Total population (thousands) in Iraq
Iraq: Total population (thousands) was 46,526 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
46,526 thousands
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
34th
of 233 countries
All-time high
46,526 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
9,566 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Iraq, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Iraq stood at 46,526 thousands. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Iraq peaked at 46,526 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 9,566 thousands, in 1970.
Iraq ranks 34th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9,566 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 9,905 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 10,250 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 10,610 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 10,982 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 11,354 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 11,734 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 12,122 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 12,540 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 12,966 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 13,374 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 13,810 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 14,203 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 14,609 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 15,072 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 15,550 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 15,817 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 16,331 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 16,711 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 17,106 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 17,623 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 17,540 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 17,995 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 18,607 thousands | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 19,796 thousands | +6.4% |
| 1995 | 20,484 thousands | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 21,168 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 21,835 thousands | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 22,518 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 23,251 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 24,022 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 24,826 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 25,570 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 26,443 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 27,162 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 27,994 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 28,821 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 28,412 thousands | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 28,371 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 29,571 thousands | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 30,546 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 31,545 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 32,778 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 34,532 thousands | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 36,032 thousands | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 37,068 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 38,053 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 38,886 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 39,789 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 40,743 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 41,642 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 42,592 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 43,551 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 44,590 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 45,558 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 46,526 thousands | +2.1% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 46,526 thousands is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,843 thousands, 6.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 46,526 thousands is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,575 thousands, 4.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11,203 thousands | 9,566 thousands | 12,966 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 15,258 thousands | 13,374 thousands | 17,106 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 20,082 thousands | 17,540 thousands | 23,251 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,119 thousands | 24,022 thousands | 29,571 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,997 thousands | 30,546 thousands | 40,743 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,076 thousands | 41,642 thousands | 46,526 thousands | 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 total population in Iraq?
- Total population in Iraq was 46,526 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 46,526 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,566 thousands in 1970.
- How does Iraq rank for total population?
- Iraq ranks 34th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release