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Population density: Iraq vs Palestine compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population density of 286.5 people per square mile compared to 2,352 people in Palestine. Iraq has 102,181 sq ft of land per person vs 12,251 sq ft in Palestine. Iraq and Palestine rank 86th and 8th 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 0.004% of the land area for Palestine, making the population density in Iraq 87.8% lower than in Palestine.

Population density by year

Iraq
Palestine

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iraq Palestine
2026 286.5 2,352
2025 280.5 2,311
2024 274.7 2,274
2023 268.9 2,221
2022 262.9 2,168
2021 257 2,116
2020 251.3 2,067
2019 245.7 2,016
2018 240.2 1,966
2017 234.7 1,917
2016 229.5 1,879
2015 224.1 1,837
2014 218.1 1,796
2013 210.5 1,754
2012 200.7 1,712
2011 191.8 1,671
2010 185.1 1,629
2009 179.2 1,587
2008 171.6 1,545
2007 168.1 1,503
2006 169.5 1,466
2005 168.2 1,429
2004 163.3 1,392
2003 158.7 1,357
2002 154 1,323
2001 149.2 1,290
2000 144.6 1,257
1999 140 1,225
1998 135.5 1,195
1997 131.3 1,164
1996 127.3 1,113
1995 123.3 1,065
1994 119.3 1,018
1993 113.7 973
1992 108.4 931
1991 105.2 890
1990 104.1 851
1989 102.8 819
1988 100.1 766
1987 97.8 745
1986 95.2 729
1985 92.9 697
1984 90.7 670
1983 87.9 648
1982 85.3 629
1981 82.9 611
1980 80.5 595
1979 78 579
1978 75.5 564
1977 73 548
1976 70.6 532
1975 68.4 516
1974 66.1 499
1973 63.9 484
1972 61.8 474
1971 59.7 469
1970 57.7 471
1969 55.7 476
1968 53.8 483
1967 52 485
1966 50.2 484
1965 48.6 480
1964 47 472
1963 45.4 464
1962 43.9 457
1961 42.6 449

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

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

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iraq increased by 69.1%, compared to a 60.5% growth in Palestine.

In 2006, Iraq ranked 110th by population density and is 86th now. Palestine was 11th in 2006 and ranks 8th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iraq
Palestine
1x
Year Urban population
Iraq Palestine
2024 69.9% 87.1%
2023 69.9% 86.9%
2022 69.9% 86.6%
2021 69.9% 86.3%
2020 69.9% 86.1%
2019 69.9% 85.8%
2018 69.9% 85.5%
2017 69.9% 85.4%
2016 69.9% 85.3%
2015 69.9% 85.2%
2014 69.7% 85%
2013 69.4% 84.8%
2012 69.2% 84.5%
2011 69.1% 84.2%
2010 69.1% 83.9%
2009 69% 83.5%
2008 68.9% 83.1%
2007 68.7% 82.6%
2006 68.6% 81.8%
2005 68.4% 80.5%
2004 68.2% 79%
2003 68.1% 77.3%
2002 67.9% 75.5%
2001 67.8% 73.7%
2000 67.6% 72.1%
1999 67.5% 70.6%
1998 67.5% 69.5%
1997 67.5% 68.7%
1996 67.6% 68.1%
1995 67.8% 67.5%
1994 68.2% 67%
1993 68.6% 66.5%
1992 69% 66.1%
1991 69.4% 65.7%
1990 69.7% 65.3%
1989 70% -
1988 70.2% -
1987 70.2% -
1986 70% -
1985 69.7% -
1984 69.1% -
1983 68.5% -
1982 67.7% -
1981 66.9% -
1980 66% -
1979 65.1% -
1978 64.3% -
1977 63.5% -
1976 62.7% -
1975 61.8% -
1974 60.9% -
1973 60% -
1972 59% -
1971 58% -
1970 57% -
1969 55.9% -
1968 54.8% -
1967 53.7% -
1966 52.5% -
1965 51.4% -
1964 50% -
1963 48.6% -
1962 47% -
1961 45.5% -
1960 44% -

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.2% to 69.9% in Iraq and from 79% to 87.1% in Palestine.

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
Palestine
City Population
Gaza 590K
Ashdod 220K
Hebron 215K
Nablus 178K

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/palestine | 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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