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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 8,004,838 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 6.03 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

Iraq vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Laos
2100 101,632,594 9,342,607
2099 101,421,266 9,389,481
2098 101,212,536 9,435,427
2097 100,980,835 9,480,219
2096 100,724,441 9,524,052
2095 100,464,590 9,567,045
2094 100,194,041 9,609,471
2093 99,876,174 9,651,065
2092 99,532,041 9,691,590
2091 99,203,830 9,731,446
2090 98,886,956 9,770,116
2089 98,513,025 9,807,690
2088 98,144,039 9,844,143
2087 97,767,537 9,879,110
2086 97,325,026 9,912,903
2085 96,873,007 9,945,223
2084 96,448,602 9,975,614
2083 95,991,166 10,005,023
2082 95,509,663 10,032,558
2081 95,009,326 10,058,731
2080 94,507,216 10,083,222
2079 93,960,228 10,106,703
2078 93,417,384 10,128,372
2077 92,903,983 10,148,533
2076 92,359,592 10,165,829
2075 91,825,254 10,182,062
2074 91,229,266 10,196,505
2073 90,571,021 10,208,837
2072 89,918,374 10,218,581
2071 89,265,548 10,225,726
2070 88,596,492 10,231,909
2069 87,909,474 10,235,317
2068 87,220,494 10,235,668
2067 86,513,996 10,233,930
2066 85,734,530 10,228,744
2065 84,971,898 10,222,027
2064 84,191,350 10,212,674
2063 83,387,951 10,200,753
2062 82,604,577 10,186,526
2061 81,800,637 10,169,161
2060 80,951,008 10,149,107
2059 80,141,868 10,126,671
2058 79,319,543 10,100,989
2057 78,477,339 10,072,578
2056 77,609,202 10,041,736
2055 76,739,924 10,008,916
2054 75,857,125 9,972,602
2053 74,952,948 9,933,363
2052 74,072,580 9,891,383
2051 73,150,234 9,846,656
2050 72,235,938 9,799,766
2049 71,272,122 9,750,669
2048 70,316,860 9,697,931
2047 69,347,823 9,643,484
2046 68,400,664 9,586,249
2045 67,435,953 9,527,029
2044 66,447,309 9,465,046
2043 65,453,565 9,401,665
2042 64,433,831 9,334,890
2041 63,408,709 9,266,149
2040 62,360,117 9,195,755
2039 61,289,355 9,122,969
2038 60,253,073 9,046,689
2037 59,221,658 8,968,700
2036 58,155,990 8,888,903
2035 57,127,999 8,807,373
2034 56,087,695 8,723,937
2033 55,051,140 8,638,238
2032 54,002,289 8,550,017
2031 52,991,443 8,459,669
2030 51,986,773 8,367,305
2029 50,982,563 8,273,173
2028 50,001,133 8,176,811
2027 49,014,822 8,078,122
2026 48,020,334 7,977,666
2025 47,020,527 7,874,813
2024 46,042,015 7,769,819
2023 45,074,049 7,664,993
2022 44,070,551 7,559,007
2021 43,071,211 7,453,194
2020 42,116,605 7,346,533
2019 41,192,171 7,237,636
2018 40,265,624 7,128,045
2017 39,337,353 7,018,147
2016 38,469,627 6,908,802
2015 37,560,535 6,801,645
2014 36,550,059 6,703,172
2013 35,281,989 6,611,385
2012 33,654,842 6,518,978
2011 32,161,424 6,426,590
2010 31,045,366 6,334,194
2009 30,058,206 6,241,642
2008 28,971,036 6,148,969
2007 28,391,607 6,056,236
2006 28,616,515 5,963,200
2005 28,407,448 5,869,523
2004 27,577,878 5,781,626
2003 26,802,659 5,697,945
2002 26,006,559 5,610,889
2001 25,197,840 5,521,482
2000 24,424,056 5,431,212
1999 23,636,527 5,340,784
1998 22,884,399 5,248,266
1997 22,176,593 5,152,011
1996 21,501,321 5,045,678
1995 20,825,860 4,929,409
1994 20,139,807 4,809,220
1993 19,201,195 4,685,060
1992 18,300,845 4,559,646
1991 17,767,253 4,435,118
