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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 20.1 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Iraq vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Lesotho
2100 101,632,594 3,280,784
2099 101,421,266 3,286,697
2098 101,212,536 3,292,498
2097 100,980,835 3,298,102
2096 100,724,441 3,303,027
2095 100,464,590 3,307,947
2094 100,194,041 3,312,002
2093 99,876,174 3,315,757
2092 99,532,041 3,319,661
2091 99,203,830 3,322,573
2090 98,886,956 3,324,769
2089 98,513,025 3,326,847
2088 98,144,039 3,328,480
2087 97,767,537 3,329,964
2086 97,325,026 3,330,456
2085 96,873,007 3,331,259
2084 96,448,602 3,331,485
2083 95,991,166 3,331,492
2082 95,509,663 3,331,234
2081 95,009,326 3,330,412
2080 94,507,216 3,329,267
2079 93,960,228 3,327,166
2078 93,417,384 3,324,646
2077 92,903,983 3,321,422
2076 92,359,592 3,317,850
2075 91,825,254 3,314,237
2074 91,229,266 3,309,174
2073 90,571,021 3,303,860
2072 89,918,374 3,298,181
2071 89,265,548 3,291,492
2070 88,596,492 3,283,654
2069 87,909,474 3,275,244
2068 87,220,494 3,266,152
2067 86,513,996 3,256,626
2066 85,734,530 3,246,903
2065 84,971,898 3,237,153
2064 84,191,350 3,226,489
2063 83,387,951 3,215,103
2062 82,604,577 3,202,287
2061 81,800,637 3,188,933
2060 80,951,008 3,174,998
2059 80,141,868 3,160,204
2058 79,319,543 3,145,053
2057 78,477,339 3,129,261
2056 77,609,202 3,113,129
2055 76,739,924 3,095,904
2054 75,857,125 3,078,567
2053 74,952,948 3,060,152
2052 74,072,580 3,040,649
2051 73,150,234 3,020,109
2050 72,235,938 2,999,457
2049 71,272,122 2,978,037
2048 70,316,860 2,955,727
2047 69,347,823 2,932,688
2046 68,400,664 2,909,307
2045 67,435,953 2,885,537
2044 66,447,309 2,861,372
2043 65,453,565 2,836,777
2042 64,433,831 2,811,663
2041 63,408,709 2,786,147
2040 62,360,117 2,760,391
2039 61,289,355 2,734,400
2038 60,253,073 2,708,216
2037 59,221,658 2,681,863
2036 58,155,990 2,654,755
2035 57,127,999 2,627,701
2034 56,087,695 2,600,880
2033 55,051,140 2,574,065
2032 54,002,289 2,547,344
2031 52,991,443 2,520,831
2030 51,986,773 2,494,646
2029 50,982,563 2,468,268
2028 50,001,133 2,441,871
2027 49,014,822 2,415,830
2026 48,020,334 2,389,516
2025 47,020,527 2,363,516
2024 46,042,015 2,337,423
2023 45,074,049 2,311,472
2022 44,070,551 2,286,110
2021 43,071,211 2,261,542
2020 42,116,605 2,235,727
2019 41,192,171 2,209,405
2018 40,265,624 2,183,603
2017 39,337,353 2,157,110
2016 38,469,627 2,130,422
2015 37,560,535 2,104,611
2014 36,550,059 2,080,089
2013 35,281,989 2,056,504
2012 33,654,842 2,034,354
2011 32,161,424 2,014,009
2010 31,045,366 1,996,251
2009 30,058,206 1,980,883
2008 28,971,036 1,966,541
2007 28,391,607 1,953,268
2006 28,616,515 1,945,063
2005 28,407,448 1,953,076
2004 27,577,878 1,971,129
2003 26,802,659 1,985,059
2002 26,006,559 1,994,679
2001 25,197,840 2,000,853
2000 24,424,056 2,003,913
1999 23,636,527 2,003,234
1998 22,884,399 1,998,049
1997 22,176,593 1,988,130
1996 21,501,321 1,972,418
1995 20,825,860 1,951,437
1994 20,139,807 1,927,707
1993 19,201,195 1,901,793
1992 18,300,845 1,873,274
1991 17,767,253 1,842,379
