -601,469 |
| 1993 | +2767.2% | 20,292 | 581,818 |
| 2006 | -2465.5% | 51,019 | -1.21 million |
| 1985 | -1019.0% | 21,709 | -199,505 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,394 | 312 | 4,555 | 10 |
| 1970s | -3,843 | -20,617 | 8,204 | 10 |
| 1980s | -31,633 | -199,505 | 39,136 | 10 |
| 1990s | 14,828 | -601,469 | 581,818 | 10 |
| 2000s | -118,475 | -1.21 million | 396,792 | 10 |
| 2010s | 139,145 | -113,980 | 753,907 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,607 | -17,735 | 76,821 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 74,515 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1891 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.99 million people (2100)
- Population density 231.84 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.4379 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Iraq?
- Net migration in Iraq was -1,064 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 753,907 in 2012.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.21 million in 2006.
- How does Iraq rank for net migration?
- Iraq ranks 41st out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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