Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 2.1 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Iraq vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Malawi
2100 101,632,594 59,786,744
2099 101,421,266 59,528,389
2098 101,212,536 59,275,876
2097 100,980,835 59,028,312
2096 100,724,441 58,761,888
2095 100,464,590 58,508,246
2094 100,194,041 58,240,422
2093 99,876,174 57,966,788
2092 99,532,041 57,672,738
2091 99,203,830 57,377,090
2090 98,886,956 57,060,476
2089 98,513,025 56,739,410
2088 98,144,039 56,397,330
2087 97,767,537 56,053,671
2086 97,325,026 55,706,928
2085 96,873,007 55,348,708
2084 96,448,602 54,997,097
2083 95,991,166 54,605,058
2082 95,509,663 54,206,477
2081 95,009,326 53,795,317
2080 94,507,216 53,372,779
2079 93,960,228 52,948,243
2078 93,417,384 52,521,908
2077 92,903,983 52,063,931
2076 92,359,592 51,600,404
2075 91,825,254 51,141,728
2074 91,229,266 50,684,368
2073 90,571,021 50,229,762
2072 89,918,374 49,769,904
2071 89,265,548 49,287,139
2070 88,596,492 48,797,935
2069 87,909,474 48,301,644
2068 87,220,494 47,792,308
2067 86,513,996 47,277,473
2066 85,734,530 46,752,024
2065 84,971,898 46,228,139
2064 84,191,350 45,701,844
2063 83,387,951 45,179,322
2062 82,604,577 44,638,764
2061 81,800,637 44,076,711
2060 80,951,008 43,508,702
2059 80,141,868 42,916,694
2058 79,319,543 42,344,863
2057 78,477,339 41,762,060
2056 77,609,202 41,184,161
2055 76,739,924 40,584,950
2054 75,857,125 39,994,696
2053 74,952,948 39,377,622
2052 74,072,580 38,766,890
2051 73,150,234 38,153,322
2050 72,235,938 37,545,865
2049 71,272,122 36,936,275
2048 70,316,860 36,339,833
2047 69,347,823 35,725,127
2046 68,400,664 35,107,179
2045 67,435,953 34,491,916
2044 66,447,309 33,862,279
2043 65,453,565 33,247,804
2042 64,433,831 32,636,511
2041 63,408,709 32,019,447
2040 62,360,117 31,402,305
2039 61,289,355 30,782,479
2038 60,253,073 30,166,708
2037 59,221,658 29,527,821
2036 58,155,990 28,896,515
2035 57,127,999 28,267,970
2034 56,087,695 27,643,367
2033 55,051,140 27,018,105
2032 54,002,289 26,404,071
2031 52,991,443 25,795,897
2030 51,986,773 25,181,820
2029 50,982,563 24,566,478
2028 50,001,133 23,968,071
2027 49,014,822 23,374,588
2026 48,020,334 22,791,601
2025 47,020,527 22,220,885
2024 46,042,015 21,655,286
2023 45,074,049 21,104,482
2022 44,070,551 20,568,728
2021 43,071,211 20,047,258
2020 42,116,605 19,533,888
2019 41,192,171 19,025,752
2018 40,265,624 18,528,081
2017 39,337,353 18,039,715
2016 38,469,627 17,557,739
2015 37,560,535 17,085,587
2014 36,550,059 16,621,538
2013 35,281,989 16,161,816
2012 33,654,842 15,709,577
2011 32,161,424 15,265,022
2010 31,045,366 14,826,463
2009 30,058,206 14,395,788
2008 28,971,036 13,976,417
2007 28,391,607 13,576,343
2006 28,616,515 13,198,701
2005 28,407,448 12,840,031
2004 27,577,878 12,500,737
2003 26,802,659 12,181,574
2002 26,006,559 11,880,440
2001 25,197,840 11,593,058
2000 24,424,056 11,315,942
1999 23,636,527 11,047,804
1998 22,884,399 10,792,876
1997 22,176,593 10,562,035
1996 21,501,321 10,352,228
1995 20,825,860 10,150,117
1994 20,139,807 10,164,894
1993 19,201,195 10,284,024
1992 18,300,845 10,135,079
1991 17,767,253 9,844,227
