Rural population in Iraq
Iraq: Rural population was 28.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Iraq, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Iraq is 28.1%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Iraq peaked at 43.8% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 28.1%, in 2024.
Iraq ranks 130th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 43.8% | — |
| 1971 | 42.8% | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 41.7% | -2.5% |
| 1973 | 40.7% | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 39.6% | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 38.6% | -2.6% |
| 1976 | 37.6% | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 36.6% | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 35.8% | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 35.1% | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 34.5% | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 33.8% | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 33.2% | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 32.5% | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 31.9% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 31.2% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 30.6% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 30.0% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 29.9% | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 30.1% | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 30.3% | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 30.5% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 30.7% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 30.8% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 31.0% | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 31.2% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 31.4% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 31.6% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 31.6% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 31.6% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 31.5% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 31.4% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 31.4% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 31.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 31.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 31.2% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 31.2% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 31.1% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 31.1% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 31.0% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 30.9% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 30.7% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 30.6% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 30.4% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 30.2% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 30.1% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 29.9% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 29.7% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 29.5% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 29.3% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 29.1% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 28.9% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 28.6% | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 28.4% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 28.1% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 39.2% | 35.1% | 43.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 31.8% | 29.9% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.1% | 30.3% | 31.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.3% | 31.0% | 31.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.1% | 29.3% | 30.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.6% | 28.1% | 29.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More population data for Iraq
- 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)
- Population growth rate 0.169 (2100)
- Population density 231.84 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.99 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development 0.169 (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 2.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Fertility and wanted fertility, annual growth rate -0.8618 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Iraq?
- Rural population in Iraq was 28.1% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 43.8% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.1% in 2024.
- How does Iraq rank for rural population?
- Iraq ranks 130th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release