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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 7,381,023 people in Libya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 7,559,873 in Libya.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 6.39 times bigger than Libya's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.09% for Libya.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.44% in Libya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.56M (26.4% growth).

Iraq vs Libya: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Libya
2100 101,632,594 9,844,478
2099 101,421,266 9,862,293
2098 101,212,536 9,883,409
2097 100,980,835 9,903,494
2096 100,724,441 9,920,212
2095 100,464,590 9,931,781
2094 100,194,041 9,943,275
2093 99,876,174 9,958,570
2092 99,532,041 9,973,255
2091 99,203,830 9,982,193
2090 98,886,956 9,998,398
2089 98,513,025 10,008,842
2088 98,144,039 10,019,533
2087 97,767,537 10,023,170
2086 97,325,026 10,022,785
2085 96,873,007 10,016,359
2084 96,448,602 10,009,703
2083 95,991,166 10,006,073
2082 95,509,663 9,997,594
2081 95,009,326 9,985,386
2080 94,507,216 9,975,419
2079 93,960,228 9,962,691
2078 93,417,384 9,958,515
2077 92,903,983 9,952,827
2076 92,359,592 9,940,029
2075 91,825,254 9,927,944
2074 91,229,266 9,916,834
2073 90,571,021 9,901,120
2072 89,918,374 9,879,602
2071 89,265,548 9,867,880
2070 88,596,492 9,850,724
2069 87,909,474 9,832,072
2068 87,220,494 9,812,363
2067 86,513,996 9,799,957
2066 85,734,530 9,782,414
2065 84,971,898 9,762,806
2064 84,191,350 9,740,665
2063 83,387,951 9,729,567
2062 82,604,577 9,707,539
2061 81,800,637 9,686,619
2060 80,951,008 9,667,297
2059 80,141,868 9,638,062
2058 79,319,543 9,610,703
2057 78,477,339 9,579,595
2056 77,609,202 9,554,689
2055 76,739,924 9,522,205
2054 75,857,125 9,478,010
2053 74,952,948 9,432,683
2052 74,072,580 9,383,411
2051 73,150,234 9,335,341
2050 72,235,938 9,282,941
2049 71,272,122 9,230,811
2048 70,316,860 9,173,272
2047 69,347,823 9,118,915
2046 68,400,664 9,063,226
2045 67,435,953 8,998,841
2044 66,447,309 8,934,714
2043 65,453,565 8,866,878
2042 64,433,831 8,798,463
2041 63,408,709 8,732,168
2040 62,360,117 8,661,351
2039 61,289,355 8,588,292
2038 60,253,073 8,514,071
2037 59,221,658 8,437,766
2036 58,155,990 8,364,809
2035 57,127,999 8,289,931
2034 56,087,695 8,209,318
2033 55,051,140 8,129,142
2032 54,002,289 8,052,203
2031 52,991,443 7,969,547
2030 51,986,773 7,884,726
2029 50,982,563 7,801,482
2028 50,001,133 7,713,090
2027 49,014,822 7,621,838
2026 48,020,334 7,536,898
2025 47,020,527 7,458,392
2024 46,042,015 7,381,023
2023 45,074,049 7,305,659
2022 44,070,551 7,223,805
2021 43,071,211 7,135,175
2020 42,116,605 7,045,399
2019 41,192,171 6,951,033
2018 40,265,624 6,849,055
2017 39,337,353 6,738,770
2016 38,469,627 6,632,126
2015 37,560,535 6,531,819
2014 36,550,059 6,427,252
2013 35,281,989 6,304,628
2012 33,654,842 6,179,328
2011 32,161,424 6,343,203
2010 31,045,366 6,497,839
2009 30,058,206 6,366,686
2008 28,971,036 6,235,430
2007 28,391,607 6,104,380
2006 28,616,515 5,980,211
2005 28,407,448 5,858,798
2004 27,577,878 5,736,693
2003 26,802,659 5,619,398
2002 26,006,559 5,508,410
2001 25,197,840 5,403,639
2000 24,424,056 5,305,021
1999 23,636,527 5,218,038
1998 22,884,399 5,140,704
1997 22,176,593 5,064,639
1996 21,501,321 4,987,393
1995 20,825,860 4,906,843
1994 20,139,807 4,822,037
1993 19,201,195 4,733,045
1992 18,300,845 4,640,352
1991 17,767,253 4,544,400
1990 17,581,206 4,445,239
1989 17,364,542 4,342,920
1988 16,908,819 4,237,755
1987 16,521,049 4,129,739
1986 16,074,145 4,017,403
1985 15,683,430 3,898,745
1984 15,310,733 3,773,633
1983 14,840,555 3,718,961
1982 14,406,083 3,724,765
1981 14,006,381 3,621,486
1980 13,591,992 3,424,378
1979 13,170,365 3,233,846
1978 12,753,355 3,052,526
1977 12,331,046 2,881,533
1976 11,927,651 2,721,237
1975 11,543,639 2,571,556
1974 11,167,761 2,432,211
1973 10,795,869 2,314,193
1972 10,430,164 2,226,091
1971 10,077,809 2,153,534
1970 9,735,611 2,082,589
1969 9,403,356 2,014,293
1968 9,085,016 1,952,781
1967 8,778,869 1,898,199
1966 8,485,104 1,849,063
1965 8,202,140 1,804,015
1964 7,929,566 1,753,691
1963 7,667,928 1,690,457
1962 7,413,875 1,621,960
1961 7,194,553 1,555,699
1960 7,022,052 1,492,890

