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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 1.32 times bigger than Malaysia's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 1.02% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Iraq vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Malaysia
2100 101,632,594 44,353,615
2099 101,421,266 44,467,475
2098 101,212,536 44,579,971
2097 100,980,835 44,695,979
2096 100,724,441 44,814,885
2095 100,464,590 44,932,404
2094 100,194,041 45,047,479
2093 99,876,174 45,165,126
2092 99,532,041 45,278,674
2091 99,203,830 45,390,002
2090 98,886,956 45,501,495
2089 98,513,025 45,610,046
2088 98,144,039 45,717,882
2087 97,767,537 45,823,085
2086 97,325,026 45,926,712
2085 96,873,007 46,020,742
2084 96,448,602 46,111,490
2083 95,991,166 46,202,286
2082 95,509,663 46,284,929
2081 95,009,326 46,359,700
2080 94,507,216 46,435,482
2079 93,960,228 46,496,102
2078 93,417,384 46,549,167
2077 92,903,983 46,594,188
2076 92,359,592 46,619,045
2075 91,825,254 46,643,115
2074 91,229,266 46,658,350
2073 90,571,021 46,670,848
2072 89,918,374 46,670,426
2071 89,265,548 46,660,436
2070 88,596,492 46,645,623
2069 87,909,474 46,623,238
2068 87,220,494 46,600,060
2067 86,513,996 46,569,264
2066 85,734,530 46,530,377
2065 84,971,898 46,481,890
2064 84,191,350 46,417,369
2063 83,387,951 46,350,674
2062 82,604,577 46,272,105
2061 81,800,637 46,178,092
2060 80,951,008 46,075,877
2059 80,141,868 45,958,718
2058 79,319,543 45,837,407
2057 78,477,339 45,707,213
2056 77,609,202 45,566,357
2055 76,739,924 45,418,953
2054 75,857,125 45,252,995
2053 74,952,948 45,069,089
2052 74,072,580 44,873,927
2051 73,150,234 44,668,767
2050 72,235,938 44,445,677
2049 71,272,122 44,217,593
2048 70,316,860 43,974,925
2047 69,347,823 43,712,325
2046 68,400,664 43,438,283
2045 67,435,953 43,157,909
2044 66,447,309 42,866,716
2043 65,453,565 42,557,941
2042 64,433,831 42,239,980
2041 63,408,709 41,922,379
2040 62,360,117 41,598,231
2039 61,289,355 41,270,953
2038 60,253,073 40,929,067
2037 59,221,658 40,584,773
2036 58,155,990 40,234,128
2035 57,127,999 39,876,375
2034 56,087,695 39,515,857
2033 55,051,140 39,152,086
2032 54,002,289 38,772,414
2031 52,991,443 38,386,293
2030 51,986,773 37,995,617
2029 50,982,563 37,606,753
2028 50,001,133 37,207,852
2027 49,014,822 36,806,585
2026 48,020,334 36,403,076
2025 47,020,527 35,987,113
2024 46,042,015 35,557,673
2023 45,074,049 35,126,298
2022 44,070,551 34,695,493
2021 43,071,211 34,282,399
2020 42,116,605 33,889,558
2019 41,192,171 33,440,596
2018 40,265,624 32,910,967
2017 39,337,353 32,355,644
2016 38,469,627 31,789,685
2015 37,560,535 31,232,798
2014 36,550,059 30,696,137
2013 35,281,989 30,174,265
2012 33,654,842 29,662,831
2011 32,161,424 29,162,039
2010 31,045,366 28,655,776
2009 30,058,206 28,124,778
2008 28,971,036 27,570,059
2007 28,391,607 26,998,389
2006 28,616,515 26,417,909
2005 28,407,448 25,836,071
2004 27,577,878 25,256,772
2003 26,802,659 24,679,602
2002 26,006,559 24,102,477
2001 25,197,840 23,526,538
2000 24,424,056 22,967,816
1999 23,636,527 22,435,531
1998 22,884,399 21,906,713
1997 22,176,593 21,375,218
