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Population in Iraq compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 1.81 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.9% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Iraq vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq North Korea
2100 101,632,594 19,604,631
2099 101,421,266 19,733,548
2098 101,212,536 19,862,949
2097 100,980,835 19,993,288
2096 100,724,441 20,124,518
2095 100,464,590 20,256,401
2094 100,194,041 20,388,156
2093 99,876,174 20,520,253
2092 99,532,041 20,652,961
2091 99,203,830 20,785,785
2090 98,886,956 20,918,305
2089 98,513,025 21,050,580
2088 98,144,039 21,182,325
2087 97,767,537 21,314,047
2086 97,325,026 21,445,329
2085 96,873,007 21,575,835
2084 96,448,602 21,705,777
2083 95,991,166 21,835,029
2082 95,509,663 21,964,199
2081 95,009,326 22,092,862
2080 94,507,216 22,220,948
2079 93,960,228 22,348,577
2078 93,417,384 22,475,755
2077 92,903,983 22,602,817
2076 92,359,592 22,729,499
2075 91,825,254 22,856,369
2074 91,229,266 22,983,784
2073 90,571,021 23,111,441
2072 89,918,374 23,239,261
2071 89,265,548 23,367,583
2070 88,596,492 23,496,136
2069 87,909,474 23,625,538
2068 87,220,494 23,755,136
2067 86,513,996 23,884,879
2066 85,734,530 24,015,027
2065 84,971,898 24,144,985
2064 84,191,350 24,274,257
2063 83,387,951 24,402,439
2062 82,604,577 24,529,941
2061 81,800,637 24,656,350
2060 80,951,008 24,780,911
2059 80,141,868 24,903,037
2058 79,319,543 25,023,260
2057 78,477,339 25,140,523
2056 77,609,202 25,255,342
2055 76,739,924 25,366,397
2054 75,857,125 25,474,292
2053 74,952,948 25,578,870
2052 74,072,580 25,679,963
2051 73,150,234 25,777,639
2050 72,235,938 25,871,673
2049 71,272,122 25,962,167
2048 70,316,860 26,048,593
2047 69,347,823 26,131,429
2046 68,400,664 26,210,487
2045 67,435,953 26,286,208
2044 66,447,309 26,358,331
2043 65,453,565 26,427,062
2042 64,433,831 26,491,482
2041 63,408,709 26,552,564
2040 62,360,117 26,609,557
2039 61,289,355 26,661,815
2038 60,253,073 26,708,400
2037 59,221,658 26,749,134
2036 58,155,990 26,783,304
2035 57,127,999 26,810,026
2034 56,087,695 26,828,912
2033 55,051,140 26,839,229
2032 54,002,289 26,840,944
2031 52,991,443 26,832,957
2030 51,986,773 26,814,812
2029 50,982,563 26,787,117
2028 50,001,133 26,749,227
2027 49,014,822 26,701,444
2026 48,020,334 26,643,460
2025 47,020,527 26,575,953
2024 46,042,015 26,498,823
2023 45,074,049 26,418,204
2022 44,070,551 26,328,845
2021 43,071,211 26,232,534
2020 42,116,605 26,136,312
2019 41,192,171 26,037,632
2018 40,265,624 25,931,147
2017 39,337,353 25,817,709
2016 38,469,627 25,698,326
2015 37,560,535 25,575,350
2014 36,550,059 25,451,262
2013 35,281,989 25,329,451
2012 33,654,842 25,211,728
2011 32,161,424 25,097,874
2010 31,045,366 24,987,258
2009 30,058,206 24,878,332
2008 28,971,036 24,764,618
2007 28,391,607 24,646,383
2006 28,616,515 24,524,507
2005 28,407,448 24,396,433
2004 27,577,878 24,254,943
2003 26,802,659 24,090,380
2002 26,006,559 23,943,973
2001 25,197,840 23,815,358
2000 24,424,056 23,665,910
1999 23,636,527 23,497,599
1998 22,884,399 23,311,564
1997 22,176,593 23,110,830
