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Population in Iraq compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 1.31 times bigger than Saudi Arabia's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 1.03% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Iraq vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Saudi Arabia
2100 101,632,594 74,230,118
2099 101,421,266 73,760,045
2098 101,212,536 73,287,526
2097 100,980,835 72,813,125
2096 100,724,441 72,336,039
2095 100,464,590 71,858,206
2094 100,194,041 71,379,928
2093 99,876,174 70,900,460
2092 99,532,041 70,420,464
2091 99,203,830 69,940,749
2090 98,886,956 69,462,214
2089 98,513,025 68,985,976
2088 98,144,039 68,510,277
2087 97,767,537 68,035,545
2086 97,325,026 67,562,521
2085 96,873,007 67,091,615
2084 96,448,602 66,621,667
2083 95,991,166 66,152,653
2082 95,509,663 65,684,321
2081 95,009,326 65,216,102
2080 94,507,216 64,749,128
2079 93,960,228 64,282,393
2078 93,417,384 63,815,918
2077 92,903,983 63,348,712
2076 92,359,592 62,880,120
2075 91,825,254 62,409,793
2074 91,229,266 61,937,628
2073 90,571,021 61,462,662
2072 89,918,374 60,984,202
2071 89,265,548 60,502,791
2070 88,596,492 60,018,216
2069 87,909,474 59,529,456
2068 87,220,494 59,036,086
2067 86,513,996 58,539,487
2066 85,734,530 58,039,687
2065 84,971,898 57,537,106
2064 84,191,350 57,032,172
2063 83,387,951 56,524,331
2062 82,604,577 56,014,549
2061 81,800,637 55,501,467
2060 80,951,008 54,986,901
2059 80,141,868 54,469,809
2058 79,319,543 53,950,469
2057 78,477,339 53,430,639
2056 77,609,202 52,909,061
2055 76,739,924 52,386,571
2054 75,857,125 51,862,312
2053 74,952,948 51,336,335
2052 74,072,580 50,809,100
2051 73,150,234 50,280,719
2050 72,235,938 49,751,739
2049 71,272,122 49,221,828
2048 70,316,860 48,690,143
2047 69,347,823 48,157,605
2046 68,400,664 47,623,246
2045 67,435,953 47,087,215
2044 66,447,309 46,550,306
2043 65,453,565 46,013,232
2042 64,433,831 45,475,200
2041 63,408,709 44,936,131
2040 62,360,117 44,396,093
2039 61,289,355 43,856,006
2038 60,253,073 43,314,707
2037 59,221,658 42,773,375
2036 58,155,990 42,231,639
2035 57,127,999 41,690,245
2034 56,087,695 41,150,029
2033 55,051,140 40,611,021
2032 54,002,289 40,073,144
2031 52,991,443 39,535,357
2030 51,986,773 38,998,581
2029 50,982,563 38,417,447
2028 50,001,133 37,810,902
2027 49,014,822 37,189,969
2026 48,020,334 36,566,201
2025 47,020,527 35,932,673
2024 46,042,015 35,300,280
2023 45,074,049 33,702,731
2022 44,070,551 32,175,224
2021 43,071,211 30,784,383
2020 42,116,605 31,552,510
2019 41,192,171 30,063,799
2018 40,265,624 30,196,281
2017 39,337,353 30,977,355
2016 38,469,627 30,954,198
2015 37,560,535 29,816,382
2014 36,550,059 28,309,273
2013 35,281,989 27,624,004
2012 33,654,842 26,168,861
2011 32,161,424 25,091,867
2010 31,045,366 23,978,487
2009 30,058,206 24,217,654
2008 28,971,036 23,287,877
2007 28,391,607 22,368,313
2006 28,616,515 21,459,144
2005 28,407,448 20,559,890
2004 27,577,878 19,669,480
2003 26,802,659 18,786,767
2002 26,006,559 17,910,910
2001 25,197,840 17,041,397
2000 24,424,056 16,177,722
1999 23,636,527 15,472,075
1998 22,884,399 14,922,185
1997 22,176,593 14,374,943
1996 21,501,321 13,831,009