1996 21,501,321 20,850,087
1995 20,825,860 20,330,599
1994 20,139,807 19,820,446
1993 19,201,195 19,322,664
1992 18,300,845 18,834,572
1991 17,767,253 18,342,464
1990 17,581,206 17,833,171
1989 17,364,542 17,314,997
1988 16,908,819 16,796,605
1987 16,521,049 16,276,737
1986 16,074,145 15,760,419
1985 15,683,430 15,252,258
1984 15,310,733 14,759,009
1983 14,840,555 14,285,907
1982 14,406,083 13,832,798
1981 14,006,381 13,399,203
1980 13,591,992 12,983,363
1979 13,170,365 12,627,862
1978 12,753,355 12,328,157
1977 12,331,046 12,035,713
1976 11,927,651 11,750,097
1975 11,543,639 11,471,914
1974 11,167,761 11,200,906
1973 10,795,869 10,935,621
1972 10,430,164 10,676,835
1971 10,077,809 10,423,453
1970 9,735,611 10,178,802
1969 9,403,356 9,947,597
1968 9,085,016 9,725,281
1967 8,778,869 9,507,099
1966 8,485,104 9,284,688
1965 8,202,140 9,056,408
1964 7,929,566 8,828,406
1963 7,667,928 8,602,160
1962 7,413,875 8,380,172
1961 7,194,553 8,164,443
1960 7,022,052 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Malaysia
2100 0.21% -0.26%
2099 0.21% -0.25%
2098 0.23% -0.26%
2097 0.25% -0.27%
2096 0.26% -0.26%
2095 0.27% -0.26%
2094 0.32% -0.26%
2093 0.35% -0.25%
2092 0.33% -0.25%
2091 0.32% -0.25%
2090 0.38% -0.24%
2089 0.38% -0.24%
2088 0.39% -0.23%
2087 0.45% -0.23%
2086 0.47% -0.2%
2085 0.44% -0.2%
2084 0.48% -0.2%
2083 0.5% -0.18%
2082 0.53% -0.16%
2081 0.53% -0.16%
2080 0.58% -0.13%
2079 0.58% -0.11%
2078 0.55% -0.1%
2077 0.59% -0.05%
2076 0.58% -0.05%
2075 0.65% -0.03%
2074 0.73% -0.03%
2073 0.73% 0.001%
2072 0.73% 0.02%
2071 0.76% 0.03%
2070 0.78% 0.05%
2069 0.79% 0.05%
2068 0.82% 0.07%
2067 0.91% 0.08%
2066 0.9% 0.1%
2065 0.93% 0.14%
2064 0.96% 0.14%
2063 0.95% 0.17%
2062 0.98% 0.2%
2061 1.05% 0.22%
2060 1.01% 0.25%
2059 1.04% 0.26%
2058 1.07% 0.28%
2057 1.12% 0.31%
2056 1.13% 0.32%
2055 1.16% 0.37%
2054 1.21% 0.41%
2053 1.19% 0.43%
2052 1.26% 0.46%
2051 1.27% 0.5%
2050 1.35% 0.52%
2049 1.36% 0.55%
2048 1.4% 0.6%
2047 1.38% 0.63%
2046 1.43% 0.65%
2045 1.49% 0.68%
2044 1.52% 0.73%
2043 1.58% 0.75%
2042 1.62% 0.76%
2041 1.68% 0.78%
2040 1.75% 0.79%
2039 1.72% 0.84%
2038 1.74% 0.85%
2037 1.83% 0.87%
2036 1.8% 0.9%
2035 1.85% 0.91%
2034 1.88% 0.93%
2033 1.94% 0.98%
2032 1.91% 1.01%
2031 1.93% 1.03%
2030 1.97% 1.03%
2029 1.96% 1.07%
2028 2.01% 1.09%
2027 2.07% 1.11%
2026 2.13% 1.16%
2025 2.13% 1.21%
2024 2.15% 1.23%
2023 2.28% 1.24%
2022 2.32% 1.2%
2021 2.27% 1.16%
2020 2.24% 1.34%
2019 2.3% 1.61%
2018 2.36% 1.72%
2017 2.26% 1.78%
2016 2.42% 1.78%
2015 2.76% 1.75%
2014 3.59% 1.73%
2013 4.83% 1.72%
2012 4.64% 1.72%
2011 3.59% 1.77%
2010 3.28% 1.89%
2009 3.75% 2.01%
2008 2.04% 2.12%
2007 -0.79% 2.2%
2006 0.74% 2.25%
2005 3.01% 2.29%
2004 2.89% 2.34%
2003 3.06% 2.39%
2002 3.21% 2.45%
2001 3.17% 2.43%
2000 3.33% 2.37%
1999 3.29% 2.41%
1998 3.19% 2.49%
1997 3.14% 2.52%
1996 3.24% 2.56%
1995 3.41% 2.57%
1994 4.89% 2.58%
1993 4.92% 2.59%
1992 3% 2.68%
1991 1.06% 2.86%
1990 1.25% 2.99%
1989 2.7% 3.09%
1988 2.35% 3.19%
1987 2.78% 3.28%
1986 2.49% 3.33%
1985 2.43% 3.34%
1984 3.17% 3.31%
1983 3.02% 3.28%
1982 2.85% 3.24%
1981 3.05% 3.2%
1980 3.2% 2.82%
1979 3.27% 2.43%
1978 3.42% 2.43%
1977 3.38% 2.43%
1976 3.33% 2.42%
