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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 47,020,774 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,531,417 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 5.05 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.53% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.5M (69.6% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Iraq vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Nigeria
2100 101,633,126 481,640,156
2099 101,421,797 481,456,918
2098 101,213,066 481,181,892
2097 100,981,364 480,838,161
2096 100,724,968 480,422,467
2095 100,465,117 479,938,579
2094 100,194,566 479,395,022
2093 99,876,697 478,769,369
2092 99,532,563 478,059,864
2091 99,204,350 477,236,907
2090 98,887,474 476,329,495
2089 98,513,541 475,326,347
2088 98,144,553 474,231,442
2087 97,768,049 473,035,563
2086 97,325,536 471,732,001
2085 96,873,514 470,328,175
2084 96,449,107 468,806,172
2083 95,991,669 467,187,453
2082 95,510,163 465,472,417
2081 95,009,824 463,643,190
2080 94,507,711 461,705,493
2079 93,960,720 459,644,523
2078 93,417,874 457,477,264
2077 92,904,470 455,218,871
2076 92,360,076 452,849,991
2075 91,825,735 450,367,356
2074 91,229,744 447,789,885
2073 90,571,495 445,117,028
2072 89,918,845 442,340,440
2071 89,266,016 439,464,323
2070 88,596,956 436,505,329
2069 87,909,934 433,437,998
2068 87,220,950 430,286,232
2067 86,514,449 427,032,499
2066 85,734,979 423,702,640
2065 84,972,344 420,285,359
2064 84,191,791 416,778,394
2063 83,388,388 413,198,800
2062 82,605,010 409,551,159
2061 81,801,066 405,827,482
2060 80,951,432 402,041,765
2059 80,142,288 398,197,311
2058 79,319,959 394,284,767
2057 78,477,750 390,311,065
2056 77,609,609 386,267,580
2055 76,740,326 382,162,992
2054 75,857,522 378,000,511
2053 74,953,340 373,769,779
2052 74,072,968 369,472,476
2051 73,150,617 365,120,741
2050 72,236,317 360,706,317
2049 71,272,496 356,243,287
2048 70,317,228 351,724,743
2047 69,348,186 347,142,279
2046 68,401,022 342,505,549
2045 67,436,306 337,807,869
2044 66,447,658 333,050,132
2043 65,453,908 328,230,652
2042 64,434,168 323,363,366
2041 63,409,041 318,443,989
2040 62,360,444 313,468,061
2039 61,289,676 308,450,008
2038 60,253,388 303,399,842
2037 59,221,968 298,327,800
2036 58,156,294 293,227,654
2035 57,128,298 288,115,630
2034 56,087,988 282,995,818
2033 55,051,428 277,875,880
2032 54,002,572 272,747,599
2031 52,991,720 267,645,657
2030 51,987,045 262,562,767
2029 50,982,830 257,484,616
2028 50,001,395 252,445,821
2027 49,015,079 247,437,680
2026 48,020,585 242,458,365
2025 47,020,774 237,527,782
2024 46,042,015 232,679,478
2023 45,074,049 227,882,945
2022 44,070,551 223,150,896
2021 43,071,211 218,529,286
2020 42,116,605 213,996,181
2019 41,192,171 209,485,641
2018 40,265,624 204,938,755
2017 39,337,353 200,254,579
2016 38,469,627 195,443,700
2015 37,560,535 190,671,878
2014 36,550,059 185,896,915
2013 35,281,989 181,049,443
2012 33,654,842 176,200,625
2011 32,161,424 171,379,598
2010 31,045,366 166,642,886
2009 30,058,206 162,049,464
2008 28,971,036 157,595,014
2007 28,391,607 153,267,261
2006 28,616,515 149,077,334
2005 28,407,448 145,017,253
2004 27,577,878 141,057,045
2003 26,802,659 137,202,644
2002 26,006,559 133,471,989
2001 25,197,840 129,862,595
2000 24,424,056 126,382,494
1999 23,636,527 123,047,320
1998 22,884,399 119,846,254
1997 22,176,593 116,754,792
1996 21,501,321 113,754,779
1995 20,825,860 110,819,428
1994 20,139,807 107,935,714
1993 19,201,195 105,122,069
1992 18,300,845 102,372,770
1991 17,767,253 99,720,162
1990 17,581,206 97,120,925
1989 17,364,542 94,531,014