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Libya's population increased by 927,747 people (a 14% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Libya was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 10M people in 2087 for Libya.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Libya
2100 0.21% -0.18%
2099 0.21% -0.21%
2098 0.23% -0.2%
2097 0.25% -0.17%
2096 0.26% -0.12%
2095 0.27% -0.12%
2094 0.32% -0.15%
2093 0.35% -0.15%
2092 0.33% -0.09%
2091 0.32% -0.16%
2090 0.38% -0.1%
2089 0.38% -0.11%
2088 0.39% -0.04%
2087 0.45% 0.004%
2086 0.47% 0.06%
2085 0.44% 0.07%
2084 0.48% 0.04%
2083 0.5% 0.08%
2082 0.53% 0.12%
2081 0.53% 0.1%
2080 0.58% 0.13%
2079 0.58% 0.04%
2078 0.55% 0.06%
2077 0.59% 0.13%
2076 0.58% 0.12%
2075 0.65% 0.11%
2074 0.73% 0.16%
2073 0.73% 0.22%
2072 0.73% 0.12%
2071 0.76% 0.17%
2070 0.78% 0.19%
2069 0.79% 0.2%
2068 0.82% 0.13%
2067 0.91% 0.18%
2066 0.9% 0.2%
2065 0.93% 0.23%
2064 0.96% 0.11%
2063 0.95% 0.23%
2062 0.98% 0.22%
2061 1.05% 0.2%
2060 1.01% 0.3%
2059 1.04% 0.28%
2058 1.07% 0.32%
2057 1.12% 0.26%
2056 1.13% 0.34%
2055 1.16% 0.47%
2054 1.21% 0.48%
2053 1.19% 0.53%
2052 1.26% 0.51%
2051 1.27% 0.56%
2050 1.35% 0.56%
2049 1.36% 0.63%
2048 1.4% 0.6%
2047 1.38% 0.61%
2046 1.43% 0.72%
2045 1.49% 0.72%
2044 1.52% 0.77%
2043 1.58% 0.78%
2042 1.62% 0.76%
2041 1.68% 0.82%
2040 1.75% 0.85%
2039 1.72% 0.87%
2038 1.74% 0.9%
2037 1.83% 0.87%
2036 1.8% 0.9%
2035 1.85% 0.98%
2034 1.88% 0.99%
2033 1.94% 0.96%
2032 1.91% 1.04%
2031 1.93% 1.08%
2030 1.97% 1.07%
2029 1.96% 1.15%
2028 2.01% 1.2%
2027 2.07% 1.13%
2026 2.13% 1.05%
2025 2.13% 1.05%
2024 2.15% 1.03%
2023 2.28% 1.13%
2022 2.32% 1.24%
2021 2.27% 1.27%
2020 2.24% 1.36%
2019 2.3% 1.49%
2018 2.36% 1.64%
2017 2.26% 1.61%
2016 2.42% 1.54%
2015 2.76% 1.63%
2014 3.59% 1.94%
2013 4.83% 2.03%
2012 4.64% -2.58%
2011 3.59% -2.38%
2010 3.28% 2.06%
2009 3.75% 2.11%
2008 2.04% 2.15%
2007 -0.79% 2.08%
2006 0.74% 2.07%
2005 3.01% 2.13%
2004 2.89% 2.09%
2003 3.06% 2.01%
2002 3.21% 1.94%
2001 3.17% 1.86%
2000 3.33% 1.67%
1999 3.29% 1.5%
1998 3.19% 1.5%
1997 3.14% 1.55%
1996 3.24% 1.64%
1995 3.41% 1.76%
1994 4.89% 1.88%
1993 4.92% 2%
1992 3% 2.11%
1991 1.06% 2.23%
1990 1.25% 2.36%
1989 2.7% 2.48%
1988 2.35% 2.62%
1987 2.78% 2.8%
1986 2.49% 3.04%
1985 2.43% 3.32%
1984 3.17% 1.47%
1983 3.02% -0.16%
1982 2.85% 2.85%
1981 3.05% 5.76%
1980 3.2% 5.89%
1979 3.27% 5.94%
1978 3.42% 5.93%
1977 3.38% 5.89%
1976 3.33% 5.82%
1975 3.37% 5.73%
1974 3.44% 5.1%
1973 3.51% 3.96%
1972 3.5% 3.37%
1971 3.51% 3.41%
1970 3.53% 3.39%
1969 3.5% 3.15%
1968 3.49% 2.88%
1967 3.46% 2.66%
1966 3.45% 2.5%
1965 3.44% 2.87%
1964 3.41% 3.74%
1963 3.43% 4.22%
1962 3.05% 4.26%
1961 2.46% 4.21%

