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Population in Iraq compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 8.99 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Iraq vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq New Zealand
2100 101,632,594 5,918,837
2099 101,421,266 5,923,132
2098 101,212,536 5,927,206
2097 100,980,835 5,930,263
2096 100,724,441 5,932,907
2095 100,464,590 5,934,847
2094 100,194,041 5,936,183
2093 99,876,174 5,938,804
2092 99,532,041 5,939,085
2091 99,203,830 5,940,665
2090 98,886,956 5,941,752
2089 98,513,025 5,944,871
2088 98,144,039 5,945,635
2087 97,767,537 5,948,586
2086 97,325,026 5,951,745
2085 96,873,007 5,955,275
2084 96,448,602 5,959,115
2083 95,991,166 5,963,613
2082 95,509,663 5,966,943
2081 95,009,326 5,968,511
2080 94,507,216 5,971,082
2079 93,960,228 5,972,331
2078 93,417,384 5,972,928
2077 92,903,983 5,971,804
2076 92,359,592 5,971,386
2075 91,825,254 5,970,985
2074 91,229,266 5,969,834
2073 90,571,021 5,968,506
2072 89,918,374 5,964,548
2071 89,265,548 5,964,493
2070 88,596,492 5,963,811
2069 87,909,474 5,962,551
2068 87,220,494 5,960,918
2067 86,513,996 5,958,438
2066 85,734,530 5,954,539
2065 84,971,898 5,950,378
2064 84,191,350 5,946,851
2063 83,387,951 5,944,910
2062 82,604,577 5,940,838
2061 81,800,637 5,939,601
2060 80,951,008 5,936,094
2059 80,141,868 5,931,426
2058 79,319,543 5,925,816
2057 78,477,339 5,919,823
2056 77,609,202 5,913,287
2055 76,739,924 5,904,352
2054 75,857,125 5,894,795
2053 74,952,948 5,884,875
2052 74,072,580 5,876,162
2051 73,150,234 5,864,176
2050 72,235,938 5,852,896
2049 71,272,122 5,844,165
2048 70,316,860 5,833,178
2047 69,347,823 5,822,035
2046 68,400,664 5,809,860
2045 67,435,953 5,795,785
2044 66,447,309 5,780,884
2043 65,453,565 5,764,579
2042 64,433,831 5,746,528
2041 63,408,709 5,727,253
2040 62,360,117 5,708,874
2039 61,289,355 5,690,018
2038 60,253,073 5,669,959
2037 59,221,658 5,650,253
2036 58,155,990 5,630,126
2035 57,127,999 5,609,155
2034 56,087,695 5,588,315
2033 55,051,140 5,565,507
2032 54,002,289 5,542,488
2031 52,991,443 5,517,391
2030 51,986,773 5,491,320
2029 50,982,563 5,462,926
2028 50,001,133 5,432,752
2027 49,014,822 5,399,898
2026 48,020,334 5,364,771
2025 47,020,527 5,327,462
2024 46,042,015 5,287,500
2023 45,074,049 5,200,000
2022 44,070,551 5,081,700
2021 43,071,211 5,084,600
2020 42,116,605 5,072,400
2019 41,192,171 4,970,300
2018 40,265,624 4,900,600
2017 39,337,353 4,813,600
2016 38,469,627 4,714,100
2015 37,560,535 4,609,400
2014 36,550,059 4,516,500
2013 35,281,989 4,442,100
2012 33,654,842 4,408,100
2011 32,161,424 4,384,000
2010 31,045,366 4,350,700
2009 30,058,206 4,302,600
2008 28,971,036 4,259,800
2007 28,391,607 4,223,800
2006 28,616,515 4,184,600
2005 28,407,448 4,133,900
2004 27,577,878 4,087,500
2003 26,802,659 4,027,200
2002 26,006,559 3,948,500
2001 25,197,840 3,880,500
2000 24,424,056 3,857,700
1999 23,636,527 3,835,100
1998 22,884,399 3,815,000
1997 22,176,593 3,781,300
1996 21,501,321 3,732,000
1995 20,825,860 3,673,400
1994 20,139,807 3,620,000
1993 19,201,195 3,572,200
1992 18,300,845 3,531,700
