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Population in Iraq compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 4.39 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Iraq vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Papua New Guinea
2100 101,632,594 18,802,138
2099 101,421,266 18,790,040
2098 101,212,536 18,776,265
2097 100,980,835 18,758,897
2096 100,724,441 18,737,707
2095 100,464,590 18,714,219
2094 100,194,041 18,687,257
2093 99,876,174 18,658,233
2092 99,532,041 18,625,772
2091 99,203,830 18,590,001
2090 98,886,956 18,549,501
2089 98,513,025 18,510,463
2088 98,144,039 18,468,827
2087 97,767,537 18,424,378
2086 97,325,026 18,376,043
2085 96,873,007 18,325,641
2084 96,448,602 18,274,394
2083 95,991,166 18,218,709
2082 95,509,663 18,163,177
2081 95,009,326 18,104,285
2080 94,507,216 18,039,008
2079 93,960,228 17,975,778
2078 93,417,384 17,908,670
2077 92,903,983 17,840,781
2076 92,359,592 17,771,791
2075 91,825,254 17,699,428
2074 91,229,266 17,625,044
2073 90,571,021 17,548,128
2072 89,918,374 17,466,649
2071 89,265,548 17,381,598
2070 88,596,492 17,295,105
2069 87,909,474 17,205,503
2068 87,220,494 17,112,154
2067 86,513,996 17,015,090
2066 85,734,530 16,915,436
2065 84,971,898 16,812,946
2064 84,191,350 16,708,669
2063 83,387,951 16,604,296
2062 82,604,577 16,497,292
2061 81,800,637 16,386,905
2060 80,951,008 16,270,535
2059 80,141,868 16,152,614
2058 79,319,543 16,032,684
2057 78,477,339 15,909,649
2056 77,609,202 15,784,519
2055 76,739,924 15,656,542
2054 75,857,125 15,523,143
2053 74,952,948 15,389,244
2052 74,072,580 15,250,715
2051 73,150,234 15,110,389
2050 72,235,938 14,968,530
2049 71,272,122 14,821,865
2048 70,316,860 14,673,459
2047 69,347,823 14,522,926
2046 68,400,664 14,370,120
2045 67,435,953 14,213,585
2044 66,447,309 14,056,036
2043 65,453,565 13,897,765
2042 64,433,831 13,738,690
2041 63,408,709 13,577,382
2040 62,360,117 13,413,396
2039 61,289,355 13,247,486
2038 60,253,073 13,079,352
2037 59,221,658 12,909,735
2036 58,155,990 12,738,223
2035 57,127,999 12,566,543
2034 56,087,695 12,392,476
2033 55,051,140 12,218,246
2032 54,002,289 12,042,345
2031 52,991,443 11,865,316
2030 51,986,773 11,685,599
2029 50,982,563 11,504,890
2028 50,001,133 11,322,573
2027 49,014,822 11,138,409
2026 48,020,334 10,952,454
2025 47,020,527 10,765,048
2024 46,042,015 10,576,502
2023 45,074,049 10,389,635
2022 44,070,551 10,203,169
2021 43,071,211 10,012,896
2020 42,116,605 9,815,746
2019 41,192,171 9,609,010
2018 40,265,624 9,394,513
2017 39,337,353 9,178,714
2016 38,469,627 8,961,718
2015 37,560,535 8,743,246
2014 36,550,059 8,523,441
2013 35,281,989 8,302,698
2012 33,654,842 8,081,390
2011 32,161,424 7,859,346
2010 31,045,366 7,633,523
2009 30,058,206 7,406,438
2008 28,971,036 7,183,002
2007 28,391,607 6,963,345
2006 28,616,515 6,747,720
2005 28,407,448 6,535,905
2004 27,577,878 6,328,041
2003 26,802,659 6,123,997
2002 26,006,559 5,924,003
2001 25,197,840 5,728,435
2000 24,424,056 5,537,064
1999 23,636,527 5,349,333
1998 22,884,399 5,166,390
1997 22,176,593 4,987,883
1996 21,501,321 4,813,361
1995 20,825,860 4,644,278
1994 20,139,807 4,480,208
1993 19,201,195 4,320,872