1990 17,581,206 1,809,696
1989 17,364,542 1,775,436
1988 16,908,819 1,739,841
1987 16,521,049 1,703,390
1986 16,074,145 1,666,138
1985 15,683,430 1,624,379
1984 15,310,733 1,578,986
1983 14,840,555 1,534,413
1982 14,406,083 1,490,732
1981 14,006,381 1,448,069
1980 13,591,992 1,406,521
1979 13,170,365 1,366,169
1978 12,753,355 1,327,240
1977 12,331,046 1,289,967
1976 11,927,651 1,253,214
1975 11,543,639 1,213,643
1974 11,167,761 1,172,420
1973 10,795,869 1,132,697
1972 10,430,164 1,094,063
1971 10,077,809 1,056,246
1970 9,735,611 1,019,273
1969 9,403,356 983,202
1968 9,085,016 948,105
1967 8,778,869 913,982
1966 8,485,104 881,870
1965 8,202,140 854,090
1964 7,929,566 829,437
1963 7,667,928 805,373
1962 7,413,875 781,814
1961 7,194,553 758,824
1960 7,022,052 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Lesotho
2100 0.21% -0.18%
2099 0.21% -0.18%
2098 0.23% -0.17%
2097 0.25% -0.15%
2096 0.26% -0.15%
2095 0.27% -0.12%
2094 0.32% -0.11%
2093 0.35% -0.12%
2092 0.33% -0.09%
2091 0.32% -0.07%
2090 0.38% -0.06%
2089 0.38% -0.05%
2088 0.39% -0.04%
2087 0.45% -0.01%
2086 0.47% -0.02%
2085 0.44% -0.007%
2084 0.48% -0%
2083 0.5% 0.008%
2082 0.53% 0.02%
2081 0.53% 0.03%
2080 0.58% 0.06%
2079 0.58% 0.08%
2078 0.55% 0.1%
2077 0.59% 0.11%
2076 0.58% 0.11%
2075 0.65% 0.15%
2074 0.73% 0.16%
2073 0.73% 0.17%
2072 0.73% 0.2%
2071 0.76% 0.24%
2070 0.78% 0.26%
2069 0.79% 0.28%
2068 0.82% 0.29%
2067 0.91% 0.3%
2066 0.9% 0.3%
2065 0.93% 0.33%
2064 0.96% 0.35%
2063 0.95% 0.4%
2062 0.98% 0.42%
2061 1.05% 0.44%
2060 1.01% 0.47%
2059 1.04% 0.48%
2058 1.07% 0.5%
2057 1.12% 0.52%
2056 1.13% 0.56%
2055 1.16% 0.56%
2054 1.21% 0.6%
2053 1.19% 0.64%
2052 1.26% 0.68%
2051 1.27% 0.69%
2050 1.35% 0.72%
2049 1.36% 0.75%
2048 1.4% 0.79%
2047 1.38% 0.8%
2046 1.43% 0.82%
2045 1.49% 0.84%
2044 1.52% 0.87%
2043 1.58% 0.89%
2042 1.62% 0.92%
2041 1.68% 0.93%
2040 1.75% 0.95%
2039 1.72% 0.97%
2038 1.74% 0.98%
2037 1.83% 1.02%
2036 1.8% 1.03%
2035 1.85% 1.03%
2034 1.88% 1.04%
2033 1.94% 1.05%
2032 1.91% 1.05%
2031 1.93% 1.05%
2030 1.97% 1.07%
2029 1.96% 1.08%
2028 2.01% 1.08%
2027 2.07% 1.1%
2026 2.13% 1.1%
2025 2.13% 1.12%
2024 2.15% 1.12%
2023 2.28% 1.11%
2022 2.32% 1.09%
2021 2.27% 1.15%
2020 2.24% 1.19%
2019 2.3% 1.18%
2018 2.36% 1.23%
2017 2.26% 1.25%
2016 2.42% 1.23%
2015 2.76% 1.18%
2014 3.59% 1.15%
2013 4.83% 1.09%
2012 4.64% 1.01%
2011 3.59% 0.89%
2010 3.28% 0.78%
2009 3.75% 0.73%
2008 2.04% 0.68%
2007 -0.79% 0.42%
2006 0.74% -0.41%
2005 3.01% -0.92%
2004 2.89% -0.7%
2003 3.06% -0.48%
2002 3.21% -0.31%
2001 3.17% -0.15%
2000 3.33% 0.03%
1999 3.29% 0.26%
1998 3.19% 0.5%
1997 3.14% 0.8%
1996 3.24% 1.08%
1995 3.41% 1.23%
1994 4.89% 1.36%
1993 4.92% 1.52%
1992 3% 1.68%
1991 1.06% 1.81%
1990 1.25% 1.93%
1989 2.7% 2.05%
1988 2.35% 2.14%
1987 2.78% 2.24%
1986 2.49% 2.57%
1985 2.43% 2.87%
1984 3.17% 2.9%
1983 3.02% 2.93%
1982 2.85% 2.95%
1981 3.05% 2.95%
1980 3.2% 2.95%
1979 3.27% 2.93%
1978 3.42% 2.89%
1977 3.38% 2.93%
1976 3.33% 3.26%
1975 3.37% 3.52%
1974 3.44% 3.51%
1973 3.51% 3.53%
1972 3.5% 3.58%
1971 3.51% 3.63%
1970 3.53% 3.67%
1969 3.5% 3.7%