1991 17,767,253 3,495,100
1990 17,581,206 3,329,800
1989 17,364,542 3,299,200
1988 16,908,819 3,283,400
1987 16,521,049 3,274,400
1986 16,074,145 3,246,300
1985 15,683,430 3,247,100
1984 15,310,733 3,227,100
1983 14,840,555 3,199,300
1982 14,406,083 3,156,100
1981 14,006,381 3,124,900
1980 13,591,992 3,112,900
1979 13,170,365 3,109,000
1978 12,753,355 3,121,200
1977 12,331,046 3,120,200
1976 11,927,651 3,110,500
1975 11,543,639 3,083,100
1974 11,167,761 3,023,700
1973 10,795,869 2,961,300
1972 10,430,164 2,903,900
1971 10,077,809 2,853,000
1970 9,735,611 2,810,700
1969 9,403,356 2,772,800
1968 9,085,016 2,748,100
1967 8,778,869 2,724,100
1966 8,485,104 2,675,900
1965 8,202,140 2,628,400
1964 7,929,566 2,585,400
1963 7,667,928 2,531,800
1962 7,413,875 2,482,000
1961 7,194,553 2,419,700
1960 7,022,052 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq New Zealand
2100 0.21% -0.07%
2099 0.21% -0.07%
2098 0.23% -0.05%
2097 0.25% -0.04%
2096 0.26% -0.03%
2095 0.27% -0.02%
2094 0.32% -0.04%
2093 0.35% -0.005%
2092 0.33% -0.03%
2091 0.32% -0.02%
2090 0.38% -0.05%
2089 0.38% -0.01%
2088 0.39% -0.05%
2087 0.45% -0.05%
2086 0.47% -0.06%
2085 0.44% -0.06%
2084 0.48% -0.08%
2083 0.5% -0.06%
2082 0.53% -0.03%
2081 0.53% -0.04%
2080 0.58% -0.02%
2079 0.58% -0.01%
2078 0.55% 0.02%
2077 0.59% 0.007%
2076 0.58% 0.007%
2075 0.65% 0.02%
2074 0.73% 0.02%
2073 0.73% 0.07%
2072 0.73% 0.001%
2071 0.76% 0.01%
2070 0.78% 0.02%
2069 0.79% 0.03%
2068 0.82% 0.04%
2067 0.91% 0.07%
2066 0.9% 0.07%
2065 0.93% 0.06%
2064 0.96% 0.03%
2063 0.95% 0.07%
2062 0.98% 0.02%
2061 1.05% 0.06%
2060 1.01% 0.08%
2059 1.04% 0.09%
2058 1.07% 0.1%
2057 1.12% 0.11%
2056 1.13% 0.15%
2055 1.16% 0.16%
2054 1.21% 0.17%
2053 1.19% 0.15%
2052 1.26% 0.2%
2051 1.27% 0.19%
2050 1.35% 0.15%
2049 1.36% 0.19%
2048 1.4% 0.19%
2047 1.38% 0.21%
2046 1.43% 0.24%
2045 1.49% 0.26%
2044 1.52% 0.28%
2043 1.58% 0.31%
2042 1.62% 0.34%
2041 1.68% 0.32%
2040 1.75% 0.33%
2039 1.72% 0.35%
2038 1.74% 0.35%
2037 1.83% 0.36%
2036 1.8% 0.37%
2035 1.85% 0.37%
2034 1.88% 0.41%
2033 1.94% 0.42%
2032 1.91% 0.45%
2031 1.93% 0.47%
2030 1.97% 0.52%
2029 1.96% 0.56%
2028 2.01% 0.61%
2027 2.07% 0.65%
2026 2.13% 0.7%
2025 2.13% 0.76%
2024 2.15% 1.68%
2023 2.28% 2.33%
2022 2.32% -0.06%
2021 2.27% 0.24%
2020 2.24% 2.05%
2019 2.3% 1.42%
2018 2.36% 1.81%
2017 2.26% 2.11%
2016 2.42% 2.27%
2015 2.76% 2.06%
2014 3.59% 1.67%
2013 4.83% 0.77%
2012 4.64% 0.55%
2011 3.59% 0.77%
2010 3.28% 1.12%
2009 3.75% 1%
2008 2.04% 0.85%
2007 -0.79% 0.94%
2006 0.74% 1.23%
2005 3.01% 1.14%
2004 2.89% 1.5%
2003 3.06% 1.99%
2002 3.21% 1.75%
2001 3.17% 0.59%
2000 3.33% 0.59%
1999 3.29% 0.53%
1998 3.19% 0.89%
1997 3.14% 1.32%
1996 3.24% 1.6%
1995 3.41% 1.48%
1994 4.89% 1.34%
1993 4.92% 1.15%
1992 3% 1.05%
1991 1.06% 4.96%
1990 1.25% 0.93%
1989 2.7% 0.48%
1988 2.35% 0.27%
1987 2.78% 0.87%
1986 2.49% -0.02%
1985 2.43% 0.62%
1984 3.17% 0.87%
1983 3.02% 1.37%
1982 2.85% 1%
1981 3.05% 0.39%
1980 3.2% 0.13%
1979 3.27% -0.39%
1978 3.42% 0.03%
1977 3.38% 0.31%
1976 3.33% 0.89%
1975 3.37% 1.96%
1974 3.44% 2.11%
1973 3.51% 1.98%
1972 3.5% 1.78%
1971 3.51% 1.5%
1970 3.53% 1.37%