1995 20,825,860 13,289,245
1994 20,139,807 12,750,040
1993 19,201,195 12,215,862
1992 18,300,845 11,686,676
1991 17,767,253 11,160,744
1990 17,581,206 10,640,691
1989 17,364,542 10,128,394
1988 16,908,819 9,629,165
1987 16,521,049 9,130,194
1986 16,074,145 8,628,639
1985 15,683,430 8,151,779
1984 15,310,733 7,697,307
1983 14,840,555 7,252,941
1982 14,406,083 6,824,486
1981 14,006,381 6,420,551
1980 13,591,992 6,047,997
1979 13,170,365 5,703,698
1978 12,753,355 5,381,902
1977 12,331,046 5,083,048
1976 11,927,651 4,807,933
1975 11,543,639 4,556,287
1974 11,167,761 4,323,632
1973 10,795,869 4,106,344
1972 10,430,164 3,905,722
1971 10,077,809 3,724,031
1970 9,735,611 3,562,470
1969 9,403,356 3,417,114
1968 9,085,016 3,282,711
1967 8,778,869 3,157,242
1966 8,485,104 3,039,887
1965 8,202,140 2,928,771
1964 7,929,566 2,821,968
1963 7,667,928 2,719,341
1962 7,413,875 2,620,910
1961 7,194,553 2,526,347
1960 7,022,052 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Saudi Arabia
2100 0.21% 0.64%
2099 0.21% 0.64%
2098 0.23% 0.65%
2097 0.25% 0.66%
2096 0.26% 0.66%
2095 0.27% 0.67%
2094 0.32% 0.68%
2093 0.35% 0.68%
2092 0.33% 0.69%
2091 0.32% 0.69%
2090 0.38% 0.69%
2089 0.38% 0.69%
2088 0.39% 0.7%
2087 0.45% 0.7%
2086 0.47% 0.7%
2085 0.44% 0.71%
2084 0.48% 0.71%
2083 0.5% 0.71%
2082 0.53% 0.72%
2081 0.53% 0.72%
2080 0.58% 0.73%
2079 0.58% 0.73%
2078 0.55% 0.74%
2077 0.59% 0.75%
2076 0.58% 0.75%
2075 0.65% 0.76%
2074 0.73% 0.77%
2073 0.73% 0.78%
2072 0.73% 0.8%
2071 0.76% 0.81%
2070 0.78% 0.82%
2069 0.79% 0.84%
2068 0.82% 0.85%
2067 0.91% 0.86%
2066 0.9% 0.87%
2065 0.93% 0.89%
2064 0.96% 0.9%
2063 0.95% 0.91%
2062 0.98% 0.92%
2061 1.05% 0.94%
2060 1.01% 0.95%
2059 1.04% 0.96%
2058 1.07% 0.97%
2057 1.12% 0.99%
2056 1.13% 1%
2055 1.16% 1.01%
2054 1.21% 1.02%
2053 1.19% 1.04%
2052 1.26% 1.05%
2051 1.27% 1.06%
2050 1.35% 1.08%
2049 1.36% 1.09%
2048 1.4% 1.11%
2047 1.38% 1.12%
2046 1.43% 1.14%
2045 1.49% 1.15%
2044 1.52% 1.17%
2043 1.58% 1.18%
2042 1.62% 1.2%
2041 1.68% 1.22%
2040 1.75% 1.23%
2039 1.72% 1.25%
2038 1.74% 1.27%
2037 1.83% 1.28%
2036 1.8% 1.3%
2035 1.85% 1.31%
2034 1.88% 1.33%
2033 1.94% 1.34%
2032 1.91% 1.36%
2031 1.93% 1.38%
2030 1.97% 1.51%
2029 1.96% 1.6%
2028 2.01% 1.67%
2027 2.07% 1.71%
2026 2.13% 1.76%
2025 2.13% 1.79%
2024 2.15% 4.74%
2023 2.28% 4.75%
2022 2.32% 4.52%
2021 2.27% -2.43%
2020 2.24% 4.95%
2019 2.3% -0.44%
2018 2.36% -2.52%
2017 2.26% 0.07%
2016 2.42% 3.82%
2015 2.76% 5.32%
2014 3.59% 2.48%
2013 4.83% 5.56%
2012 4.64% 4.29%
2011 3.59% 4.64%
2010 3.28% -0.99%
2009 3.75% 3.99%
2008 2.04% 4.11%
2007 -0.79% 4.24%
2006 0.74% 4.37%
2005 3.01% 4.53%
2004 2.89% 4.7%
2003 3.06% 4.89%
2002 3.21% 5.1%
2001 3.17% 5.34%
2000 3.33% 4.56%
1999 3.29% 3.69%
1998 3.19% 3.81%
1997 3.14% 3.93%
1996 3.24% 4.08%
1995 3.41% 4.23%
1994 4.89% 4.37%
1993 4.92% 4.53%
1992 3% 4.71%
1991 1.06% 4.89%
1990 1.25% 5.06%
1989 2.7% 5.18%
1988 2.35% 5.47%
1987 2.78% 5.81%
1986 2.49% 5.85%
1985 2.43% 5.9%
1984 3.17% 6.13%
1983 3.02% 6.28%
1982 2.85% 6.29%
1981 3.05% 6.16%
1980 3.2% 6.04%
1979 3.27% 5.98%
1978 3.42% 5.88%
1977 3.38% 5.72%
1976 3.33% 5.52%
1975 3.37% 5.38%
1974 3.44% 5.29%
1973 3.51% 5.14%
1972 3.5% 4.88%
1971 3.51% 4.54%
1970 3.53% 4.25%