1968 3.49% 3.73%
1967 3.46% 3.64%
1966 3.45% 3.25%
1965 3.44% 2.97%
1964 3.41% 2.99%
1963 3.43% 3.01%
1962 3.05% 3.03%
1961 2.46% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Iraq Lesotho
Current population
48289334
2396633
Population rank 33/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.03%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +71
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 93/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -1,064 -5,192
Net migration rank 93/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -5,192
2024 - -17,735 - -5,107
2023 973,420 -5,710 31,115 -5,168
2022 962,501 76,821 30,803 -6,023
2021 941,924 17,474 27,806 -3,449
2020 919,953 29,858 30,721 -3,449
2019 942,972 -43,919 32,279 -6,896
2018 938,310 15,775 33,112 -6,892
2017 924,507 -21,998 33,601 -6,850
2016 946,968 -113,980 33,390 -6,766
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 32,087 -7,087
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 30,922 -6,877
2013 1,026,036 474,379 29,789 -6,659
2012 999,987 753,907 27,592 -6,425
2011 971,082 261,880 25,647 -6,118
2010 906,369 92,779 21,877 -5,886
2009 855,096 120,092 20,335 -5,599
2008 802,382 396,792 19,349 -5,392
2007 784,119 -824,428 17,763 -5,179
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 15,234 -11,416
2005 776,603 51,019 15,831 -35,679
2004 761,563 69,948 17,271 -33,530
2003 746,159 -27,236 20,133 -31,723
2002 739,419 133,839 22,274 -29,924
2001 729,704 14,451 23,190 -27,874
2000 715,771 87,624 24,786 -26,220
1999 702,170 69,491 27,393 -24,610
1998 684,152 48,446 30,889 -23,299
1997 667,582 15,429 34,637 -22,396
1996 652,866 14,652 36,228 -17,042
1995 642,977 40,424 37,370 -14,588
1994 634,344 54,355 38,629 -13,953
1993 606,700 581,818 40,505 -13,347
1992 591,886 20,292 42,579 -12,707
1991 550,146 -95,155 44,026 -12,114
1990 518,575 -601,469 45,060 -11,598
1989 496,852 19,392 46,264 -11,207
1988 476,778 -81,562 47,158 -11,028
1987 488,742 -108,426 47,718 -10,946
1986 474,348 39,136 45,232 -7,501
1985 467,445 -199,505 44,575 1,222
1984 455,740 21,709 43,785 1,199
1983 439,800 23,115 42,899 1,253
1982 428,336 -22,302 41,941 1,281
1981 416,998 -23,640 40,808 1,307
1980 419,653 15,757 39,617 1,361
1979 428,458 -20,617 38,440 1,285
1978 418,756 7,434 37,084 1,047
1977 410,229 8,204 35,654 746
1976 402,260 -13,915 34,117 2,986
1975 385,916 -6,237 32,311 9,723
1974 376,197 -4,090 30,444 9,972
1973 373,191 -1,507 28,859 10,183
1972 362,334 -2,600 27,841 10,386
1971 351,464 -6,479 26,838 10,563
1970 338,030 1,377 25,935 10,605
1969 324,792 312 25,137 10,465
1968 310,644 928 24,490 10,108
1967 298,192 2,531 23,911 9,734
1966 285,507 1,298 23,326 7,248
1965 274,551 4,555 22,755 2,239
1964 262,825 3,224 22,116 2,198
1963 254,046 3,197 21,585 2,220
1962 247,520 3,343 21,132 2,172
1961 184,792 2,981 20,581 2,100
1960 155,651 1,573 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 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/lesotho | 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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