1990 17,581,206 9,545,852
1989 17,364,542 9,176,220
1988 16,908,819 8,753,262
1987 16,521,049 8,293,174
1986 16,074,145 7,906,480
1985 15,683,430 7,620,508
1984 15,310,733 7,332,810
1983 14,840,555 7,051,709
1982 14,406,083 6,778,879
1981 14,006,381 6,516,454
1980 13,591,992 6,265,529
1979 13,170,365 6,028,749
1978 12,753,355 5,810,132
1977 12,331,046 5,614,983
1976 11,927,651 5,443,384
1975 11,543,639 5,287,367
1974 11,167,761 5,141,337
1973 10,795,869 5,003,938
1972 10,430,164 4,874,475
1971 10,077,809 4,751,434
1970 9,735,611 4,633,944
1969 9,403,356 4,521,184
1968 9,085,016 4,411,054
1967 8,778,869 4,303,012
1966 8,485,104 4,197,926
1965 8,202,140 4,096,157
1964 7,929,566 3,997,305
1963 7,667,928 3,900,506
1962 7,413,875 3,806,307
1961 7,194,553 3,715,534
1960 7,022,052 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Malawi
2100 0.21% 0.43%
2099 0.21% 0.43%
2098 0.23% 0.42%
2097 0.25% 0.45%
2096 0.26% 0.43%
2095 0.27% 0.46%
2094 0.32% 0.47%
2093 0.35% 0.51%
2092 0.33% 0.52%
2091 0.32% 0.55%
2090 0.38% 0.57%
2089 0.38% 0.61%
2088 0.39% 0.61%
2087 0.45% 0.62%
2086 0.47% 0.65%
2085 0.44% 0.64%
2084 0.48% 0.72%
2083 0.5% 0.74%
2082 0.53% 0.76%
2081 0.53% 0.79%
2080 0.58% 0.8%
2079 0.58% 0.81%
2078 0.55% 0.88%
2077 0.59% 0.9%
2076 0.58% 0.9%
2075 0.65% 0.9%
2074 0.73% 0.91%
2073 0.73% 0.92%
2072 0.73% 0.98%
2071 0.76% 1%
2070 0.78% 1.03%
2069 0.79% 1.07%
2068 0.82% 1.09%
2067 0.91% 1.12%
2066 0.9% 1.13%
2065 0.93% 1.15%
2064 0.96% 1.16%
2063 0.95% 1.21%
2062 0.98% 1.28%
2061 1.05% 1.31%
2060 1.01% 1.38%
2059 1.04% 1.35%
2058 1.07% 1.4%
2057 1.12% 1.4%
2056 1.13% 1.48%
2055 1.16% 1.48%
2054 1.21% 1.57%
2053 1.19% 1.58%
2052 1.26% 1.61%
2051 1.27% 1.62%
2050 1.35% 1.65%
2049 1.36% 1.64%
2048 1.4% 1.72%
2047 1.38% 1.76%
2046 1.43% 1.78%
2045 1.49% 1.86%
2044 1.52% 1.85%
2043 1.58% 1.87%
2042 1.62% 1.93%
2041 1.68% 1.97%
2040 1.75% 2.01%
2039 1.72% 2.04%
2038 1.74% 2.16%
2037 1.83% 2.18%
2036 1.8% 2.22%
2035 1.85% 2.26%
2034 1.88% 2.31%
2033 1.94% 2.33%
2032 1.91% 2.36%
2031 1.93% 2.44%
2030 1.97% 2.5%
2029 1.96% 2.5%
2028 2.01% 2.54%
2027 2.07% 2.56%
2026 2.13% 2.57%
2025 2.13% 2.61%
2024 2.15% 2.61%
2023 2.28% 2.6%
2022 2.32% 2.6%
2021 2.27% 2.63%
2020 2.24% 2.67%
2019 2.3% 2.69%
2018 2.36% 2.71%
2017 2.26% 2.75%
2016 2.42% 2.76%
2015 2.76% 2.79%
2014 3.59% 2.84%
2013 4.83% 2.88%
2012 4.64% 2.91%
2011 3.59% 2.96%
2010 3.28% 2.99%
2009 3.75% 3%
2008 2.04% 2.95%
2007 -0.79% 2.86%
2006 0.74% 2.79%
2005 3.01% 2.71%
2004 2.89% 2.62%
2003 3.06% 2.53%
2002 3.21% 2.48%
2001 3.17% 2.45%
2000 3.33% 2.43%
1999 3.29% 2.36%
1998 3.19% 2.19%
1997 3.14% 2.03%
1996 3.24% 1.99%
1995 3.41% -0.15%
1994 4.89% -1.16%
1993 4.92% 1.47%
1992 3% 2.95%
1991 1.06% 3.13%
1990 1.25% 4.03%
1989 2.7% 4.83%
1988 2.35% 5.55%
1987 2.78% 4.89%
1986 2.49% 3.75%
1985 2.43% 3.92%
1984 3.17% 3.99%
1983 3.02% 4.02%
1982 2.85% 4.03%
1981 3.05% 4%
1980 3.2% 3.93%
1979 3.27% 3.76%
1978 3.42% 3.48%
1977 3.38% 3.15%
1976 3.33% 2.95%
1975 3.37% 2.84%
1974 3.44% 2.75%
1973 3.51% 2.66%
1972 3.5% 2.59%
1971 3.51% 2.54%
1970 3.53% 2.49%
1969 3.5% 2.5%
1968 3.49% 2.51%
1967 3.46% 2.5%
1966 3.45% 2.48%
1965 3.44% 2.47%
1964 3.41% 2.48%
1963 3.43% 2.47%
1962 3.05% 2.44%