1996 21,501,321 22,895,746
1995 20,825,860 22,669,304
1994 20,139,807 22,393,975
1993 19,201,195 22,073,352
1992 18,300,845 21,750,911
1991 17,767,253 21,428,638
1990 17,581,206 21,112,137
1989 17,364,542 20,804,367
1988 16,908,819 20,503,161
1987 16,521,049 20,205,483
1986 16,074,145 19,910,855
1985 15,683,430 19,620,388
1984 15,310,733 19,335,043
1983 14,840,555 19,054,034
1982 14,406,083 18,776,357
1981 14,006,381 18,501,295
1980 13,591,992 18,236,786
1979 13,170,365 17,983,470
1978 12,753,355 17,735,995
1977 12,331,046 17,492,798
1976 11,927,651 17,243,450
1975 11,543,639 16,971,055
1974 11,167,761 16,673,121
1973 10,795,869 16,350,367
1972 10,430,164 15,975,069
1971 10,077,809 15,572,457
1970 9,735,611 15,172,775
1969 9,403,356 14,767,615
1968 9,085,016 14,365,596
1967 8,778,869 13,958,350
1966 8,485,104 13,569,094
1965 8,202,140 13,219,369
1964 7,929,566 12,889,770
1963 7,667,928 12,567,057
1962 7,413,875 12,262,882
1961 7,194,553 11,990,713
1960 7,022,052 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq North Korea
2100 0.21% -0.65%
2099 0.21% -0.65%
2098 0.23% -0.65%
2097 0.25% -0.65%
2096 0.26% -0.65%
2095 0.27% -0.65%
2094 0.32% -0.64%
2093 0.35% -0.64%
2092 0.33% -0.64%
2091 0.32% -0.63%
2090 0.38% -0.63%
2089 0.38% -0.62%
2088 0.39% -0.62%
2087 0.45% -0.61%
2086 0.47% -0.6%
2085 0.44% -0.6%
2084 0.48% -0.59%
2083 0.5% -0.59%
2082 0.53% -0.58%
2081 0.53% -0.58%
2080 0.58% -0.57%
2079 0.58% -0.57%
2078 0.55% -0.56%
2077 0.59% -0.56%
2076 0.58% -0.56%
2075 0.65% -0.55%
2074 0.73% -0.55%
2073 0.73% -0.55%
2072 0.73% -0.55%
2071 0.76% -0.55%
2070 0.78% -0.55%
2069 0.79% -0.55%
2068 0.82% -0.54%
2067 0.91% -0.54%
2066 0.9% -0.54%
2065 0.93% -0.53%
2064 0.96% -0.53%
2063 0.95% -0.52%
2062 0.98% -0.51%
2061 1.05% -0.5%
2060 1.01% -0.49%
2059 1.04% -0.48%
2058 1.07% -0.47%
2057 1.12% -0.45%
2056 1.13% -0.44%
2055 1.16% -0.42%
2054 1.21% -0.41%
2053 1.19% -0.39%
2052 1.26% -0.38%
2051 1.27% -0.36%
2050 1.35% -0.35%
2049 1.36% -0.33%
2048 1.4% -0.32%
2047 1.38% -0.3%
2046 1.43% -0.29%
2045 1.49% -0.27%
2044 1.52% -0.26%
2043 1.58% -0.24%
2042 1.62% -0.23%
2041 1.68% -0.21%
2040 1.75% -0.2%
2039 1.72% -0.17%
2038 1.74% -0.15%
2037 1.83% -0.13%
2036 1.8% -0.1%
2035 1.85% -0.07%
2034 1.88% -0.04%
2033 1.94% -0.006%
2032 1.91% 0.03%
2031 1.93% 0.07%
2030 1.97% 0.1%
2029 1.96% 0.14%
2028 2.01% 0.18%
2027 2.07% 0.22%
2026 2.13% 0.25%
2025 2.13% 0.29%
2024 2.15% 0.31%
2023 2.28% 0.34%
2022 2.32% 0.37%
2021 2.27% 0.37%
2020 2.24% 0.38%
2019 2.3% 0.41%
2018 2.36% 0.44%
2017 2.26% 0.46%
2016 2.42% 0.48%
2015 2.76% 0.49%
2014 3.59% 0.48%
2013 4.83% 0.47%
2012 4.64% 0.45%
2011 3.59% 0.44%
2010 3.28% 0.44%
2009 3.75% 0.46%
2008 2.04% 0.48%
2007 -0.79% 0.5%
2006 0.74% 0.52%
2005 3.01% 0.58%
2004 2.89% 0.68%
2003 3.06% 0.61%
2002 3.21% 0.54%
2001 3.17% 0.63%
2000 3.33% 0.72%
1999 3.29% 0.8%
1998 3.19% 0.87%
1997 3.14% 0.94%
1996 3.24% 1%
1995 3.41% 1.23%
1994 4.89% 1.45%
1993 4.92% 1.48%
1992 3% 1.5%
1991 1.06% 1.5%
1990 1.25% 1.48%
1989 2.7% 1.47%
1988 2.35% 1.47%
1987 2.78% 1.48%
1986 2.49% 1.48%
1985 2.43% 1.48%
1984 3.17% 1.47%
1983 3.02% 1.48%
1982 2.85% 1.49%
1981 3.05% 1.45%
