Urban population in Iraq
Iraq: Urban population was 32.89 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Iraq, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Iraq is 32.89 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 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 population in Iraq peaked at 32.89 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.09 million, in 1960.
That places Iraq 30th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.09 million | — |
| 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 4.10 million, 8.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 32.89 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 3.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 climate change data for Iraq
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 672.48 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 10,634 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,750 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,884 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.15 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 245.84 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,859 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,294 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,565 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 16.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Iraq?
- Urban population in Iraq was 32.89 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 32.89 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.09 million in 1960.
- How does Iraq rank for urban population?
- Iraq ranks 30th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.