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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 2.36 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.83% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Iraq vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Somalia
2100 101,632,594 68,384,185
2099 101,421,266 68,040,371
2098 101,212,536 67,702,230
2097 100,980,835 67,362,336
2096 100,724,441 66,972,933
2095 100,464,590 66,585,659
2094 100,194,041 66,179,819
2093 99,876,174 65,760,590
2092 99,532,041 65,324,261
2091 99,203,830 64,852,843
2090 98,886,956 64,362,727
2089 98,513,025 63,922,797
2088 98,144,039 63,464,036
2087 97,767,537 62,987,028
2086 97,325,026 62,447,029
2085 96,873,007 61,873,597
2084 96,448,602 61,318,916
2083 95,991,166 60,761,800
2082 95,509,663 60,187,980
2081 95,009,326 59,676,722
2080 94,507,216 59,100,915
2079 93,960,228 58,477,428
2078 93,417,384 57,852,528
2077 92,903,983 57,211,821
2076 92,359,592 56,602,463
2075 91,825,254 56,005,600
2074 91,229,266 55,330,165
2073 90,571,021 54,651,918
2072 89,918,374 53,978,548
2071 89,265,548 53,284,016
2070 88,596,492 52,573,210
2069 87,909,474 51,878,214
2068 87,220,494 51,197,653
2067 86,513,996 50,493,028
2066 85,734,530 49,779,172
2065 84,971,898 49,024,665
2064 84,191,350 48,265,876
2063 83,387,951 47,522,361
2062 82,604,577 46,785,920
2061 81,800,637 46,037,526
2060 80,951,008 45,220,507
2059 80,141,868 44,397,936
2058 79,319,543 43,659,021
2057 78,477,339 42,897,422
2056 77,609,202 42,121,542
2055 76,739,924 41,318,179
2054 75,857,125 40,513,141
2053 74,952,948 39,744,995
2052 74,072,580 38,992,177
2051 73,150,234 38,228,872
2050 72,235,938 37,471,735
2049 71,272,122 36,739,905
2048 70,316,860 35,984,999
2047 69,347,823 35,218,863
2046 68,400,664 34,462,403
2045 67,435,953 33,717,596
2044 66,447,309 32,977,674
2043 65,453,565 32,247,710
2042 64,433,831 31,537,272
2041 63,408,709 30,794,853
2040 62,360,117 30,032,324
2039 61,289,355 29,312,883
2038 60,253,073 28,583,386
2037 59,221,658 27,838,646
2036 58,155,990 27,114,453
2035 57,127,999 26,385,421
2034 56,087,695 25,687,629
2033 55,051,140 25,018,509
2032 54,002,289 24,338,597
2031 52,991,443 23,657,353
2030 51,986,773 22,965,742
2029 50,982,563 22,299,610
2028 50,001,133 21,651,582
2027 49,014,822 20,991,860
2026 48,020,334 20,322,668
2025 47,020,527 19,666,990
2024 46,042,015 19,009,151
2023 45,074,049 18,358,615
2022 44,070,551 17,801,897
2021 43,071,211 17,271,431
2020 42,116,605 16,651,191
2019 41,192,171 16,030,971
2018 40,265,624 15,452,487
2017 39,337,353 14,916,629
2016 38,469,627 14,348,740
2015 37,560,535 13,806,963
2014 36,550,059 13,339,491
2013 35,281,989 12,869,594
2012 33,654,842 12,461,160
2011 32,161,424 12,348,830
2010 31,045,366 12,261,756
2009 30,058,206 11,961,201
2008 28,971,036 11,663,084
2007 28,391,607 11,322,582
2006 28,616,515 10,975,502
2005 28,407,448 10,644,228
2004 27,577,878 10,280,998
2003 26,802,659 9,909,157
2002 26,006,559 9,550,063
2001 25,197,840 9,198,493
2000 24,424,056 8,838,713
1999 23,636,527 8,492,059
1998 22,884,399 8,155,417
1997 22,176,593 7,824,525
1996 21,501,321 7,554,474
1995 20,825,860 7,285,007