1992 18,300,845 4,166,699
1991 17,767,253 4,021,837
1990 17,581,206 3,896,481
1989 17,364,542 3,796,078
1988 16,908,819 3,711,880
1987 16,521,049 3,632,543
1986 16,074,145 3,554,793
1985 15,683,430 3,478,936
1984 15,310,733 3,405,198
1983 14,840,555 3,333,633
1982 14,406,083 3,264,291
1981 14,006,381 3,197,019
1980 13,591,992 3,131,512
1979 13,170,365 3,067,341
1978 12,753,355 3,003,714
1977 12,331,046 2,940,327
1976 11,927,651 2,877,327
1975 11,543,639 2,814,820
1974 11,167,761 2,752,671
1973 10,795,869 2,690,629
1972 10,430,164 2,628,432
1971 10,077,809 2,566,421
1970 9,735,611 2,505,628
1969 9,403,356 2,446,927
1968 9,085,016 2,390,803
1967 8,778,869 2,337,532
1966 8,485,104 2,285,774
1965 8,202,140 2,235,820
1964 7,929,566 2,188,325
1963 7,667,928 2,141,376
1962 7,413,875 2,093,919
1961 7,194,553 2,046,127
1960 7,022,052 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Papua New Guinea
2100 0.21% 0.06%
2099 0.21% 0.07%
2098 0.23% 0.09%
2097 0.25% 0.11%
2096 0.26% 0.13%
2095 0.27% 0.14%
2094 0.32% 0.16%
2093 0.35% 0.17%
2092 0.33% 0.19%
2091 0.32% 0.22%
2090 0.38% 0.21%
2089 0.38% 0.23%
2088 0.39% 0.24%
2087 0.45% 0.26%
2086 0.47% 0.28%
2085 0.44% 0.28%
2084 0.48% 0.31%
2083 0.5% 0.31%
2082 0.53% 0.33%
2081 0.53% 0.36%
2080 0.58% 0.35%
2079 0.58% 0.37%
2078 0.55% 0.38%
2077 0.59% 0.39%
2076 0.58% 0.41%
2075 0.65% 0.42%
2074 0.73% 0.44%
2073 0.73% 0.47%
2072 0.73% 0.49%
2071 0.76% 0.5%
2070 0.78% 0.52%
2069 0.79% 0.55%
2068 0.82% 0.57%
2067 0.91% 0.59%
2066 0.9% 0.61%
2065 0.93% 0.62%
2064 0.96% 0.63%
2063 0.95% 0.65%
2062 0.98% 0.67%
2061 1.05% 0.72%
2060 1.01% 0.73%
2059 1.04% 0.75%
2058 1.07% 0.77%
2057 1.12% 0.79%
2056 1.13% 0.82%
2055 1.16% 0.86%
2054 1.21% 0.87%
2053 1.19% 0.91%
2052 1.26% 0.93%
2051 1.27% 0.95%
2050 1.35% 0.99%
2049 1.36% 1.01%
2048 1.4% 1.04%
2047 1.38% 1.06%
2046 1.43% 1.1%
2045 1.49% 1.12%
2044 1.52% 1.14%
2043 1.58% 1.16%
2042 1.62% 1.19%
2041 1.68% 1.22%
2040 1.75% 1.25%
2039 1.72% 1.29%
2038 1.74% 1.31%
2037 1.83% 1.35%
2036 1.8% 1.37%
2035 1.85% 1.4%
2034 1.88% 1.43%
2033 1.94% 1.46%
2032 1.91% 1.49%
2031 1.93% 1.54%
2030 1.97% 1.57%
2029 1.96% 1.61%
2028 2.01% 1.65%
2027 2.07% 1.7%
2026 2.13% 1.74%
2025 2.13% 1.78%
2024 2.15% 1.8%
2023 2.28% 1.83%
2022 2.32% 1.9%
2021 2.27% 2.01%
2020 2.24% 2.15%
2019 2.3% 2.28%
2018 2.36% 2.35%
2017 2.26% 2.42%
2016 2.42% 2.5%
2015 2.76% 2.58%
2014 3.59% 2.66%
2013 4.83% 2.74%
2012 4.64% 2.83%
2011 3.59% 2.96%
2010 3.28% 3.07%
2009 3.75% 3.11%
2008 2.04% 3.15%
2007 -0.79% 3.2%
2006 0.74% 3.24%
2005 3.01% 3.28%
2004 2.89% 3.33%
2003 3.06% 3.38%
2002 3.21% 3.41%
2001 3.17% 3.46%
2000 3.33% 3.51%
1999 3.29% 3.54%
1998 3.19% 3.58%
1997 3.14% 3.63%
1996 3.24% 3.64%
1995 3.41% 3.66%
1994 4.89% 3.69%
1993 4.92% 3.7%
1992 3% 3.6%
1991 1.06% 3.22%
1990 1.25% 2.64%
1989 2.7% 2.27%
1988 2.35% 2.18%
1987 2.78% 2.19%
1986 2.49% 2.18%
1985 2.43% 2.17%
1984 3.17% 2.15%
1983 3.02% 2.12%
1982 2.85% 2.1%
1981 3.05% 2.09%
1980 3.2% 2.09%
1979 3.27% 2.12%
1978 3.42% 2.16%
1977 3.38% 2.19%
1976 3.33% 2.22%
1975 3.37% 2.26%
1974 3.44% 2.31%
1973 3.51% 2.37%
1972 3.5% 2.42%
1971 3.51% 2.43%
1970 3.53% 2.4%
1969 3.5% 2.35%
1968 3.49% 2.28%
