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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 4,897,263 people in Kuwait in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 5,100,145 in Kuwait.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 9.47 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Kuwait is the 127th.
  • The countries together account for 0.64% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.06% for Kuwait.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +3.1% in Kuwait.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Kuwait has grown from 2.36M to 5.1M (115.7% growth).

Iraq vs Kuwait: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Kuwait
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Kuwait
2100 101,632,594 9,589,440
2099 101,421,266 9,513,152
2098 101,212,536 9,437,521
2097 100,980,835 9,362,225
2096 100,724,441 9,287,200
2095 100,464,590 9,212,523
2094 100,194,041 9,138,210
2093 99,876,174 9,064,241
2092 99,532,041 8,990,676
2091 99,203,830 8,917,547
2090 98,886,956 8,844,888
2089 98,513,025 8,772,503
2088 98,144,039 8,700,563
2087 97,767,537 8,629,117
2086 97,325,026 8,558,199
2085 96,873,007 8,487,764
2084 96,448,602 8,417,828
2083 95,991,166 8,348,353
2082 95,509,663 8,279,354
2081 95,009,326 8,210,772
2080 94,507,216 8,142,636
2079 93,960,228 8,075,101
2078 93,417,384 8,008,036
2077 92,903,983 7,941,463
2076 92,359,592 7,875,406
2075 91,825,254 7,809,930
2074 91,229,266 7,745,028
2073 90,571,021 7,680,639
2072 89,918,374 7,616,806
2071 89,265,548 7,553,744
2070 88,596,492 7,491,390
2069 87,909,474 7,429,571
2068 87,220,494 7,368,423
2067 86,513,996 7,307,932
2066 85,734,530 7,248,116
2065 84,971,898 7,188,899
2064 84,191,350 7,130,298
2063 83,387,951 7,072,099
2062 82,604,577 7,014,494
2061 81,800,637 6,957,511
2060 80,951,008 6,901,153
2059 80,141,868 6,845,293
2058 79,319,543 6,789,909
2057 78,477,339 6,734,955
2056 77,609,202 6,680,523
2055 76,739,924 6,626,403
2054 75,857,125 6,572,580
2053 74,952,948 6,518,885
2052 74,072,580 6,465,284
2051 73,150,234 6,411,692
2050 72,235,938 6,358,029
2049 71,272,122 6,304,394
2048 70,316,860 6,250,650
2047 69,347,823 6,196,914
2046 68,400,664 6,143,120
2045 67,435,953 6,089,197
2044 66,447,309 6,035,156
2043 65,453,565 5,981,241
2042 64,433,831 5,927,307
2041 63,408,709 5,873,587
2040 62,360,117 5,820,161
2039 61,289,355 5,767,029
2038 60,253,073 5,714,211
2037 59,221,658 5,661,929
2036 58,155,990 5,610,194
2035 57,127,999 5,559,069
2034 56,087,695 5,508,623
2033 55,051,140 5,458,935
2032 54,002,289 5,410,081
2031 52,991,443 5,362,063
2030 51,986,773 5,314,935
2029 50,982,563 5,265,492
2028 50,001,133 5,212,438
2027 49,014,822 5,152,065
2026 48,020,334 5,080,894
2025 47,020,527 4,998,262
2024 46,042,015 4,897,263
2023 45,074,049 4,853,420
2022 44,070,551 4,589,643
2021 43,071,211 4,360,865
2020 42,116,605 4,400,267
2019 41,192,171 4,442,316
2018 40,265,624 4,323,515
2017 39,337,353 4,154,812
2016 38,469,627 4,004,096
2015 37,560,535 3,834,574
2014 36,550,059 3,665,876
2013 35,281,989 3,507,844
2012 33,654,842 3,337,109
2011 32,161,424 3,132,814
2010 31,045,366 2,943,372
2009 30,058,206 2,795,484
2008 28,971,036 2,651,421
2007 28,391,607 2,507,887
2006 28,616,515 2,364,733
2005 28,407,448 2,236,788
2004 27,577,878 2,157,320
2003 26,802,659 2,109,881
2002 26,006,559 2,059,974
2001 25,197,840 2,008,121
2000 24,424,056 1,954,709
1999 23,636,527 1,900,030
1998 22,884,399 1,844,302
1997 22,176,593 1,787,683
1996 21,501,321 1,730,246
1995 20,825,860 1,681,513
1994 20,139,807 1,664,361
1993 19,201,195 1,672,151
1992 18,300,845 1,634,961
1991 17,767,253 1,351,399
1990 17,581,206 1,684,819
1989 17,364,542 2,217,468
1988 16,908,819 2,134,707
1987 16,521,049 2,052,994
1986 16,074,145 1,972,520
1985 15,683,430 1,894,242
1984 15,310,733 1,820,688
1983 14,840,555 1,744,295
1982 14,406,083 1,662,480
1981 14,006,381 1,583,426
1980 13,591,992 1,504,782
1979 13,170,365 1,423,514
1978 12,753,355 1,340,319
1977 12,331,046 1,258,023
1976 11,927,651 1,178,711
1975 11,543,639 1,104,863
1974 11,167,761 1,038,346
1973 10,795,869 977,654
1972 10,430,164 920,352
1971 10,077,809 865,076
1970 9,735,611 809,114
1969 9,403,356 749,452
1968 9,085,016 687,716
1967 8,778,869 628,089
1966 8,485,104 572,590
1965 8,202,140 521,174
1964 7,929,566 473,115
1963 7,667,928 427,694
1962 7,413,875 384,995
1961 7,194,553 345,945
1960 7,022,052 311,060

