Urban and rural population in Iraq
Iraq: Urban and rural population was 32.89 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
32.89 million
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
30th
of 236 countries
All-time high
32.89 million
in 2025
All-time low
1.98 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Iraq, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Iraq stood at 32.89 million. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Iraq peaked at 32.89 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.98 million, in 1950.
Iraq ranks 30th 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.
Urban and rural population in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.98 million | — |
| 1951 | 2.05 million | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 2.14 million | +4.3% |
| 1953 | 2.24 million | +4.6% |
| 1954 | 2.35 million | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 2.46 million | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 2.57 million | +4.5% |
| 1957 | 2.68 million | +4.3% |
| 1958 | 2.79 million | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 2.93 million | +4.9% |
| 1960 | 3.09 million | +5.6% |
| 1961 | 3.27 million | +6.0% |
| 1962 | 3.49 million | +6.6% |
| 1963 | 3.73 million | +6.8% |
| 1964 | 3.97 million | +6.5% |
| 1965 | 4.21 million | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 4.46 million | +5.8% |
| 1967 | 4.71 million | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 4.98 million | +5.6% |
| 1969 | 5.26 million | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 5.55 million | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 5.85 million | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 6.15 million | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 6.48 million | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 6.80 million | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 7.13 million | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 7.47 million | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 7.83 million | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 8.20 million | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 8.58 million | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 8.97 million | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 9.37 million | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 9.75 million | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 10.16 million | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 10.58 million | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 10.92 million | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 11.26 million | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 11.60 million | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 11.87 million | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 12.16 million | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 12.26 million | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 12.32 million | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 12.62 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 13.16 million | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 13.73 million | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 14.13 million | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 14.54 million | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 14.97 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 15.45 million | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 15.97 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 16.52 million | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 17.07 million | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 17.66 million | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 18.24 million | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 18.81 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 19.43 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 19.62 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 19.51 million | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 19.95 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 20.73 million | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 21.44 million | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 22.23 million | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 23.30 million | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 24.50 million | +5.2% |
| 2014 | 25.46 million | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 26.26 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 26.89 million | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 27.49 million | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 28.14 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 28.78 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 29.43 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 30.09 million | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 30.79 million | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 31.49 million | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 32.18 million | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 32.89 million | +2.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 32.89 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 7.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 32.89 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.75 million, 3.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.42 million | 1.98 million | 2.93 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.12 million | 3.09 million | 5.26 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.00 million | 5.55 million | 8.58 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.66 million | 8.97 million | 12.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.91 million | 12.26 million | 15.97 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.75 million | 16.52 million | 20.73 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.45 million | 21.44 million | 28.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.14 million | 29.43 million | 32.89 million | 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)
- Population growth rate 0.169 (2100)
- Population density 231.84 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.99 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Iraq?
- Urban and rural population in Iraq was 32.89 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 32.89 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.98 million in 1950.
- How does Iraq rank for urban and rural population?
- Iraq ranks 30th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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