1988 16,908,819 92,020,090
1987 16,521,049 89,591,716
1986 16,074,145 87,235,953
1985 15,683,430 84,897,973
1984 15,310,733 82,526,443
1983 14,840,555 80,438,260
1982 14,406,083 78,378,701
1981 14,006,381 76,068,103
1980 13,591,992 73,764,641
1979 13,170,365 71,498,242
1978 12,753,355 69,326,532
1977 12,331,046 67,234,590
1976 11,927,651 65,258,009
1975 11,543,639 63,410,815
1974 11,167,761 61,679,144
1973 10,795,869 60,082,139
1972 10,430,164 58,601,748
1971 10,077,809 57,214,684
1970 9,735,611 55,893,838
1969 9,403,356 54,631,914
1968 9,085,016 53,432,783
1967 8,778,869 52,293,065
1966 8,485,104 51,188,234
1965 8,202,140 50,086,764
1964 7,929,566 49,012,016
1963 7,667,928 47,973,575
1962 7,413,875 46,965,292
1961 7,194,553 45,989,310
1960 7,022,052 45,053,782

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iraq's population will grow by 48.8% to 72,236,317 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Nigeria
2100 0.21% 0.04%
2099 0.21% 0.06%
2098 0.23% 0.07%
2097 0.25% 0.09%
2096 0.26% 0.1%
2095 0.27% 0.11%
2094 0.32% 0.13%
2093 0.35% 0.15%
2092 0.33% 0.17%
2091 0.32% 0.19%
2090 0.38% 0.21%
2089 0.38% 0.23%
2088 0.39% 0.25%
2087 0.45% 0.28%
2086 0.47% 0.3%
2085 0.44% 0.32%
2084 0.48% 0.35%
2083 0.5% 0.37%
2082 0.53% 0.39%
2081 0.53% 0.42%
2080 0.58% 0.45%
2079 0.58% 0.47%
2078 0.55% 0.5%
2077 0.59% 0.52%
2076 0.58% 0.55%
2075 0.65% 0.58%
2074 0.73% 0.6%
2073 0.73% 0.63%
2072 0.73% 0.65%
2071 0.76% 0.68%
2070 0.78% 0.71%
2069 0.79% 0.73%
2068 0.82% 0.76%
2067 0.91% 0.79%
2066 0.9% 0.81%
2065 0.93% 0.84%
2064 0.96% 0.87%
2063 0.95% 0.89%
2062 0.98% 0.92%
2061 1.05% 0.94%
2060 1.01% 0.97%
2059 1.04% 0.99%
2058 1.07% 1.02%
2057 1.12% 1.05%
2056 1.13% 1.07%
2055 1.16% 1.1%
2054 1.21% 1.13%
2053 1.19% 1.16%
2052 1.26% 1.19%
2051 1.27% 1.22%
2050 1.35% 1.25%
2049 1.36% 1.28%
2048 1.4% 1.32%
2047 1.38% 1.35%
2046 1.43% 1.39%
2045 1.49% 1.43%
2044 1.52% 1.47%
2043 1.58% 1.51%
2042 1.62% 1.54%
2041 1.68% 1.59%
2040 1.75% 1.63%
2039 1.72% 1.66%
2038 1.74% 1.7%
2037 1.83% 1.74%
2036 1.8% 1.77%
2035 1.85% 1.81%
2034 1.88% 1.84%
2033 1.94% 1.88%
2032 1.91% 1.91%
2031 1.93% 1.94%
2030 1.97% 1.97%
2029 1.96% 2%
2028 2.01% 2.02%
2027 2.07% 2.05%
2026 2.13% 2.08%
2025 2.13% 2.08%
2024 2.15% 2.1%
2023 2.28% 2.12%
2022 2.32% 2.11%
2021 2.27% 2.12%
2020 2.24% 2.15%
2019 2.3% 2.22%
2018 2.36% 2.34%
2017 2.26% 2.46%
2016 2.42% 2.5%
2015 2.76% 2.57%
2014 3.59% 2.68%
2013 4.83% 2.75%
2012 4.64% 2.81%
2011 3.59% 2.84%
2010 3.28% 2.83%
2009 3.75% 2.83%
2008 2.04% 2.82%
2007 -0.79% 2.81%
2006 0.74% 2.8%
2005 3.01% 2.81%
2004 2.89% 2.81%
2003 3.06% 2.8%
2002 3.21% 2.78%
2001 3.17% 2.75%
2000 3.33% 2.71%
1999 3.29% 2.67%
1998 3.19% 2.65%
1997 3.14% 2.64%
1996 3.24% 2.65%
1995 3.41% 2.67%
1994 4.89% 2.68%
1993 4.92% 2.69%
1992 3% 2.66%
1991 1.06% 2.68%
1990 1.25% 2.74%
1989 2.7% 2.73%
1988 2.35% 2.71%
1987 2.78% 2.7%
1986 2.49% 2.75%
1985 2.43% 2.87%
1984 3.17% 2.6%
1983 3.02% 2.63%
1982 2.85% 3.04%
1981 3.05% 3.12%
1980 3.2% 3.17%
1979 3.27% 3.13%
1978 3.42% 3.11%
1977 3.38% 3.03%
1976 3.33% 2.91%
1975 3.37% 2.81%
1974 3.44% 2.66%
1973 3.51% 2.53%
1972 3.5% 2.42%
1971 3.51% 2.36%
1970 3.53% 2.31%
1969 3.5% 2.24%
1968 3.49% 2.18%
1967 3.46% 2.16%
1966 3.45% 2.2%
1965 3.44% 2.19%
1964 3.41% 2.16%
1963 3.43% 2.15%
1962 3.05% 2.12%
1961 2.46% 2.08%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iraq grew by 2.13%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Iraq Nigeria
Current population
48531417
245016045
Population rank 33/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 2.95%
One net population change
32.3 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