1969 3.5% 4.09%
1968 3.49% 3.97%
1967 3.46% 3.86%
1966 3.45% 3.79%
1965 3.44% 3.78%
1964 3.41% 3.77%
1963 3.43% 3.76%
1962 3.05% 3.74%
1961 2.46% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Iraq Saudi Arabia
Current population
48289334
36734925
Population rank 33/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.44%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
19.7 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
57 seconds
One death every
2.82 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 4/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +119,738
Net migration rank 93/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 119,738
2024 - -17,735 - 122,170
2023 973,420 -5,710 474,366 325,691
2022 962,501 76,821 406,920 977,072
2021 941,924 17,474 409,032 -106,287
2020 919,953 29,858 447,036 -74,725
2019 942,972 -43,919 474,407 191,582
2018 938,310 15,775 528,767 -988,751
2017 924,507 -21,998 546,751 -920,812
2016 946,968 -113,980 537,829 -26,997
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 511,023 465,292
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 493,431 469,144
2013 1,026,036 474,379 475,299 485,794
2012 999,987 753,907 465,649 479,206
2011 971,082 261,880 443,675 491,253
2010 906,369 92,779 418,641 504,955
2009 855,096 120,092 438,557 496,229
2008 802,382 396,792 433,457 491,337
2007 784,119 -824,428 425,199 489,136
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 399,333 504,661
2005 776,603 51,019 375,938 518,565
2004 761,563 69,948 362,843 523,472
2003 746,159 -27,236 364,520 514,606
2002 739,419 133,839 372,099 500,508
2001 729,704 14,451 382,153 484,252
2000 715,771 87,624 392,407 468,515
1999 702,170 69,491 390,112 160,263
1998 684,152 48,446 389,499 159,898
1997 667,582 15,429 385,033 160,066
1996 652,866 14,652 382,248 160,532
1995 642,977 40,424 380,231 160,512
1994 634,344 54,355 377,351 160,306
1993 606,700 581,818 372,621 158,074
1992 591,886 20,292 366,763 160,908
1991 550,146 -95,155 361,329 162,857
1990 518,575 -601,469 355,495 160,416
1989 496,852 19,392 349,399 159,273
1988 476,778 -81,562 342,865 146,918
1987 488,742 -108,426 333,088 175,075
1986 474,348 39,136 322,340 172,606
1985 467,445 -199,505 310,558 148,208
1984 455,740 21,709 296,615 153,562
1983 439,800 23,115 280,616 157,930
1982 428,336 -22,302 264,831 153,528
1981 416,998 -23,640 249,156 140,355
1980 419,653 15,757 234,372 121,220
1979 428,458 -20,617 220,186 112,826
1978 418,756 7,434 205,331 105,263
1977 410,229 8,204 191,103 96,015
1976 402,260 -13,915 178,024 85,083
1975 385,916 -6,237 166,223 73,960
1974 376,197 -4,090 155,478 69,653
1973 373,191 -1,507 145,450 63,995
1972 362,334 -2,600 136,360 55,439
1971 351,464 -6,479 127,600 43,989
1970 338,030 1,377 120,440 31,097
1969 324,792 312 113,859 25,312
1968 310,644 928 108,281 21,366
1967 298,192 2,531 103,343 17,947
1966 285,507 1,298 98,361 15,054
1965 274,551 4,555 93,820 15,000
1964 262,825 3,224 89,776 15,000
1963 254,046 3,197 85,480 15,000
1962 247,520 3,343 81,393 15,000
1961 184,792 2,981 77,743 15,000
1960 155,651 1,573 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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