1975 3.37% 2.42%
1974 3.44% 2.43%
1973 3.51% 2.42%
1972 3.5% 2.43%
1971 3.51% 2.4%
1970 3.53% 2.32%
1969 3.5% 2.29%
1968 3.49% 2.29%
1967 3.46% 2.4%
1966 3.45% 2.52%
1965 3.44% 2.58%
1964 3.41% 2.63%
1963 3.43% 2.65%
1962 3.05% 2.64%
1961 2.46% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Iraq Malaysia
Current population
48289334
36512221
Population rank 33/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.44%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 89/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +166,615
Net migration rank 93/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 166,615
2024 - -17,735 - 174,770
2023 973,420 -5,710 254,806 181,071
2022 962,501 76,821 237,560 188,154
2021 941,924 17,474 212,002 188,506
2020 919,953 29,858 283,282 101,907
2019 942,972 -43,919 309,426 203,284
2018 938,310 15,775 324,568 221,965
2017 924,507 -21,998 336,434 227,677
2016 946,968 -113,980 345,681 222,141
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 358,302 187,663
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 367,587 159,791
2013 1,026,036 474,379 366,738 149,637
2012 999,987 753,907 371,497 134,975
2011 971,082 261,880 372,836 122,269
2010 906,369 92,779 360,260 157,164
2009 855,096 120,092 366,157 178,410
2008 802,382 396,792 362,380 202,481
2007 784,119 -824,428 348,711 229,784
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 349,509 232,971
2005 776,603 51,019 355,324 225,864
2004 761,563 69,948 365,138 212,278
2003 746,159 -27,236 377,425 199,510
2002 739,419 133,839 381,084 196,227
2001 729,704 14,451 400,939 173,613
2000 715,771 87,624 417,371 125,499
1999 702,170 69,491 432,355 89,335
1998 684,152 48,446 436,316 99,639
1997 667,582 15,429 447,768 79,266
1996 652,866 14,652 450,174 73,040
1995 642,977 40,424 443,349 72,393
1994 634,344 54,355 437,873 66,685
1993 606,700 581,818 429,910 61,079
1992 591,886 20,292 418,900 66,286
1991 550,146 -95,155 401,938 97,111
1990 518,575 -601,469 384,518 135,020
1989 496,852 19,392 373,277 143,544
1988 476,778 -81,562 386,507 133,478
1987 488,742 -108,426 381,999 137,759
1986 474,348 39,136 385,799 127,081
1985 467,445 -199,505 383,243 120,215
1984 455,740 21,709 376,797 106,248
1983 439,800 23,115 365,290 97,862
1982 428,336 -22,302 353,138 89,942
1981 416,998 -23,640 339,991 84,142
1980 419,653 15,757 326,947 80,617
1979 428,458 -20,617 317,439 -13,980
1978 418,756 7,434 311,027 -15,059
1977 410,229 8,204 305,515 -16,601
1976 402,260 -13,915 300,615 -18,316
1975 385,916 -6,237 294,541 -20,480
1974 376,197 -4,090 289,880 -21,919
1973 373,191 -1,507 284,611 -21,995
1972 362,334 -2,600 276,263 -21,305
1971 351,464 -6,479 272,323 -20,535
1970 338,030 1,377 269,341 -31,839
1969 324,792 312 264,327 -39,420
1968 310,644 928 260,705 -40,996
1967 298,192 2,531 258,764 -42,108
1966 285,507 1,298 262,162 -33,993
1965 274,551 4,555 264,836 -36,456
1964 262,825 3,224 266,406 -38,785
1963 254,046 3,197 265,815 -40,952
1962 247,520 3,343 262,140 -43,033
1961 184,792 2,981 257,270 -44,916
1960 155,651 1,573 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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