1967 3.46% 2.26%
1966 3.45% 2.23%
1965 3.44% 2.17%
1964 3.41% 2.19%
1963 3.43% 2.27%
1962 3.05% 2.34%
1961 2.46% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Iraq Papua New Guinea
Current population
48289334
11002753
Population rank 33/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.13%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
2.81 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
2.06 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +512
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 59/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -1,064 -284
Net migration rank 93/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -284
2024 - -17,735 - -707
2023 973,420 -5,710 187,637 -787
2022 962,501 76,821 186,861 -787
2021 941,924 17,474 183,766 10,703
2020 919,953 29,858 189,130 10,703
2019 942,972 -43,919 190,662 22,978
2018 938,310 15,775 190,662 24,684
2017 924,507 -21,998 189,715 26,513
2016 946,968 -113,980 189,281 28,473
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 188,600 30,580
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 187,592 32,840
2013 1,026,036 474,379 185,790 35,280
2012 999,987 753,907 183,658 37,893
2011 971,082 261,880 181,842 40,690
2010 906,369 92,779 178,998 50,106
2009 855,096 120,092 175,421 49,647
2008 802,382 396,792 172,823 48,985
2007 784,119 -824,428 169,306 48,203
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 166,540 47,191
2005 776,603 51,019 163,888 46,014
2004 761,563 69,948 161,023 44,811
2003 746,159 -27,236 158,611 43,639
2002 739,419 133,839 155,091 42,657
2001 729,704 14,451 151,431 41,962
2000 715,771 87,624 147,496 41,855
1999 702,170 69,491 143,592 42,519
1998 684,152 48,446 136,677 43,091
1997 667,582 15,429 134,458 42,787
1996 652,866 14,652 129,802 41,994
1995 642,977 40,424 125,410 40,962
1994 634,344 54,355 122,113 39,669
1993 606,700 581,818 118,668 38,220
1992 591,886 20,292 114,818 36,622
1991 550,146 -95,155 111,453 26,830
1990 518,575 -601,469 110,033 2,398
1989 496,852 19,392 108,199 -19,824
1988 476,778 -81,562 106,256 -26,232
1987 488,742 -108,426 104,367 -25,720
1986 474,348 39,136 102,346 -25,495
1985 467,445 -199,505 100,333 -25,470
1984 455,740 21,709 98,103 -25,487
1983 439,800 23,115 95,982 -25,465
1982 428,336 -22,302 93,522 -25,355
1981 416,998 -23,640 91,767 -25,383
1980 419,653 15,757 90,266 -25,638
1979 428,458 -20,617 89,330 -25,618
1978 418,756 7,434 88,747 -25,208
1977 410,229 8,204 87,954 -24,722
1976 402,260 -13,915 86,965 -24,198
1975 385,916 -6,237 85,809 -23,562
1974 376,197 -4,090 84,829 -22,771
1973 373,191 -1,507 83,821 -21,803
1972 362,334 -2,600 82,672 -20,303
1971 351,464 -6,479 80,599 -18,945
1970 338,030 1,377 78,712 -18,773
1969 324,792 312 76,454 -18,994
1968 310,644 928 73,983 -19,188
1967 298,192 2,531 71,519 -19,767
1966 285,507 1,298 69,206 -17,454
1965 274,551 4,555 66,693 -18,532
1964 262,825 3,224 64,558 -17,730
1963 254,046 3,197 62,260 -15,189
1962 247,520 3,343 59,974 -12,141
1961 184,792 2,981 58,151 -10,409
1960 155,651 1,573 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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