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Population in Iran compared to Iraq: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 1.94 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.71% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.19% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Iran vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Iraq
2100 80,713,760 101,632,594
2099 81,246,718 101,421,266
2098 81,770,953 101,212,536
2097 82,295,714 100,980,835
2096 82,818,575 100,724,441
2095 83,338,446 100,464,590
2094 83,854,648 100,194,041
2093 84,371,569 99,876,174
2092 84,888,626 99,532,041
2091 85,410,099 99,203,830
2090 85,934,675 98,886,956
2089 86,466,409 98,513,025
2088 87,004,165 98,144,039
2087 87,549,685 97,767,537
2086 88,105,571 97,325,026
2085 88,668,329 96,873,007
2084 89,239,709 96,448,602
2083 89,817,194 95,991,166
2082 90,402,538 95,509,663
2081 90,995,822 95,009,326
2080 91,595,122 94,507,216
2079 92,196,842 93,960,228
2078 92,801,160 93,417,384
2077 93,405,954 92,903,983
2076 94,007,669 92,359,592
2075 94,606,607 91,825,254
2074 95,197,577 91,229,266
2073 95,783,994 90,571,021
2072 96,355,853 89,918,374
2071 96,915,335 89,265,548
2070 97,460,813 88,596,492
2069 97,988,897 87,909,474
2068 98,496,927 87,220,494
2067 98,978,509 86,513,996
2066 99,439,391 85,734,530
2065 99,877,457 84,971,898
2064 100,288,977 84,191,350
2063 100,668,199 83,387,951
2062 101,017,348 82,604,577
2061 101,332,810 81,800,637
2060 101,612,261 80,951,008
2059 101,858,931 80,141,868
2058 102,061,144 79,319,543
2057 102,228,085 78,477,339
2056 102,358,266 77,609,202
2055 102,449,092 76,739,924
2054 102,498,594 75,857,125
2053 102,508,245 74,952,948
2052 102,480,373 74,072,580
2051 102,417,847 73,150,234
2050 102,318,917 72,235,938
2049 102,189,816 71,272,122
2048 102,024,233 70,316,860
2047 101,832,213 69,347,823
2046 101,613,554 68,400,664
2045 101,371,784 67,435,953
2044 101,104,998 66,447,309
2043 100,818,045 65,453,565
2042 100,512,032 64,433,831
2041 100,188,214 63,408,709
2040 99,849,875 62,360,117
2039 99,501,869 61,289,355
2038 99,137,385 60,253,073
2037 98,759,167 59,221,658
2036 98,366,612 58,155,990
2035 97,963,082 57,127,999
2034 97,546,148 56,087,695
2033 97,118,106 55,051,140
2032 96,671,440 54,002,289
2031 96,204,118 52,991,443
2030 95,718,604 51,986,773
2029 95,195,996 50,982,563
2028 94,623,034 50,001,133
2027 93,987,260 49,014,822
2026 93,276,075 48,020,334
2025 92,478,162 47,020,527
2024 91,567,738 46,042,015
2023 90,608,707 45,074,049
2022 89,524,246 44,070,551
2021 88,455,488 43,071,211
2020 87,723,443 42,116,605
2019 87,051,648 41,192,171
2018 86,117,998 40,265,624
2017 85,026,754 39,337,353
2016 83,812,228 38,469,627
2015 82,619,362 37,560,535
2014 81,502,045 36,550,059
2013 80,414,686 35,281,989
2012 79,370,580 33,654,842
2011 78,383,598 32,161,424
2010 77,420,842 31,045,366
2009 76,457,825 30,058,206
2008 75,514,204 28,971,036
2007 74,602,648 28,391,607
2006 73,392,747 28,616,515
2005 71,828,455 28,407,448
2004 70,256,316 27,577,878
2003 68,769,340 26,802,659
2002 68,011,317 26,006,559
2001 67,452,005 25,197,840
2000 66,418,659 24,424,056
1999 65,445,391 23,636,527
1998 64,519,859 22,884,399
1997 63,639,638 22,176,593
1996 62,881,300 21,501,321
1995 62,205,567 20,825,860
1994 61,520,598 20,139,807
1993 61,403,543 19,201,195
1992 61,184,983 18,300,845
1991 59,986,931 17,767,253
1990 58,380,092 17,581,206
