Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iraq

Iraq: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 69.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
69.9%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
106th
of 238 countries
All-time high
70.2%
in 1987
All-time low
2.5%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025

Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iraq, 1000–2025

020406080100015122025

Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iraq is 69.9%, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iraq peaked at 70.2% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1000.

Iraq ranks 106th of 238 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1000s 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 1
1100s 2.6% 2.6% 2.6% 1
1200s 2.8% 2.8% 2.8% 1
1300s 2.9% 2.9% 2.9% 1
1400s 3.1% 3.1% 3.1% 1
1500s 3.2% 3.2% 3.2% 1
1600s 3.4% 3.4% 3.4% 1
1700s 3.5% 3.5% 3.5% 1
1710s 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% 1
1720s 4.3% 4.3% 4.3% 1
1730s 4.7% 4.7% 4.7% 1
1740s 5.2% 5.2% 5.2% 1
1750s 5.7% 5.7% 5.7% 1
1760s 6.2% 6.2% 6.2% 1
1770s 6.8% 6.8% 6.8% 1
1780s 7.5% 7.5% 7.5% 1
1790s 8.2% 8.2% 8.2% 1
1800s 9.0% 9.0% 9.0% 1
1810s 9.8% 9.8% 9.8% 1
1820s 10.8% 10.8% 10.8% 1
1830s 11.8% 11.8% 11.8% 1
1840s 12.9% 12.9% 12.9% 1
1850s 14.1% 14.1% 14.1% 1
1860s 15.5% 15.5% 15.5% 1
1870s 17.0% 17.0% 17.0% 1
1880s 18.6% 18.6% 18.6% 1
1890s 20.3% 20.3% 20.3% 1
1900s 22.3% 22.3% 22.3% 1
1910s 24.4% 24.4% 24.4% 1
1920s 26.7% 26.7% 26.7% 1
1930s 29.3% 29.3% 29.3% 1
1940s 32.1% 32.1% 32.1% 1
1950s 38.4% 35.0% 42.6% 10
1960s 50.3% 44.0% 55.9% 10
1970s 61.2% 57.0% 65.1% 10
1980s 68.8% 66.0% 70.2% 10
1990s 68.3% 67.5% 69.7% 10
2000s 68.3% 67.6% 69.0% 10
2010s 69.6% 69.1% 69.9% 10
2020s 69.9% 69.9% 69.9% 6

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 103 Tunisia 70.7% compare
  2. 104 Hungary 70.7% compare
  3. 105 Paraguay 70.4% compare
  4. 107 Austria 69.7% compare
  5. 108 Italy 69.7% compare
  6. 109 Ukraine 69.6% compare

See the full ranking of 239 places →

More population data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iraq?
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iraq was 69.9% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 70.2% in 1987.
What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1000.
How does Iraq rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
Iraq ranks 106th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050
Unit
%
Source
HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
239 places, 24,444 data points, 1000–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modelled historical data.