1980 3.2% 1.41%
1979 3.27% 1.4%
1978 3.42% 1.39%
1977 3.38% 1.45%
1976 3.33% 1.61%
1975 3.37% 1.79%
1974 3.44% 1.97%
1973 3.51% 2.35%
1972 3.5% 2.59%
1971 3.51% 2.63%
1970 3.53% 2.74%
1969 3.5% 2.8%
1968 3.49% 2.92%
1967 3.46% 2.87%
1966 3.45% 2.65%
1965 3.44% 2.56%
1964 3.41% 2.57%
1963 3.43% 2.48%
1962 3.05% 2.27%
1961 2.46% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Iraq North Korea
Current population
48289334
26659144
Population rank 33/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.32%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
6.52 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +221
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 150/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -1,064 -2,787
Net migration rank 93/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -2,787
2024 - -17,735 - -2,473
2023 973,420 -5,710 86,203 -1,997
2022 962,501 76,821 96,495 -1,997
2021 941,924 17,474 99,710 -1,585
2020 919,953 29,858 95,920 -1,585
2019 942,972 -43,919 106,208 -3,142
2018 938,310 15,775 113,164 -3,225
2017 924,507 -21,998 120,181 -3,224
2016 946,968 -113,980 125,048 -3,222
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 127,365 -3,208
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 127,078 -3,042
2013 1,026,036 474,379 122,519 -2,933
2012 999,987 753,907 118,773 -2,919
2011 971,082 261,880 114,798 -2,957
2010 906,369 92,779 112,443 -3,053
2009 855,096 120,092 111,530 -3,058
2008 802,382 396,792 122,015 -3,051
2007 784,119 -824,428 120,521 -3,021
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 129,171 -2,948
2005 776,603 51,019 132,765 -2,861
2004 761,563 69,948 155,838 -2,758
2003 746,159 -27,236 178,775 -2,717
2002 739,419 133,839 119,504 -2,763
2001 729,704 14,451 143,321 -2,884
2000 715,771 87,624 161,591 -3,142
1999 702,170 69,491 181,613 -3,443
1998 684,152 48,446 197,589 -3,706
1997 667,582 15,429 211,325 -3,745
1996 652,866 14,652 226,095 -3,512
1995 642,977 40,424 233,381 -3,094
1994 634,344 54,355 320,861 -517
1993 606,700 581,818 320,880 0
1992 591,886 20,292 324,002 0
1991 550,146 -95,155 320,551 0
1990 518,575 -601,469 312,460 0
1989 496,852 19,392 303,078 0
1988 476,778 -81,562 299,305 0
1987 488,742 -108,426 296,030 0
1986 474,348 39,136 293,227 0
1985 467,445 -199,505 287,714 0
1984 455,740 21,709 282,987 0
1983 439,800 23,115 279,046 0
1982 428,336 -22,302 276,332 0
1981 416,998 -23,640 273,800 0
1980 419,653 15,757 255,206 0
1979 428,458 -20,617 251,409 0
1978 418,756 7,434 243,533 0
1977 410,229 8,204 242,870 0
1976 402,260 -13,915 255,841 0
1975 385,916 -6,237 288,966 0
1974 376,197 -4,090 306,902 0
1973 373,191 -1,507 338,600 0
1972 362,334 -2,600 411,997 0
1971 351,464 -6,479 393,220 0
1970 338,030 1,377 406,129 0
1969 324,792 312 404,189 0
1968 310,644 928 399,837 0
1967 298,192 2,531 414,632 0
1966 285,507 1,298 363,882 0
1965 274,551 4,555 335,587 0
1964 262,825 3,224 323,623 0
1963 254,046 3,197 321,805 0
1962 247,520 3,343 286,534 0
1961 184,792 2,981 257,788 0
1960 155,651 1,573 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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