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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 2.54 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 2.06% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Iraq vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Japan
2100 101,632,594 76,978,998
2099 101,421,266 77,363,458
2098 101,212,536 77,742,445
2097 100,980,835 78,118,375
2096 100,724,441 78,498,614
2095 100,464,590 78,875,245
2094 100,194,041 79,250,325
2093 99,876,174 79,628,057
2092 99,532,041 80,007,967
2091 99,203,830 80,383,529
2090 98,886,956 80,760,724
2089 98,513,025 81,140,553
2088 98,144,039 81,521,696
2087 97,767,537 81,908,373
2086 97,325,026 82,304,497
2085 96,873,007 82,709,534
2084 96,448,602 83,123,058
2083 95,991,166 83,544,006
2082 95,509,663 83,980,325
2081 95,009,326 84,429,305
2080 94,507,216 84,899,768
2079 93,960,228 85,387,247
2078 93,417,384 85,897,934
2077 92,903,983 86,434,291
2076 92,359,592 86,993,007
2075 91,825,254 87,577,777
2074 91,229,266 88,190,392
2073 90,571,021 88,834,763
2072 89,918,374 89,499,356
2071 89,265,548 90,184,464
2070 88,596,492 90,899,136
2069 87,909,474 91,625,421
2068 87,220,494 92,367,969
2067 86,513,996 93,113,499
2066 85,734,530 93,869,240
2065 84,971,898 94,633,430
2064 84,191,350 95,391,433
2063 83,387,951 96,148,081
2062 82,604,577 96,902,907
2061 81,800,637 97,654,031
2060 80,951,008 98,400,894
2059 80,141,868 99,144,216
2058 79,319,543 99,868,968
2057 78,477,339 100,585,601
2056 77,609,202 101,295,868
2055 76,739,924 101,989,736
2054 75,857,125 102,683,462
2053 74,952,948 103,359,083
2052 74,072,580 104,036,901
2051 73,150,234 104,706,698
2050 72,235,938 105,377,283
2049 71,272,122 106,053,011
2048 70,316,860 106,731,207
2047 69,347,823 107,419,237
2046 68,400,664 108,115,358
2045 67,435,953 108,820,982
2044 66,447,309 109,529,333
2043 65,453,565 110,245,586
2042 64,433,831 110,968,174
2041 63,408,709 111,704,629
2040 62,360,117 112,438,759
2039 61,289,355 113,175,948
2038 60,253,073 113,915,783
2037 59,221,658 114,662,374
2036 58,155,990 115,410,956
2035 57,127,999 116,162,381
2034 56,087,695 116,911,001
2033 55,051,140 117,652,676
2032 54,002,289 118,393,188
2031 52,991,443 119,127,425
2030 51,986,773 119,856,131
2029 50,982,563 120,574,242
2028 50,001,133 121,287,543
2027 49,014,822 121,989,133
2026 48,020,334 122,677,250
2025 47,020,527 123,339,586
2024 46,042,015 123,975,371
2023 45,074,049 124,516,650
2022 44,070,551 125,124,989
2021 43,071,211 125,681,593
2020 42,116,605 126,261,000
2019 41,192,171 126,633,000
2018 40,265,624 126,811,000
2017 39,337,353 126,972,000
2016 38,469,627 127,076,000
2015 37,560,535 127,141,000
2014 36,550,059 127,276,000
2013 35,281,989 127,445,000
2012 33,654,842 127,629,000
2011 32,161,424 127,833,000
2010 31,045,366 128,070,000
2009 30,058,206 128,047,000
2008 28,971,036 128,063,000
2007 28,391,607 128,001,000
2006 28,616,515 127,854,000
2005 28,407,448 127,773,000
2004 27,577,878 127,761,000
2003 26,802,659 127,718,000
2002 26,006,559 127,445,000
2001 25,197,840 127,149,000
2000 24,424,056 126,843,000
1999 23,636,527 126,631,000
1998 22,884,399 126,400,000
1997 22,176,593 126,057,000
1996 21,501,321 125,757,000
1995 20,825,860 125,472,000
1994 20,139,807 125,178,000
1993 19,201,195 124,829,000
1992 18,300,845 124,425,000
1991 17,767,253 123,964,000
1990 17,581,206 123,478,000
1989 17,364,542 123,069,000
1988 16,908,819 122,578,000
1987 16,521,049 122,069,000
1986 16,074,145 121,482,000
1985 15,683,430 120,837,000
1984 15,310,733 120,083,000