1989 56,704,914 17,364,542
1988 55,072,694 16,908,819
1987 53,323,493 16,521,049
1986 51,446,045 16,074,145
1985 49,582,289 15,683,430
1984 47,793,998 15,310,733
1983 46,029,535 14,840,555
1982 44,272,141 14,406,083
1981 41,989,312 14,006,381
1980 39,842,324 13,591,992
1979 38,424,952 13,170,365
1978 37,126,535 12,753,355
1977 35,933,181 12,331,046
1976 34,837,271 11,927,651
1975 33,802,973 11,543,639
1974 32,796,463 11,167,761
1973 31,839,838 10,795,869
1972 30,921,179 10,430,164
1971 30,029,071 10,077,809
1970 29,145,100 9,735,611
1969 28,273,482 9,403,356
1968 27,437,391 9,085,016
1967 26,628,432 8,778,869
1966 25,829,270 8,485,104
1965 25,036,978 8,202,140
1964 24,262,859 7,929,566
1963 23,519,005 7,667,928
1962 22,807,907 7,413,875
1961 22,125,726 7,194,553
1960 21,470,434 7,022,052

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iran's population will grow by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Iraq
2100 -0.66% 0.21%
2099 -0.64% 0.21%
2098 -0.64% 0.23%
2097 -0.63% 0.25%
2096 -0.62% 0.26%
2095 -0.62% 0.27%
2094 -0.61% 0.32%
2093 -0.61% 0.35%
2092 -0.61% 0.33%
2091 -0.61% 0.32%
2090 -0.61% 0.38%
2089 -0.62% 0.38%
2088 -0.62% 0.39%
2087 -0.63% 0.45%
2086 -0.63% 0.47%
2085 -0.64% 0.44%
2084 -0.64% 0.48%
2083 -0.65% 0.5%
2082 -0.65% 0.53%
2081 -0.65% 0.53%
2080 -0.65% 0.58%
2079 -0.65% 0.58%
2078 -0.65% 0.55%
2077 -0.64% 0.59%
2076 -0.63% 0.58%
2075 -0.62% 0.65%
2074 -0.61% 0.73%
2073 -0.59% 0.73%
2072 -0.58% 0.73%
2071 -0.56% 0.76%
2070 -0.54% 0.78%
2069 -0.52% 0.79%
2068 -0.49% 0.82%
2067 -0.46% 0.91%
2066 -0.44% 0.9%
2065 -0.41% 0.93%
2064 -0.38% 0.96%
2063 -0.35% 0.95%
2062 -0.31% 0.98%
2061 -0.28% 1.05%
2060 -0.24% 1.01%
2059 -0.2% 1.04%
2058 -0.16% 1.07%
2057 -0.13% 1.12%
2056 -0.09% 1.13%
2055 -0.05% 1.16%
2054 -0.009% 1.21%
2053 0.03% 1.19%
2052 0.06% 1.26%
2051 0.1% 1.27%
2050 0.13% 1.35%
2049 0.16% 1.36%
2048 0.19% 1.4%
2047 0.22% 1.38%
2046 0.24% 1.43%
2045 0.26% 1.49%
2044 0.28% 1.52%
2043 0.3% 1.58%
2042 0.32% 1.62%
2041 0.34% 1.68%
2040 0.35% 1.75%
2039 0.37% 1.72%
2038 0.38% 1.74%
2037 0.4% 1.83%
2036 0.41% 1.8%
2035 0.43% 1.85%
2034 0.44% 1.88%
2033 0.46% 1.94%
2032 0.49% 1.91%
2031 0.51% 1.93%
2030 0.55% 1.97%
2029 0.61% 1.96%
2028 0.68% 2.01%
2027 0.76% 2.07%
2026 0.86% 2.13%
2025 0.99% 2.13%
2024 1.06% 2.15%
2023 1.21% 2.28%
2022 1.21% 2.32%
2021 0.83% 2.27%
2020 0.77% 2.24%
2019 1.08% 2.3%
2018 1.28% 2.36%
2017 1.45% 2.26%
2016 1.44% 2.42%
2015 1.37% 2.76%
2014 1.35% 3.59%
2013 1.32% 4.83%
2012 1.26% 4.64%
2011 1.24% 3.59%
2010 1.26% 3.28%
2009 1.25% 3.75%
2008 1.22% 2.04%
2007 1.65% -0.79%
2006 2.18% 0.74%
2005 2.24% 3.01%
2004 2.16% 2.89%
2003 1.11% 3.06%
2002 0.83% 3.21%
2001 1.56% 3.17%
2000 1.49% 3.33%
1999 1.43% 3.29%
1998 1.38% 3.19%
1997 1.21% 3.14%
1996 1.09% 3.24%
1995 1.11% 3.41%
1994 0.19% 4.89%
1993 0.36% 4.92%
1992 2% 3%
1991 2.75% 1.06%
1990 2.95% 1.25%
1989 2.96% 2.7%
1988 3.28% 2.35%
1987 3.65% 2.78%
1986 3.76% 2.49%
1985 3.74% 2.43%
1984 3.83% 3.17%
1983 3.97% 3.02%
1982 5.44% 2.85%
1981 5.39% 3.05%
1980 3.69% 3.2%
1979 3.5% 3.27%
1978 3.32% 3.42%
1977 3.15% 3.38%
1976 3.06% 3.33%
1975 3.07% 3.37%
1974 3% 3.44%
1973 2.97% 3.51%
1972 2.97% 3.5%
1971 3.03% 3.51%
1970 3.08% 3.53%
1969 3.05% 3.5%
1968 3.04% 3.49%
1967 3.09% 3.46%
1966 3.16% 3.45%
1965 3.19% 3.44%
1964 3.16% 3.41%
1963 3.12% 3.43%
1962 3.08% 3.05%
1961 3.05% 2.46%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Iran Iraq