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/libya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Libya's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Iraq Libya
Current population
48289334
7559873
Population rank 33/197 105/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.09%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
6.97 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
4.23 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +206
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +75,364
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 99/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
2.13 days
Annual migration change -1,064 -172
Net migration rank 93/196 83/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 897,751
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 63/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 56/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Libya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Libya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -172
2024 - -17,735 - 3,448
2023 973,420 -5,710 75,760 -2,001
2022 962,501 76,821 91,951 -2,001
2021 941,924 17,474 88,005 -694
2020 919,953 29,858 92,950 -694
2019 942,972 -43,919 97,842 -1,352
2018 938,310 15,775 101,619 5,841
2017 924,507 -21,998 103,891 9,208
2016 946,968 -113,980 105,265 -5,081
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 108,096 -7,660
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 110,420 -1,716
2013 1,026,036 474,379 110,772 25,755
2012 999,987 753,907 108,855 5,211
2011 971,082 261,880 121,016 -562,827
2010 906,369 92,779 122,926 9,611
2009 855,096 120,092 118,102 11,670
2008 802,382 396,792 117,481 15,260
2007 784,119 -824,428 116,704 12,640
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 115,645 3,351
2005 776,603 51,019 112,823 11,024
2004 761,563 69,948 107,144 13,222
2003 746,159 -27,236 102,144 12,073
2002 739,419 133,839 97,598 10,152
2001 729,704 14,451 93,370 8,420
2000 715,771 87,624 89,814 5,634
1999 702,170 69,491 88,743 -10,206
1998 684,152 48,446 87,613 -11,479
1997 667,582 15,429 86,899 -10,907
1996 652,866 14,652 86,945 -8,446
1995 642,977 40,424 87,661 -5,068
1994 634,344 54,355 88,765 -1,755
1993 606,700 581,818 90,553 426
1992 591,886 20,292 93,568 843
1991 550,146 -95,155 96,582 902
1990 518,575 -601,469 99,898 946
1989 496,852 19,392 102,823 981
1988 476,778 -81,562 105,469 1,053
1987 488,742 -108,426 107,761 1,740
1986 474,348 39,136 109,325 5,844
1985 467,445 -199,505 110,194 11,962
1984 455,740 21,709 110,028 18,039
1983 439,800 23,115 122,183 -140,904
1982 428,336 -22,302 133,511 -126,400
1981 416,998 -23,640 130,233 69,211
1980 419,653 15,757 128,034 66,739
1979 428,458 -20,617 121,469 64,821
1978 418,756 7,434 114,669 61,684
1977 410,229 8,204 107,769 57,867
1976 402,260 -13,915 101,146 53,813
1975 385,916 -6,237 94,862 49,544
1974 376,197 -4,090 89,337 44,946
1973 373,191 -1,507 81,256 20,498
1972 362,334 -2,600 77,864 -3,418
1971 351,464 -6,479 74,934 -4,265
1970 338,030 1,377 70,488 745
1969 324,792 312 66,782 -1,418
1968 310,644 928 63,971 -6,323
1967 298,192 2,531 61,889 -10,384
1966 285,507 1,298 60,394 -13,619
1965 274,551 4,555 59,134 -15,810
1964 262,825 3,224 55,227 2,084
1963 254,046 3,197 50,421 18,740
1962 247,520 3,343 46,252 21,589
1961 184,792 2,981 42,167 22,504
1960 155,651 1,573 38,391 22,559

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/libya | 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 Libya 99.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 975,799 people) and 0.63% is from migration (a loss of 6,150 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.

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
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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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