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.

Population in Iraq

Name: Population in Iraq
Creator: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

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

1950–2023

Population in Iraq, 1950–2023

Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.

Analysis

The most recent figure for population in Iraq is 45.07 million people, measured in 2023. 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.

Iraq ranks 35th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

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

32 Spain 47.91 million people compare
33 Algeria 46.16 million people compare
34 Argentina 45.54 million people compare
36 Afghanistan 41.45 million people compare
37 Yemen 39.39 million people compare
38 Canada 39.30 million people compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Iraq

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)
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 3.22 births per woman (2024)
Refugees by country of asylum 318,461 people (2024)
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 3.22 births per woman (2024)
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 3.22 births per woman (2024)
Natural population growth rate 2.2% (2023)
Fertility rate: births per woman 3.25 live births per woman (2023)

All data for Iraq →

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

CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Population
Unit: people
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 236 places, 17,464 data points, 1950–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.