1994 20,139,807 7,026,797
1993 19,201,195 6,681,399
1992 18,300,845 6,495,107
1991 17,767,253 6,813,760
1990 17,581,206 7,082,811
1989 17,364,542 7,114,817
1988 16,908,819 7,235,360
1987 16,521,049 7,228,302
1986 16,074,145 6,974,788
1985 15,683,430 6,693,289
1984 15,310,733 6,428,389
1983 14,840,555 6,198,430
1982 14,406,083 6,003,840
1981 14,006,381 5,982,849
1980 13,591,992 5,936,154
1979 13,170,365 5,449,117
1978 12,753,355 4,814,892
1977 12,331,046 4,484,050
1976 11,927,651 4,365,812
1975 11,543,639 4,257,535
1974 11,167,761 4,151,842
1973 10,795,869 4,045,592
1972 10,430,164 3,939,436
1971 10,077,809 3,837,691
1970 9,735,611 3,738,448
1969 9,403,356 3,641,015
1968 9,085,016 3,546,590
1967 8,778,869 3,454,537
1966 8,485,104 3,365,106
1965 8,202,140 3,277,874
1964 7,929,566 3,192,796
1963 7,667,928 3,110,361
1962 7,413,875 3,030,091
1961 7,194,553 2,952,054
1960 7,022,052 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Somalia
2100 0.21% 0.51%
2099 0.21% 0.5%
2098 0.23% 0.5%
2097 0.25% 0.58%
2096 0.26% 0.58%
2095 0.27% 0.61%
2094 0.32% 0.64%
2093 0.35% 0.67%
2092 0.33% 0.73%
2091 0.32% 0.76%
2090 0.38% 0.69%
2089 0.38% 0.72%
2088 0.39% 0.76%
2087 0.45% 0.86%
2086 0.47% 0.93%
2085 0.44% 0.9%
2084 0.48% 0.92%
2083 0.5% 0.95%
2082 0.53% 0.86%
2081 0.53% 0.97%
2080 0.58% 1.07%
2079 0.58% 1.08%
2078 0.55% 1.12%
2077 0.59% 1.08%
2076 0.58% 1.07%
2075 0.65% 1.22%
2074 0.73% 1.24%
2073 0.73% 1.25%
2072 0.73% 1.3%
2071 0.76% 1.35%
2070 0.78% 1.34%
2069 0.79% 1.33%
2068 0.82% 1.4%
2067 0.91% 1.43%
2066 0.9% 1.54%
2065 0.93% 1.57%
2064 0.96% 1.56%
2063 0.95% 1.57%
2062 0.98% 1.63%
2061 1.05% 1.81%
2060 1.01% 1.85%
2059 1.04% 1.69%
2058 1.07% 1.78%
2057 1.12% 1.84%
2056 1.13% 1.94%
2055 1.16% 1.99%
2054 1.21% 1.93%
2053 1.19% 1.93%
2052 1.26% 2%
2051 1.27% 2.02%
2050 1.35% 1.99%
2049 1.36% 2.1%
2048 1.4% 2.18%
2047 1.38% 2.2%
2046 1.43% 2.21%
2045 1.49% 2.24%
2044 1.52% 2.26%
2043 1.58% 2.25%
2042 1.62% 2.41%
2041 1.68% 2.54%
2040 1.75% 2.45%
2039 1.72% 2.55%
2038 1.74% 2.68%
2037 1.83% 2.67%
2036 1.8% 2.76%
2035 1.85% 2.72%
2034 1.88% 2.67%
2033 1.94% 2.79%
2032 1.91% 2.88%
2031 1.93% 3.01%
2030 1.97% 2.99%
2029 1.96% 2.99%
2028 2.01% 3.14%
2027 2.07% 3.29%
2026 2.13% 3.33%
2025 2.13% 3.46%
2024 2.15% 3.54%
2023 2.28% 3.13%
2022 2.32% 3.07%
2021 2.27% 3.72%
2020 2.24% 3.87%
2019 2.3% 3.74%
2018 2.36% 3.59%
2017 2.26% 3.96%
2016 2.42% 3.92%
2015 2.76% 3.5%
2014 3.59% 3.65%
2013 4.83% 3.28%
2012 4.64% 0.91%
2011 3.59% 0.71%
2010 3.28% 2.51%
2009 3.75% 2.56%
2008 2.04% 3.01%
2007 -0.79% 3.16%
2006 0.74% 3.11%
2005 3.01% 3.53%
2004 2.89% 3.75%
2003 3.06% 3.76%
2002 3.21% 3.82%
2001 3.17% 4.07%
2000 3.33% 4.08%
1999 3.29% 4.13%
1998 3.19% 4.23%
1997 3.14% 3.57%
1996 3.24% 3.7%
1995 3.41% 3.67%
1994 4.89% 5.17%
1993 4.92% 2.87%
1992 3% -4.68%
1991 1.06% -3.8%
1990 1.25% -0.45%
1989 2.7% -1.67%
1988 2.35% 0.1%
1987 2.78% 3.63%
1986 2.49% 4.21%
1985 2.43% 4.12%
1984 3.17% 3.71%
1983 3.02% 3.24%
1982 2.85% 0.35%
1981 3.05% 0.79%
1980 3.2% 8.94%
1979 3.27% 13.2%
1978 3.42% 7.38%
1977 3.38% 2.71%
1976 3.33% 2.54%
1975 3.37% 2.55%
1974 3.44% 2.63%
1973 3.51% 2.69%
1972 3.5% 2.65%
1971 3.51% 2.65%
