Population in Iraq
Iraq: Population was 45.07 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
45.07 million people
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
35th
of 236 countries
All-time high
45.07 million people
in 2023
All-time low
5.65 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Iraq, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Iraq stood at 45.07 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Iraq peaked at 45.07 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.65 million people, in 1950.
That places Iraq 35th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Iraq, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.65 million people | — |
| 1951 | 5.77 million people | +2.1% |
| 1952 | 5.91 million people | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 6.06 million people | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 6.22 million people | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 6.37 million people | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 6.51 million people | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 6.63 million people | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 6.74 million people | +1.6% |
| 1959 | 6.87 million people | +1.9% |
| 1960 | 7.02 million people | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 7.19 million people | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 7.41 million people | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 7.67 million people | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 7.93 million people | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 8.20 million people | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 8.49 million people | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 8.78 million people | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 9.09 million people | +3.5% |
| 1969 | 9.40 million people | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 9.74 million people | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 10.08 million people | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 10.43 million people | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 10.80 million people | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 11.17 million people | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 11.54 million people | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 11.93 million people | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 12.33 million people | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 12.75 million people | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 13.17 million people | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 13.59 million people | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 14.01 million people | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 14.41 million people | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 14.84 million people | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 15.31 million people | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 15.68 million people | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 16.07 million people | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 16.52 million people | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 16.91 million people | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 17.36 million people | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 17.58 million people | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 17.77 million people | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 18.30 million people | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 19.20 million people | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 20.14 million people | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 20.83 million people | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 21.50 million people | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 22.18 million people | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 22.88 million people | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 23.64 million people | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 24.42 million people | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 25.20 million people | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 26.01 million people | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 26.80 million people | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 27.58 million people | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 28.41 million people | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 28.62 million people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 28.39 million people | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 28.97 million people | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 30.06 million people | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 31.05 million people | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 32.16 million people | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 33.65 million people | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 35.28 million people | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 36.55 million people | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 37.56 million people | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 38.47 million people | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 39.34 million people | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 40.27 million people | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 41.19 million people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 42.12 million people | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 43.07 million people | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 44.07 million people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 45.07 million people | +2.3% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 45.07 million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 6.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 45.07 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.44 million people, 3.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6.27 million people | 5.65 million people | 6.87 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.12 million people | 7.02 million people | 9.40 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.39 million people | 9.74 million people | 13.17 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.47 million people | 13.59 million people | 17.36 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.40 million people | 17.58 million people | 23.64 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.45 million people | 24.42 million people | 30.06 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.55 million people | 31.05 million people | 41.19 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.58 million people | 42.12 million people | 45.07 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- 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)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Iraq?
- Population in Iraq was 45.07 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 45.07 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.65 million people in 1950.
- How does Iraq rank for population?
- Iraq ranks 35th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.