1983 14,840,555 119,307,000
1982 14,406,083 118,480,000
1981 14,006,381 117,661,000
1980 13,591,992 116,807,000
1979 13,170,365 115,890,000
1978 12,753,355 114,913,000
1977 12,331,046 113,872,000
1976 11,927,651 112,775,000
1975 11,543,639 111,573,000
1974 11,167,761 110,162,000
1973 10,795,869 108,707,000
1972 10,430,164 107,188,000
1971 10,077,809 105,697,000
1970 9,735,611 103,403,000
1969 9,403,356 102,219,000
1968 9,085,016 101,011,000
1967 8,778,869 99,879,000
1966 8,485,104 98,851,000
1965 8,202,140 97,952,000
1964 7,929,566 96,903,000
1963 7,667,928 95,900,000
1962 7,413,875 94,933,000
1961 7,194,553 94,055,000
1960 7,022,052 93,216,000

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/iraq/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iraq's population will grow by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Japan
2100 0.21% -0.5%
2099 0.21% -0.49%
2098 0.23% -0.48%
2097 0.25% -0.48%
2096 0.26% -0.48%
2095 0.27% -0.47%
2094 0.32% -0.47%
2093 0.35% -0.47%
2092 0.33% -0.47%
2091 0.32% -0.47%
2090 0.38% -0.47%
2089 0.38% -0.47%
2088 0.39% -0.47%
2087 0.45% -0.48%
2086 0.47% -0.49%
2085 0.44% -0.5%
2084 0.48% -0.5%
2083 0.5% -0.52%
2082 0.53% -0.53%
2081 0.53% -0.55%
2080 0.58% -0.57%
2079 0.58% -0.59%
2078 0.55% -0.62%
2077 0.59% -0.64%
2076 0.58% -0.67%
2075 0.65% -0.69%
2074 0.73% -0.73%
2073 0.73% -0.74%
2072 0.73% -0.76%
2071 0.76% -0.79%
2070 0.78% -0.79%
2069 0.79% -0.8%
2068 0.82% -0.8%
2067 0.91% -0.81%
2066 0.9% -0.81%
2065 0.93% -0.79%
2064 0.96% -0.79%
2063 0.95% -0.78%
2062 0.98% -0.77%
2061 1.05% -0.76%
2060 1.01% -0.75%
2059 1.04% -0.73%
2058 1.07% -0.71%
2057 1.12% -0.7%
2056 1.13% -0.68%
2055 1.16% -0.68%
2054 1.21% -0.65%
2053 1.19% -0.65%
2052 1.26% -0.64%
2051 1.27% -0.64%
2050 1.35% -0.64%
2049 1.36% -0.64%
2048 1.4% -0.64%
2047 1.38% -0.64%
2046 1.43% -0.65%
2045 1.49% -0.65%
2044 1.52% -0.65%
2043 1.58% -0.65%
2042 1.62% -0.66%
2041 1.68% -0.65%
2040 1.75% -0.65%
2039 1.72% -0.65%
2038 1.74% -0.65%
2037 1.83% -0.65%
2036 1.8% -0.65%
2035 1.85% -0.64%
2034 1.88% -0.63%
2033 1.94% -0.63%
2032 1.91% -0.62%
2031 1.93% -0.61%
2030 1.97% -0.6%
2029 1.96% -0.59%
2028 2.01% -0.58%
2027 2.07% -0.56%
2026 2.13% -0.54%
2025 2.13% -0.51%
2024 2.15% -0.43%
2023 2.28% -0.49%
2022 2.32% -0.44%
2021 2.27% -0.46%
2020 2.24% -0.29%
2019 2.3% -0.14%
2018 2.36% -0.13%
2017 2.26% -0.08%
2016 2.42% -0.05%
2015 2.76% -0.11%
2014 3.59% -0.13%
2013 4.83% -0.14%
2012 4.64% -0.16%
2011 3.59% -0.19%
2010 3.28% 0.02%
2009 3.75% -0.01%
2008 2.04% 0.05%
2007 -0.79% 0.11%
2006 0.74% 0.06%
2005 3.01% 0.009%
2004 2.89% 0.03%
2003 3.06% 0.21%
2002 3.21% 0.23%
2001 3.17% 0.24%
2000 3.33% 0.17%
1999 3.29% 0.18%
1998 3.19% 0.27%
1997 3.14% 0.24%
1996 3.24% 0.23%
1995 3.41% 0.23%
1994 4.89% 0.28%
1993 4.92% 0.32%
1992 3% 0.37%
1991 1.06% 0.39%
1990 1.25% 0.33%
1989 2.7% 0.4%
1988 2.35% 0.42%
1987 2.78% 0.48%
1986 2.49% 0.53%
1985 2.43% 0.63%
1984 3.17% 0.65%
1983 3.02% 0.7%
1982 2.85% 0.7%
1981 3.05% 0.73%
1980 3.2% 0.79%
1979 3.27% 0.85%
1978 3.42% 0.91%
1977 3.38% 0.97%
1976 3.33% 1.08%
1975 3.37% 1.28%
1974 3.44% 1.34%
1973 3.51% 1.42%
1972 3.5% 1.41%
1971 3.51% 2.22%
1970 3.53% 1.16%
1969 3.5% 1.2%
1968 3.49% 1.13%
1967 3.46% 1.04%
1966 3.45% 0.92%
1965 3.44% 1.08%
1964 3.41% 1.05%
1963 3.43% 1.02%
1962 3.05% 0.93%
1961 2.46% 0.9%

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/iraq/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Iraq Japan
Current population
48289334
122677250
Population rank 33/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 1.48%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