1970 3.53% 2.68%
1969 3.5% 2.66%
1968 3.49% 2.66%
1967 3.46% 2.66%
1966 3.45% 2.66%
1965 3.44% 2.66%
1964 3.41% 2.65%
1963 3.43% 2.65%
1962 3.05% 2.64%
1961 2.46% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Iraq Somalia
Current population
48289334
20503678
Population rank 33/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.25%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
48.5 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
40 seconds
One death every
2.82 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 8/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +12,077
Net migration rank 93/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 12,077
2024 - -17,735 - 26,859
2023 973,420 -5,710 608,203 46,217
2022 962,501 76,821 551,450 -92,434
2021 941,924 17,474 566,399 35,506
2020 919,953 29,858 561,311 77,259
2019 942,972 -43,919 548,756 53,124
2018 938,310 15,775 514,244 40,844
2017 924,507 -21,998 478,556 38,067
2016 946,968 -113,980 495,132 124,017
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 481,573 -17,178
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 464,481 6,065
2013 1,026,036 474,379 448,518 20,723
2012 999,987 753,907 399,468 -51,833
2011 971,082 261,880 203,213 -326,192
2010 906,369 92,779 385,571 -88,448
2009 855,096 120,092 405,784 -101,795
2008 802,382 396,792 394,258 -102,035
2007 784,119 -824,428 380,303 8,476
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 372,597 -67,200
2005 776,603 51,019 363,117 -5,955
2004 761,563 69,948 351,959 17,353
2003 746,159 -27,236 341,192 33,174
2002 739,419 133,839 331,215 12,603
2001 729,704 14,451 319,059 40,274
2000 715,771 87,624 306,651 53,580
1999 702,170 69,491 295,523 37,548
1998 684,152 48,446 284,779 55,426
1997 667,582 15,429 271,894 49,692
1996 652,866 14,652 264,807 -46,291
1995 642,977 40,424 254,509 65,888
1994 634,344 54,355 246,950 -50,921
1993 606,700 581,818 232,960 261,815
1992 591,886 20,292 57,495 -179,675
1991 550,146 -95,155 53,052 -568,166
1990 518,575 -601,469 225,162 -248,155
1989 496,852 19,392 225,255 -266,281
1988 476,778 -81,562 215,599 -415,660
1987 488,742 -108,426 231,580 -17,391
1986 474,348 39,136 218,416 74,424
1985 467,445 -199,505 207,960 62,183
1984 455,740 21,709 199,017 60,630
1983 439,800 23,115 190,775 9,505
1982 428,336 -22,302 182,793 6,115
1981 416,998 -23,640 185,211 -332,129
1980 419,653 15,757 174,790 65,519
1979 428,458 -20,617 151,016 582,746
1978 418,756 7,434 132,689 402,005
1977 410,229 8,204 124,818 2,170
1976 402,260 -13,915 113,319 -3,831
1975 385,916 -6,237 108,998 -1,934
1974 376,197 -4,090 104,813 -495
1973 373,191 -1,507 108,038 143
1972 362,334 -2,600 104,493 -351
1971 351,464 -6,479 101,196 -1,850
1970 338,030 1,377 98,025 1,104
1969 324,792 312 95,045 690
1968 310,644 928 92,208 906
1967 298,192 2,531 89,497 1,498
1966 285,507 1,298 86,930 941
1965 274,551 4,555 84,448 2,142
1964 262,825 3,224 82,042 1,518
1963 254,046 3,197 79,859 1,449
1962 247,520 3,343 77,737 1,496
1961 184,792 2,981 75,513 1,336
1960 155,651 1,573 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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