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/kuwait | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Kuwait gained 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Kuwait's population increased by 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Kuwait was ranked 139th in 2006 and ranked 127th 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 Kuwait will increase by 24.7% to 6,358,029 people and rank change from 127th to 117th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 9.59M people in 2100 for Kuwait.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Kuwait
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Kuwait
2100 0.21% 0.8%
2099 0.21% 0.8%
2098 0.23% 0.8%
2097 0.25% 0.81%
2096 0.26% 0.81%
2095 0.27% 0.81%
2094 0.32% 0.82%
2093 0.35% 0.82%
2092 0.33% 0.82%
2091 0.32% 0.82%
2090 0.38% 0.83%
2089 0.38% 0.83%
2088 0.39% 0.83%
2087 0.45% 0.83%
2086 0.47% 0.83%
2085 0.44% 0.83%
2084 0.48% 0.83%
2083 0.5% 0.83%
2082 0.53% 0.84%
2081 0.53% 0.84%
2080 0.58% 0.84%
2079 0.58% 0.84%
2078 0.55% 0.84%
2077 0.59% 0.84%
2076 0.58% 0.84%
2075 0.65% 0.84%
2074 0.73% 0.84%
2073 0.73% 0.84%
2072 0.73% 0.83%
2071 0.76% 0.83%
2070 0.78% 0.83%
2069 0.79% 0.83%
2068 0.82% 0.83%
2067 0.91% 0.83%
2066 0.9% 0.82%
2065 0.93% 0.82%
2064 0.96% 0.82%
2063 0.95% 0.82%
2062 0.98% 0.82%
2061 1.05% 0.82%
2060 1.01% 0.82%
2059 1.04% 0.82%
2058 1.07% 0.82%
2057 1.12% 0.81%
2056 1.13% 0.82%
2055 1.16% 0.82%
2054 1.21% 0.82%
2053 1.19% 0.83%
2052 1.26% 0.84%
2051 1.27% 0.84%
2050 1.35% 0.85%
2049 1.36% 0.86%
2048 1.4% 0.87%
2047 1.38% 0.88%
2046 1.43% 0.89%
2045 1.49% 0.9%
2044 1.52% 0.9%
2043 1.58% 0.91%
2042 1.62% 0.91%
2041 1.68% 0.92%
2040 1.75% 0.92%
2039 1.72% 0.92%
2038 1.74% 0.92%
2037 1.83% 0.92%
2036 1.8% 0.92%
2035 1.85% 0.92%
2034 1.88% 0.91%
2033 1.94% 0.9%
2032 1.91% 0.9%
2031 1.93% 0.89%
2030 1.97% 0.94%
2029 1.96% 1.02%
2028 2.01% 1.17%
2027 2.07% 1.4%
2026 2.13% 1.65%
2025 2.13% 2.06%
2024 2.15% 0.9%
2023 2.28% 5.75%
2022 2.32% 5.25%
2021 2.27% -0.9%
2020 2.24% -0.95%
2019 2.3% 2.75%
2018 2.36% 4.06%
2017 2.26% 3.76%
2016 2.42% 4.42%
2015 2.76% 4.6%
2014 3.59% 4.51%
2013 4.83% 5.12%
2012 4.64% 6.52%
2011 3.59% 6.44%
2010 3.28% 5.29%
2009 3.75% 5.43%
2008 2.04% 5.72%
2007 -0.79% 6.05%
2006 0.74% 5.72%
2005 3.01% 3.68%
2004 2.89% 2.25%
2003 3.06% 2.42%
2002 3.21% 2.58%
2001 3.17% 2.73%
2000 3.33% 2.88%
1999 3.29% 3.02%
1998 3.19% 3.17%
1997 3.14% 3.32%
1996 3.24% 2.9%
1995 3.41% 1.03%
1994 4.89% -0.47%
1993 4.92% 2.27%
1992 3% 21%
1991 1.06% -19.8%
1990 1.25% -24%
1989 2.7% 3.88%
1988 2.35% 3.98%
1987 2.78% 4.08%
1986 2.49% 4.13%
1985 2.43% 4.04%
1984 3.17% 4.38%
1983 3.02% 4.92%
1982 2.85% 4.99%
1981 3.05% 5.23%
1980 3.2% 5.71%
1979 3.27% 6.21%
1978 3.42% 6.54%
1977 3.38% 6.73%
1976 3.33% 6.68%
1975 3.37% 6.41%
1974 3.44% 6.21%
1973 3.51% 6.23%
1972 3.5% 6.39%
1971 3.51% 6.92%
1970 3.53% 7.96%
1969 3.5% 8.98%
1968 3.49% 9.49%
1967 3.46% 9.69%
1966 3.45% 9.87%
1965 3.44% 10.2%
1964 3.41% 10.6%
1963 3.43% 11.1%
1962 3.05% 11.3%
1961 2.46% 11.2%

