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Population density: Iraq vs Lebanon compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population density of 286.5 people per square mile compared to 1,492 people in Lebanon. Iraq has 102,181 sq ft of land per person vs 19,377 sq ft in Lebanon. Iraq and Lebanon rank 86th and 14th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iraq has 0.57% of the world's population and 0.29% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.07% of the population and 0.007% of the land area for Lebanon, making the population density in Iraq 80.8% lower than in Lebanon.

Population density by year

Iraq
Lebanon

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iraq Lebanon
2026 286.5 1,492
2025 280.5 1,480
2024 274.7 1,470
2023 268.9 1,462
2022 262.9 1,454
2021 257 1,448
2020 251.3 1,444
2019 245.7 1,467
2018 240.2 1,515
2017 234.7 1,560
2016 229.5 1,601
2015 224.1 1,639
2014 218.1 1,607
2013 210.5 1,454
2012 200.7 1,326
2011 191.8 1,290
2010 185.1 1,276
2009 179.2 1,264
2008 171.6 1,247
2007 168.1 1,226
2006 169.5 1,203
2005 168.2 1,183
2004 163.3 1,164
2003 158.7 1,146
2002 154 1,130
2001 149.2 1,114
2000 144.6 1,096
1999 140 1,077
1998 135.5 1,059
1997 131.3 1,040
1996 127.3 1,022
1995 123.3 1,003
1994 119.3 985
1993 113.7 967
1992 108.4 949
1991 105.2 929
1990 104.1 910
1989 102.8 893
1988 100.1 875
1987 97.8 857
1986 95.2 836
1985 92.9 815
1984 90.7 798
1983 87.9 784
1982 85.3 773
1981 82.9 762
1980 80.5 746
1979 78 730
1978 75.5 715
1977 73 699
1976 70.6 690
1975 68.4 682
1974 66.1 667
1973 63.9 651
1972 61.8 635
1971 59.7 619
1970 57.7 604
1969 55.7 589
1968 53.8 574
1967 52 559
1966 50.2 544
1965 48.6 529
1964 47 514
1963 45.4 499
1962 43.9 483
1961 42.6 468

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iraq/lebanon | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iraq increased by 69.1%, compared to a 24% growth in Lebanon.

In 2006, Iraq ranked 110th by population density and is 86th now. Lebanon was 16th in 2006 and ranks 14th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iraq
Lebanon
1x
Year Urban population
Iraq Lebanon
2024 69.9% 90.7%
2023 69.9% 90.5%
2022 69.9% 90.2%
2021 69.9% 90%
2020 69.9% 89.7%
2019 69.9% 89.5%
2018 69.9% 89.3%
2017 69.9% 89.1%
2016 69.9% 88.8%
2015 69.9% 88.6%
2014 69.7% 88.4%
2013 69.4% 88.2%
2012 69.2% 88%
2011 69.1% 87.8%
2010 69.1% 87.6%
2009 69% 87.5%
2008 68.9% 87.3%
2007 68.7% 87.1%
2006 68.6% 86.9%
2005 68.4% 86.8%
2004 68.2% 86.6%
2003 68.1% 86.4%
2002 67.9% 86.3%
2001 67.8% 86.1%
2000 67.6% 86%
1999 67.5% 85.9%
1998 67.5% 85.8%
1997 67.5% 85.6%
1996 67.6% 85.4%
1995 67.8% 85.1%
1994 68.2% 84.8%
1993 68.6% 84.5%
1992 69% 84.2%
1991 69.4% 83.8%
1990 69.7% 83.3%
1989 70% 82.9%
1988 70.2% 82.4%
1987 70.2% 81.8%
1986 70% 81.1%
1985 69.7% 80.3%
1984 69.1% 79.3%
1983 68.5% 78.2%
1982 67.7% 77.1%
1981 66.9% 75.8%
1980 66% 74.5%
1979 65.1% 73.1%
1978 64.3% 71.7%
1977 63.5% 70.2%
1976 62.7% 68.7%
1975 61.8% 67.1%
1974 60.9% 65.6%
1973 60% 64.1%
1972 59% 62.5%
1971 58% 61%
1970 57% 59.5%
1969 55.9% 57.9%
1968 54.8% 56.2%
1967 53.7% 54.4%
1966 52.5% 52.5%
1965 51.4% 50.6%
1964 50% 48.7%
1963 48.6% 46.8%
1962 47% 45%
1961 45.5% 43.3%
1960 44% 41.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iraq/lebanon | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.2% to 69.9% in Iraq and from 86.6% to 90.7% in Lebanon.

Densely populated cities

Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K
Lebanon
City Population
Beirut 2.42M
Tripoli 863K
Sidon 164K
Tyre 160K
Jounieh 102K
Zahle 100K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/iraq/lebanon | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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