58.3 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
42.2 seconds
One death every
2.82 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,652 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +967,966 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 185/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +140,579
Net migration rank 93/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 140,579
2024 - -17,735 - 153,357
2023 973,420 -5,710 -871,617 175,003
2022 962,501 76,821 -825,825 175,003
2021 941,924 17,474 -640,976 -34,996
2020 919,953 29,858 -542,923 42,001
2019 942,972 -43,919 -531,858 318,190
2018 938,310 15,775 -456,520 320,601
2017 924,507 -21,998 -406,310 322,564
2016 946,968 -113,980 -343,106 314,732
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 -292,424 168,896
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 -267,279 58,109
2013 1,026,036 474,379 -242,146 66,449
2012 999,987 753,907 -229,733 67,904
2011 971,082 261,880 -204,533 97,720
2010 906,369 92,779 -128,070 131,860
2009 855,096 120,092 -76,828 125,450
2008 802,382 396,792 -51,225 142,605
2007 784,119 -824,428 -25,600 138,024
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 12,785 130,065
2005 776,603 51,019 -25,554 113,017
2004 761,563 69,948 76,656 69,014
2003 746,159 -27,236 114,946 74,875
2002 739,419 133,839 178,423 60,864
2001 729,704 14,451 203,438 59,563
2000 715,771 87,624 228,317 23,468
1999 702,170 69,491 202,610 56,901
1998 684,152 48,446 265,440 45,912
1997 667,582 15,429 277,325 43,366
1996 652,866 14,652 314,392 25,030
1995 642,977 40,424 276,039 87,714
1994 634,344 54,355 363,017 154,214
1993 606,700 581,818 312,073 168,836
1992 591,886 20,292 360,833 170,878
1991 550,146 -95,155 396,685 161,331
1990 518,575 -601,469 407,478 124,582
1989 496,852 19,392 467,662 31,202
1988 476,778 -81,562 527,085 51,154
1987 488,742 -108,426 598,138 28,001
1986 474,348 39,136 631,706 27,987
1985 467,445 -199,505 676,687 -141,323
1984 455,740 21,709 756,523 -273,686
1983 439,800 23,115 775,495 -269,755
1982 428,336 -22,302 805,664 -288,550
1981 416,998 -23,640 811,861 -278,525
1980 419,653 15,757 864,372 -92,314
1979 428,458 -20,617 950,298 -57,692
1978 418,756 7,434 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 410,229 8,204 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 402,260 -13,915 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 385,916 -6,237 1,204,989 107
1974 376,197 -4,090 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 373,191 -1,507 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 362,334 -2,600 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 351,464 -6,479 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 338,030 1,377 1,230,496 33,731
1969 324,792 312 1,195,962 49,447
1968 310,644 928 1,191,930 43,593
1967 298,192 2,531 1,258,475 29,632
1966 285,507 1,298 682,072 68,934
1965 274,551 4,555 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 262,825 3,224 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 254,046 3,197 987,770 -100,742
1962 247,520 3,343 901,864 -57,075
1961 184,792 2,981 893,522 -58,882
1960 155,651 1,573 894,874 -150,371

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.2% of the population change in Iraq is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people). In Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/iraq/japan | 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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