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/kuwait | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Kuwait's population grew by 0.9%.

Live population counters

Iraq Kuwait
Current population
48289334
5100145
Population rank 33/197 127/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.06%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
12 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
10.5 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
1.18 hours
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +120
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +43,843
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +0.9%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 106/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
12.3 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +42,775
Net migration rank 93/196 24/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 3,323,191
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 20/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 67.3%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 5/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Kuwait
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Kuwait
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 42,775
2024 - -17,735 - 61,624
2023 973,420 -5,710 42,568 50,008
2022 962,501 76,821 41,752 368,560
2021 941,924 17,474 42,057 19,678
2020 919,953 29,858 41,083 -168,379
2019 942,972 -43,919 46,268 181
2018 938,310 15,775 47,222 145,973
2017 924,507 -21,998 51,498 92,717
2016 946,968 -113,980 51,397 105,818
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 52,127 129,695
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 54,673 100,891
2013 1,026,036 474,379 52,666 107,821
2012 999,987 753,907 53,181 127,777
2011 971,082 261,880 50,733 176,732
2010 906,369 92,779 49,838 101,566
2009 855,096 120,092 48,879 95,483
2008 802,382 396,792 47,505 96,268
2007 784,119 -824,428 46,539 96,765
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 45,911 97,087
2005 776,603 51,019 45,243 67,638
2004 761,563 69,948 44,341 1,713
2003 746,159 -27,236 42,934 5,895
2002 739,419 133,839 41,651 9,335
2001 729,704 14,451 40,662 12,055
2000 715,771 87,624 39,811 14,296
1999 702,170 69,491 39,342 15,912
1998 684,152 48,446 39,324 16,878
1997 667,582 15,429 39,581 17,457
1996 652,866 14,652 39,920 17,914
1995 642,977 40,424 39,198 438
1994 634,344 54,355 36,533 -41,862
1993 606,700 581,818 33,239 -43,501
1992 591,886 20,292 32,016 52,620
1991 550,146 -95,155 21,867 460,628
1990 518,575 -601,469 46,720 -1,196,050
1989 496,852 19,392 49,390 34,643
1988 476,778 -81,562 50,037 31,455
1987 488,742 -108,426 50,690 31,243
1986 474,348 39,136 51,824 27,187
1985 467,445 -199,505 51,772 25,777
1984 455,740 21,709 52,539 17,020
1983 439,800 23,115 51,460 31,758
1982 428,336 -22,302 49,981 30,437
1981 416,998 -23,640 48,098 29,600
1980 419,653 15,757 47,096 32,483
1979 428,458 -20,617 45,569 37,383
1978 418,756 7,434 44,277 39,159
1977 410,229 8,204 42,922 38,225
1976 402,260 -13,915 41,439 36,050
1975 385,916 -6,237 39,295 30,909
1974 376,197 -4,090 37,425 25,398
1973 373,191 -1,507 35,741 22,830
1972 362,334 -2,600 34,045 21,984
1971 351,464 -6,479 32,339 22,182
1970 338,030 1,377 30,789 26,614
1969 324,792 312 28,774 33,143
1968 310,644 928 26,161 35,399
1967 298,192 2,531 23,520 34,177
1966 285,507 1,298 20,914 32,383
1965 274,551 4,555 18,952 30,580
1964 262,825 3,224 17,064 29,537
1963 254,046 3,197 15,357 28,889
1962 247,520 3,343 13,730 27,417
1961 184,792 2,981 12,327 24,618
1960 155,651 1,573 11,054 21,769

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/kuwait | 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 Kuwait 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 470,645 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 845,142 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 3,323,191 people or 67.3% in Kuwait.

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
Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K

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/kuwait | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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