Current population
93468444
48289334
Population rank 17/197 33/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.58%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
32.6 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
27.2 seconds
One death every
1.24 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 46/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change +116,786 -1,064
Net migration rank 14/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - -1,064
2024 - 190,156 - -17,735
2023 750,150 262,044 973,420 -5,710
2022 753,525 403,190 962,501 76,821
2021 645,725 334,967 941,924 17,474
2020 663,978 -180,680 919,953 29,858
2019 893,063 -32,794 942,972 -43,919
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 938,310 15,775
2017 1,140,549 34,849 924,507 -21,998
2016 1,186,949 66,630 946,968 -113,980
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 1,026,036 474,379
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 999,987 753,907
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 971,082 261,880
2010 980,380 -12,849 906,369 92,779
2009 958,322 211 855,096 120,092
2008 940,983 -12,184 802,382 396,792
2007 919,254 -24,950 784,119 -824,428
2006 884,529 640,932 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 837,305 765,873 776,603 51,019
2004 801,203 739,996 761,563 69,948
2003 732,600 700,222 746,159 -27,236
2002 752,205 -668,962 739,419 133,839
2001 743,658 291,692 729,704 14,451
2000 731,203 300,133 715,771 87,624
1999 723,237 191,988 702,170 69,491
1998 717,655 218,171 684,152 48,446
1997 726,574 98,009 667,582 15,429
1996 784,508 -92,435 652,866 14,652
1995 879,648 -220,258 642,977 40,424
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 634,344 54,355
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 606,700 581,818
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 591,886 20,292
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 550,146 -95,155
1990 1,530,434 200,711 518,575 -601,469
1989 1,609,739 9,460 496,852 19,392
1988 1,614,512 30,688 476,778 -81,562
1987 1,639,644 213,524 488,742 -108,426
1986 1,659,289 242,411 474,348 39,136
1985 1,661,750 163,999 467,445 -199,505
1984 1,653,051 97,748 455,740 21,709
1983 1,573,612 204,544 439,800 23,115
1982 1,514,240 222,390 428,336 -22,302
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 416,998 -23,640
1980 1,361,293 103,674 419,653 15,757
1979 1,294,306 75,451 428,458 -20,617
1978 1,156,974 70,088 418,756 7,434
1977 1,091,542 68,093 410,229 8,204
1976 1,013,347 18,825 402,260 -13,915
1975 929,481 106,921 385,916 -6,237
1974 873,369 103,252 376,197 -4,090
1973 831,880 104,779 373,191 -1,507
1972 804,043 96,614 362,334 -2,600
1971 805,830 77,717 351,464 -6,479
1970 794,612 89,757 338,030 1,377
1969 780,660 78,196 324,792 312
1968 743,992 69,342 310,644 928
1967 727,276 77,313 298,192 2,531
1966 695,040 98,709 285,507 1,298
1965 663,029 127,808 274,551 4,555
1964 635,589 121,817 262,825 3,224
1963 620,126 110,190 254,046 3,197
1962 595,538 96,332 247,520 3,343
1961 594,674 77,811 184,792 2,981
1960 584,060 54,041 155,651 1,573

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/iraq | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people). In Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/iran/iraq | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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