1990 17,581,206 4,311,955
1989 17,364,542 4,190,974
1988 16,908,819 4,072,601
1987 16,521,049 3,957,612
1986 16,074,145 3,846,715
1985 15,683,430 3,739,985
1984 15,310,733 3,637,843
1983 14,840,555 3,541,001
1982 14,406,083 3,450,026
1981 14,006,381 3,366,631
1980 13,591,992 3,292,573
1979 13,170,365 3,228,202
1978 12,753,355 3,171,740
1977 12,331,046 3,118,923
1976 11,927,651 3,064,876
1975 11,543,639 3,005,521
1974 11,167,761 2,939,761
1973 10,795,869 2,870,573
1972 10,430,164 2,801,660
1971 10,077,809 2,734,628
1970 9,735,611 2,669,702
1969 9,403,356 2,606,959
1968 9,085,016 2,546,377
1967 8,778,869 2,487,715
1966 8,485,104 2,431,084
1965 8,202,140 2,376,200
1964 7,929,566 2,322,826
1963 7,667,928 2,271,061
1962 7,413,875 2,219,910
1961 7,194,553 2,169,796
1960 7,022,052 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Laos
2100 0.21% -0.5%
2099 0.21% -0.49%
2098 0.23% -0.47%
2097 0.25% -0.46%
2096 0.26% -0.45%
2095 0.27% -0.44%
2094 0.32% -0.43%
2093 0.35% -0.42%
2092 0.33% -0.41%
2091 0.32% -0.4%
2090 0.38% -0.38%
2089 0.38% -0.37%
2088 0.39% -0.35%
2087 0.45% -0.34%
2086 0.47% -0.32%
2085 0.44% -0.3%
2084 0.48% -0.29%
2083 0.5% -0.27%
2082 0.53% -0.26%
2081 0.53% -0.24%
2080 0.58% -0.23%
2079 0.58% -0.21%
2078 0.55% -0.2%
2077 0.59% -0.17%
2076 0.58% -0.16%
2075 0.65% -0.14%
2074 0.73% -0.12%
2073 0.73% -0.1%
2072 0.73% -0.07%
2071 0.76% -0.06%
2070 0.78% -0.03%
2069 0.79% -0.003%
2068 0.82% 0.02%
2067 0.91% 0.05%
2066 0.9% 0.07%
2065 0.93% 0.09%
2064 0.96% 0.12%
2063 0.95% 0.14%
2062 0.98% 0.17%
2061 1.05% 0.2%
2060 1.01% 0.22%
2059 1.04% 0.25%
2058 1.07% 0.28%
2057 1.12% 0.31%
2056 1.13% 0.33%
2055 1.16% 0.36%
2054 1.21% 0.4%
2053 1.19% 0.42%
2052 1.26% 0.45%
2051 1.27% 0.48%
2050 1.35% 0.5%
2049 1.36% 0.54%
2048 1.4% 0.56%
2047 1.38% 0.6%
2046 1.43% 0.62%
2045 1.49% 0.65%
2044 1.52% 0.67%
2043 1.58% 0.72%
2042 1.62% 0.74%
2041 1.68% 0.77%
2040 1.75% 0.8%
2039 1.72% 0.84%
2038 1.74% 0.87%
2037 1.83% 0.9%
2036 1.8% 0.93%
2035 1.85% 0.96%
2034 1.88% 0.99%
2033 1.94% 1.03%
2032 1.91% 1.07%
2031 1.93% 1.1%
2030 1.97% 1.14%
2029 1.96% 1.18%
2028 2.01% 1.22%
2027 2.07% 1.26%
2026 2.13% 1.31%
2025 2.13% 1.35%
2024 2.15% 1.37%
2023 2.28% 1.4%
2022 2.32% 1.42%
2021 2.27% 1.45%
2020 2.24% 1.5%
2019 2.3% 1.54%
2018 2.36% 1.57%
2017 2.26% 1.58%
2016 2.42% 1.58%
2015 2.76% 1.47%
2014 3.59% 1.39%
2013 4.83% 1.42%
2012 4.64% 1.44%
2011 3.59% 1.46%
2010 3.28% 1.48%
2009 3.75% 1.51%
2008 2.04% 1.53%
2007 -0.79% 1.56%
2006 0.74% 1.6%
2005 3.01% 1.52%
2004 2.89% 1.47%
2003 3.06% 1.55%
2002 3.21% 1.62%
2001 3.17% 1.66%
2000 3.33% 1.69%
1999 3.29% 1.76%
1998 3.19% 1.87%
1997 3.14% 2.11%
1996 3.24% 2.36%
1995 3.41% 2.5%
1994 4.89% 2.65%
1993 4.92% 2.75%
1992 3% 2.81%
1991 1.06% 2.86%
1990 1.25% 2.89%
1989 2.7% 2.91%
1988 2.35% 2.91%
1987 2.78% 2.88%
1986 2.49% 2.85%
1985 2.43% 2.81%
1984 3.17% 2.73%
1983 3.02% 2.64%
1982 2.85% 2.48%
1981 3.05% 2.25%
1980 3.2% 1.99%
1979 3.27% 1.78%
1978 3.42% 1.69%
1977 3.38% 1.76%
1976 3.33% 1.97%
1975 3.37% 2.24%
1974 3.44% 2.41%
1973 3.51% 2.46%
1972 3.5% 2.45%
1971 3.51% 2.43%
1970 3.53% 2.41%
1969 3.5% 2.38%
1968 3.49% 2.36%
1967 3.46% 2.33%
1966 3.45% 2.31%
1965 3.44% 2.3%
1964 3.41% 2.28%