26.8 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
2.74 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,682 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +978,759 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.13% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 45/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 -15,258
Net migration rank 93/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -15,258
2024 985,943 -17,735 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 973,420 -5,710 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 962,501 76,821 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 941,924 17,474 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 919,953 29,858 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 942,972 -43,919 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 938,310 15,775 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 924,507 -21,998 4,706,183 78,685
2016 946,968 -113,980 4,761,594 75,265
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 1,026,036 474,379 4,811,751 40,201
2012 999,987 753,907 4,774,508 71,138
2011 971,082 261,880 4,728,363 67,808
2010 906,369 92,779 4,629,173 47,966
2009 855,096 120,092 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 802,382 396,792 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 784,119 -824,428 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 776,603 51,019 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 761,563 69,948 3,877,376 46,370
2003 746,159 -27,236 3,751,120 33,857
2002 739,419 133,839 3,606,814 69,594
2001 729,704 14,451 3,478,370 64,163
2000 715,771 87,624 3,343,196 74,535
1999 702,170 69,491 3,155,425 97,195
1998 684,152 48,446 3,003,946 145,575
1997 667,582 15,429 2,936,500 96,885
1996 652,866 14,652 2,882,205 84,448
1995 642,977 40,424 2,830,771 73,243
1994 634,344 54,355 2,735,198 128,134
1993 606,700 581,818 2,673,675 90,200
1992 591,886 20,292 2,596,173 138,412
1991 550,146 -95,155 2,527,807 42,760
1990 518,575 -601,469 2,491,928 135,959
1989 496,852 19,392 2,452,324 99,588
1988 476,778 -81,562 2,376,419 93,510
1987 488,742 -108,426 2,322,397 64,418
1986 474,348 39,136 2,295,003 29,682
1985 467,445 -199,505 2,289,784 61,514
1984 455,740 21,709 2,278,060 113,758
1983 439,800 23,115 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 428,336 -22,302 2,233,401 101,116
1981 416,998 -23,640 2,179,884 106,723
1980 419,653 15,757 2,121,618 198,672
1979 428,458 -20,617 2,074,807 137,721
1978 418,756 7,434 2,019,621 111,258
1977 410,229 8,204 1,923,917 129,075
1976 402,260 -13,915 1,827,289 72,889
1975 385,916 -6,237 1,718,623 75,603
1974 376,197 -4,090 1,624,813 44,281
1973 373,191 -1,507 1,525,485 -618
1972 362,334 -2,600 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 351,464 -6,479 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 338,030 1,377 1,295,507 7,953
1969 324,792 312 1,213,484 6,912
1968 310,644 928 1,168,254 9,615
1967 298,192 2,531 1,082,884 18,683
1966 285,507 1,298 1,095,582 12,513
1965 274,551 4,555 1,061,840 32,988
1964 262,825 3,224 1,028,272 26,411
1963 254,046 3,197 995,116 27,115
1962 247,520 3,343 966,452 27,906
1961 184,792 2,981 932,111 25,515
1960 155,651 1,573 901,301 12,131

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/nigeria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Iraq is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 people). In Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/nigeria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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