1961 2.46% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Iraq Malawi
Current population
48289334
22949294
Population rank 33/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.28%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
57.3 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
47.6 seconds
One death every
2.82 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 26/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -1,064 -5,628
Net migration rank 93/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -5,628
2024 - -17,735 - -1,507
2023 973,420 -5,710 549,096 -5,811
2022 962,501 76,821 533,450 -5,231
2021 941,924 17,474 517,400 -2,666
2020 919,953 29,858 514,659 -2,655
2019 942,972 -43,919 506,104 -1,837
2018 938,310 15,775 494,348 -3,267
2017 924,507 -21,998 484,655 982
2016 946,968 -113,980 474,779 3,505
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 472,484 -6,471
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 472,418 -10,317
2013 1,026,036 474,379 470,293 -12,934
2012 999,987 753,907 460,684 -13,561
2011 971,082 261,880 454,149 -12,170
2010 906,369 92,779 444,468 -9,327
2009 855,096 120,092 434,811 -8,590
2008 802,382 396,792 421,781 -9,264
2007 784,119 -824,428 410,290 -22,680
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 397,123 -29,450
2005 776,603 51,019 381,130 -31,462
2004 761,563 69,948 361,133 -32,221
2003 746,159 -27,236 341,133 -31,729
2002 739,419 133,839 322,863 -30,013
2001 729,704 14,451 310,833 -28,933
2000 715,771 87,624 300,439 -28,098
1999 702,170 69,491 295,629 -31,686
1998 684,152 48,446 285,407 -39,491
1997 667,582 15,429 277,433 -61,646
1996 652,866 14,652 270,048 -66,212
1995 642,977 40,424 266,745 -66,366
1994 634,344 54,355 275,439 -505,365
1993 606,700 581,818 276,538 -284,867
1992 591,886 20,292 269,066 37,142
1991 550,146 -95,155 260,193 15,291
1990 518,575 -601,469 250,159 71,111
1989 496,852 19,392 237,967 180,031
1988 476,778 -81,562 226,911 201,011
1987 488,742 -108,426 220,566 271,693
1986 474,348 39,136 218,519 62,615
1985 467,445 -199,505 216,179 74,625
1984 455,740 21,709 212,146 72,435
1983 439,800 23,115 209,422 68,197
1982 428,336 -22,302 205,386 62,661
1981 416,998 -23,640 199,436 57,376
1980 419,653 15,757 192,746 52,294
1979 428,458 -20,617 182,123 46,388
1978 418,756 7,434 172,503 36,225
1977 410,229 8,204 161,930 19,638
1976 402,260 -13,915 153,422 8,206
1975 385,916 -6,237 145,254 5,162
1974 376,197 -4,090 137,819 3,833
1973 373,191 -1,507 131,529 1,623
1972 362,334 -2,600 125,728 48
1971 351,464 -6,479 121,015 -710
1970 338,030 1,377 116,822 -2,147
1969 324,792 312 113,120 -2,266
1968 310,644 928 110,329 -924
1967 298,192 2,531 106,668 0
1966 285,507 1,298 103,512 0
1965 274,551 4,555 100,040 0
1964 262,825 3,224 97,658 0
1963 254,046 3,197 95,933 0
1962 247,520 3,343 92,463 0
1961 184,792 2,981 89,091 0
1960 155,651 1,573 85,718 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

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
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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/malawi | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.