1963 3.43% 2.3%
1962 3.05% 2.31%
1961 2.46% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

Iraq Laos
Current population
48289334
8004838
Population rank 33/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.1%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
5.01 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
3.22 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +287
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 77/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 -10,645
Net migration rank 93/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -10,645
2024 - -17,735 - -10,284
2023 973,420 -5,710 115,359 -10,003
2022 962,501 76,821 116,620 -10,003
2021 941,924 17,474 115,323 -10,305
2020 919,953 29,858 118,609 -10,305
2019 942,972 -43,919 119,797 -10,305
2018 938,310 15,775 119,986 -10,305
2017 924,507 -21,998 120,515 -10,400
2016 946,968 -113,980 119,978 -11,401
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 118,723 -12,991
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 118,103 -26,881
2013 1,026,036 474,379 119,845 -27,492
2012 999,987 753,907 121,324 -28,871
2011 971,082 261,880 122,863 -30,538
2010 906,369 92,779 122,516 -30,046
2009 855,096 120,092 122,174 -29,545
2008 802,382 396,792 121,042 -28,318
2007 784,119 -824,428 119,980 -27,233
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 118,602 -25,286
2005 776,603 51,019 118,165 -24,138
2004 761,563 69,948 121,888 -40,120
2003 746,159 -27,236 122,158 -36,572
2002 739,419 133,839 122,110 -33,595
2001 729,704 14,451 123,847 -33,552
2000 715,771 87,624 124,201 -33,965
1999 702,170 69,491 127,255 -36,632
1998 684,152 48,446 128,409 -33,997
1997 667,582 15,429 130,388 -32,288
1996 652,866 14,652 131,142 -16,574
1995 642,977 40,424 132,241 -14,279
1994 634,344 54,355 134,201 -11,782
1993 606,700 581,818 135,295 -9,390
1992 591,886 20,292 132,417 -7,502
1991 550,146 -95,155 129,523 -5,390
1990 518,575 -601,469 125,297 -3,100
1989 496,852 19,392 121,044 -1,272
1988 476,778 -81,562 117,050 -80
1987 488,742 -108,426 113,005 0
1986 474,348 39,136 109,266 -475
1985 467,445 -199,505 106,047 -1,376
1984 455,740 21,709 102,318 -2,698
1983 439,800 23,115 98,178 -4,108
1982 428,336 -22,302 94,058 -6,184
1981 416,998 -23,640 89,963 -11,061
1980 419,653 15,757 86,548 -17,339
1979 428,458 -20,617 82,852 -23,317
1978 418,756 7,434 80,604 -27,208
1977 410,229 8,204 79,149 -26,908
1976 402,260 -13,915 77,575 -21,738
1975 385,916 -6,237 76,725 -13,858
1974 376,197 -4,090 74,652 -6,000
1973 373,191 -1,507 70,513 -774
1972 362,334 -2,600 68,095 0
1971 351,464 -6,479 65,959 0
1970 338,030 1,377 63,896 0
1969 324,792 312 61,595 0
1968 310,644 928 59,567 0
1967 298,192 2,531 57,763 0
1966 285,507 1,298 55,494 0
1965 274,551 4,555 54,268 0
1964 262,825 3,224 52,482 0
1963 254,046 3,197 51,056 0
1962 247,520 3,343 51,244 0
1961 184,792 2,981 48,992 0
1960 155,651 1,573 47,575 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/laos | 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 Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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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