1969 3.5% 0.9%
1968 3.49% 0.88%
1967 3.46% 1.8%
1966 3.45% 1.81%
1965 3.44% 1.66%
1964 3.41% 2.12%
1963 3.43% 2.01%
1962 3.05% 2.57%
1961 2.46% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Iraq New Zealand
Current population
48289334
5374272
Population rank 33/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.06%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
6.01 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
9.31 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +240
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 65/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +17,403
Net migration rank 93/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 17,403
2024 - -17,735 - 18,766
2023 973,420 -5,710 18,876 21,404
2022 962,501 76,821 20,123 21,404
2021 941,924 17,474 23,644 -14,944
2020 919,953 29,858 24,905 42,124
2019 942,972 -43,919 25,299 69,770
2018 938,310 15,775 24,797 59,139
2017 924,507 -21,998 26,282 68,349
2016 946,968 -113,980 28,237 75,512
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 29,408 70,870
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 26,196 57,974
2013 1,026,036 474,379 29,096 26,385
2012 999,987 753,907 31,077 -1,015
2011 971,082 261,880 31,302 -2,196
2010 906,369 92,779 35,458 6,722
2009 855,096 120,092 33,560 12,700
2008 802,382 396,792 35,143 4,804
2007 784,119 -824,428 35,480 3,053
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 30,924 14,542
2005 776,603 51,019 30,674 19,212
2004 761,563 69,948 29,634 24,521
2003 746,159 -27,236 28,150 42,456
2002 739,419 133,839 25,941 48,195
2001 729,704 14,451 27,939 17,793
2000 715,771 87,624 29,897 -6,604
1999 702,170 69,491 28,916 -7,634
1998 684,152 48,446 29,146 -1,387
1997 667,582 15,429 30,137 12,040
1996 652,866 14,652 28,997 25,169
1995 642,977 40,424 29,828 26,743
1994 634,344 54,355 30,372 20,420
1993 606,700 581,818 31,685 12,638
1992 591,886 20,292 32,067 6,460
1991 550,146 -95,155 33,518 31,156
1990 518,575 -601,469 33,298 70,432
1989 496,852 19,392 30,749 -8,818
1988 476,778 -81,562 29,846 -17,005
1987 488,742 -108,426 27,603 -7,631
1986 474,348 39,136 25,549 -10,234
1985 467,445 -199,505 24,126 -13,462
1984 455,740 21,709 26,043 -901
1983 439,800 23,115 24,315 11,464
1982 428,336 -22,302 24,207 7,982
1981 416,998 -23,640 25,374 -7,606
1980 419,653 15,757 23,658 -15,423
1979 428,458 -20,617 26,675 -26,694
1978 418,756 7,434 26,156 -28,783
1977 410,229 8,204 28,020 -22,697
1976 402,260 -13,915 29,456 -9,138
1975 385,916 -6,237 31,355 13,196
1974 376,197 -4,090 33,896 27,580
1973 373,191 -1,507 35,239 28,261
1972 362,334 -2,600 38,244 17,779
1971 351,464 -6,479 40,000 7,547
1970 338,030 1,377 37,101 4,511
1969 324,792 312 38,098 -5,212
1968 310,644 928 37,594 -11,853
1967 298,192 2,531 37,974 -2,289
1966 285,507 1,298 36,151 9,161
1965 274,551 4,555 36,982 9,245
1964 262,825 3,224 39,375 9,806
1963 254,046 3,197 42,027 10,226
1962 247,520 3,343 42,865 12,697
1961 184,792 2,981 43,482 10,689
1960 155,651 1,573 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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