Population of Iraq

As of May 2026, the population of Iraq is 48.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 1 million in the last year, representing a growth of 2.17%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 18.7 years in 2016 to 20.9 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 72.4 years and population density is 111.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Iraq peaked in 1993, reaching around 6.23% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.13% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 1.74 million in 2012 to nearly 1.04 million in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Iraq, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 63.6 years in 2006 to 72.4 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 9 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Iraq

Iraq has multiple large cities with a significant number of inhabitants. The most populous city is Baghdad, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 7.2 million inhabitants. It is followed by Al Mawşil al Jadīdah, Nineveh with 2.1 million and Al Başrah al Qadīmah, Basra with 2 million.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Iraq: