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Population in Iraq compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.36 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.38% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Iraq vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq South Africa
2100 101,632,594 94,767,727
2099 101,421,266 94,556,931
2098 101,212,536 94,349,546
2097 100,980,835 94,158,472
2096 100,724,441 93,960,605
2095 100,464,590 93,752,736
2094 100,194,041 93,527,902
2093 99,876,174 93,300,398
2092 99,532,041 93,074,837
2091 99,203,830 92,826,204
2090 98,886,956 92,594,033
2089 98,513,025 92,355,184
2088 98,144,039 92,112,914
2087 97,767,537 91,866,024
2086 97,325,026 91,614,165
2085 96,873,007 91,385,350
2084 96,448,602 91,139,318
2083 95,991,166 90,877,425
2082 95,509,663 90,615,359
2081 95,009,326 90,345,492
2080 94,507,216 90,071,835
2079 93,960,228 89,801,998
2078 93,417,384 89,526,224
2077 92,903,983 89,249,206
2076 92,359,592 88,986,114
2075 91,825,254 88,713,215
2074 91,229,266 88,428,616
2073 90,571,021 88,149,885
2072 89,918,374 87,866,246
2071 89,265,548 87,540,177
2070 88,596,492 87,209,425
2069 87,909,474 86,901,512
2068 87,220,494 86,588,742
2067 86,513,996 86,268,392
2066 85,734,530 85,935,310
2065 84,971,898 85,604,376
2064 84,191,350 85,244,950
2063 83,387,951 84,875,503
2062 82,604,577 84,503,237
2061 81,800,637 84,132,885
2060 80,951,008 83,748,999
2059 80,141,868 83,354,923
2058 79,319,543 82,947,675
2057 78,477,339 82,538,045
2056 77,609,202 82,127,477
2055 76,739,924 81,698,196
2054 75,857,125 81,255,867
2053 74,952,948 80,818,632
2052 74,072,580 80,367,409
2051 73,150,234 79,886,672
2050 72,235,938 79,411,977
2049 71,272,122 78,925,493
2048 70,316,860 78,437,677
2047 69,347,823 77,922,211
2046 68,400,664 77,397,298
2045 67,435,953 76,879,838
2044 66,447,309 76,357,155
2043 65,453,565 75,827,709
2042 64,433,831 75,291,615
2041 63,408,709 74,748,408
2040 62,360,117 74,205,530
2039 61,289,355 73,663,047
2038 60,253,073 73,105,930
2037 59,221,658 72,532,742
2036 58,155,990 71,956,247
2035 57,127,999 71,362,555
2034 56,087,695 70,762,815
2033 55,051,140 70,153,205
2032 54,002,289 69,527,410
2031 52,991,443 68,890,002
2030 51,986,773 68,245,372
2029 50,982,563 67,573,179
2028 50,001,133 66,884,377
2027 49,014,822 66,190,258
2026 48,020,334 65,496,277
2025 47,020,527 64,770,314
2024 46,042,015 64,007,187
2023 45,074,049 63,212,384
2022 44,070,551 62,378,410
2021 43,071,211 61,502,603
2020 42,116,605 60,562,381
2019 41,192,171 59,587,885
2018 40,265,624 58,613,001
2017 39,337,353 57,635,162
2016 38,469,627 57,259,551
2015 37,560,535 56,723,537
2014 36,550,059 55,594,838
2013 35,281,989 54,678,791
2012 33,654,842 53,782,567
2011 32,161,424 52,995,205
2010 31,045,366 52,344,051
2009 30,058,206 51,728,516
2008 28,971,036 51,114,599
2007 28,391,607 50,528,584
2006 28,616,515 49,998,277
2005 28,407,448 49,490,033
2004 27,577,878 48,991,421
2003 26,802,659 48,500,348
2002 26,006,559 48,019,415
2001 25,197,840 47,566,800
2000 24,424,056 47,159,719
1999 23,636,527 46,730,335
1998 22,884,399 46,223,880
1997 22,176,593 45,666,838
1996 21,501,321 45,123,018
1995 20,825,860 44,541,554
1994 20,139,807 44,004,139
1993 19,201,195 43,297,156
1992 18,300,845 42,443,509
1991 17,767,253 41,687,898
1990 17,581,206 40,746,268
1989 17,364,542 39,628,575
1988 16,908,819 38,480,649
1987 16,521,049 37,326,190
1986 16,074,145 36,180,515
1985 15,683,430 35,042,093
1984 15,310,733 33,892,788
1983 14,840,555 32,739,304
1982 14,406,083 31,615,339
1981 14,006,381 30,541,044
1980 13,591,992 29,518,857
1979 13,170,365 28,634,162
1978 12,753,355 27,869,507
1977 12,331,046 27,118,952
1976 11,927,651 26,395,450
1975 11,543,639 25,690,940
1974 11,167,761 24,989,108
1973 10,795,869 24,294,263
1972 10,430,164 23,609,456
1971 10,077,809 22,942,143
1970 9,735,611 22,279,984
1969 9,403,356 21,614,676
1968 9,085,016 20,957,287
1967 8,778,869 20,314,066
1966 8,485,104 19,690,087
1965 8,202,140 19,089,380
1964 7,929,566 18,511,361
1963 7,667,928 17,954,564
1962 7,413,875 17,418,522
1961 7,194,553 16,908,035
1960 7,022,052 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq South Africa
2100 0.21% 0.22%
2099 0.21% 0.22%
2098 0.23% 0.2%
2097 0.25% 0.21%
2096 0.26% 0.22%
2095 0.27% 0.24%
2094 0.32% 0.24%
2093 0.35% 0.24%
2092 0.33% 0.27%
2091 0.32% 0.25%
2090 0.38% 0.26%
2089 0.38% 0.26%
2088 0.39% 0.27%
2087 0.45% 0.27%
2086 0.47% 0.25%
2085 0.44% 0.27%
2084 0.48% 0.29%
2083 0.5% 0.29%
2082 0.53% 0.3%
2081 0.53% 0.3%
2080 0.58% 0.3%
2079 0.58% 0.31%
2078 0.55% 0.31%
2077 0.59% 0.3%
2076 0.58% 0.31%
2075 0.65% 0.32%
2074 0.73% 0.32%
2073 0.73% 0.32%
2072 0.73% 0.37%
2071 0.76% 0.38%
2070 0.78% 0.35%
2069 0.79% 0.36%
2068 0.82% 0.37%
2067 0.91% 0.39%
2066 0.9% 0.39%
2065 0.93% 0.42%
2064 0.96% 0.44%
2063 0.95% 0.44%
2062 0.98% 0.44%
2061 1.05% 0.46%
2060 1.01% 0.47%
2059 1.04% 0.49%
2058 1.07% 0.5%
2057 1.12% 0.5%
2056 1.13% 0.53%
2055 1.16% 0.54%
2054 1.21% 0.54%
2053 1.19% 0.56%
2052 1.26% 0.6%
2051 1.27% 0.6%
2050 1.35% 0.62%
2049 1.36% 0.62%
2048 1.4% 0.66%
2047 1.38% 0.68%
2046 1.43% 0.67%
2045 1.49% 0.68%
2044 1.52% 0.7%
2043 1.58% 0.71%
2042 1.62% 0.73%
2041 1.68% 0.73%
2040 1.75% 0.74%
2039 1.72% 0.76%
2038 1.74% 0.79%
2037 1.83% 0.8%
2036 1.8% 0.83%
2035 1.85% 0.85%
2034 1.88% 0.87%
2033 1.94% 0.9%
2032 1.91% 0.93%
2031 1.93% 0.94%
2030 1.97% 0.99%
2029 1.96% 1.03%
2028 2.01% 1.05%
2027 2.07% 1.06%
2026 2.13% 1.12%
2025 2.13% 1.19%
2024 2.15% 1.26%
2023 2.28% 1.34%
2022 2.32% 1.42%
2021 2.27% 1.55%
2020 2.24% 1.64%
2019 2.3% 1.66%
2018 2.36% 1.7%
2017 2.26% 0.66%
2016 2.42% 0.94%
2015 2.76% 2.03%
2014 3.59% 1.68%
2013 4.83% 1.67%
2012 4.64% 1.49%
2011 3.59% 1.24%
2010 3.28% 1.19%
2009 3.75% 1.2%
2008 2.04% 1.16%
2007 -0.79% 1.06%
2006 0.74% 1.03%
2005 3.01% 1.02%
2004 2.89% 1.01%
2003 3.06% 1%
2002 3.21% 0.95%
2001 3.17% 0.86%
2000 3.33% 0.92%
1999 3.29% 1.1%
1998 3.19% 1.22%
1997 3.14% 1.21%
1996 3.24% 1.31%
1995 3.41% 1.22%
1994 4.89% 1.63%
1993 4.92% 2.01%
1992 3% 1.81%
1991 1.06% 2.31%
1990 1.25% 2.82%
1989 2.7% 2.98%
1988 2.35% 3.09%
1987 2.78% 3.17%
1986 2.49% 3.25%
1985 2.43% 3.39%
1984 3.17% 3.52%
1983 3.02% 3.56%
1982 2.85% 3.52%
1981 3.05% 3.46%
1980 3.2% 3.09%
1979 3.27% 2.74%
1978 3.42% 2.77%
1977 3.38% 2.74%
1976 3.33% 2.74%
1975 3.37% 2.81%
1974 3.44% 2.86%
1973 3.51% 2.9%
1972 3.5% 2.91%
1971 3.51% 2.97%
1970 3.53% 3.08%
1969 3.5% 3.14%
1968 3.49% 3.17%
1967 3.46% 3.17%
1966 3.45% 3.15%
1965 3.44% 3.12%
1964 3.41% 3.1%
1963 3.43% 3.08%
1962 3.05% 3.02%
1961 2.46% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Iraq South Africa
Current population
48289334
65683993
Population rank 33/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.79%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.82 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 85/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +146,370
Net migration rank 93/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 146,370
2024 - -17,735 - 166,972
2023 973,420 -5,710 602,793 228,222
2022 962,501 76,821 603,636 233,284
2021 941,924 17,474 456,411 458,246
2020 919,953 29,858 595,873 369,901
2019 942,972 -43,919 652,130 331,124
2018 938,310 15,775 648,319 318,260
2017 924,507 -21,998 645,975 343,146
2016 946,968 -113,980 641,365 -879,235
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 668,771 641,150
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 674,754 272,697
2013 1,026,036 474,379 652,427 232,230
2012 999,987 753,907 643,723 264,091
2011 971,082 261,880 601,708 65,166
2010 906,369 92,779 566,834 68,563
2009 855,096 120,092 554,115 41,528
2008 802,382 396,792 595,332 36,869
2007 784,119 -824,428 503,567 36,339
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 487,584 33,159
2005 776,603 51,019 464,464 31,286
2004 761,563 69,948 442,540 58,924
2003 746,159 -27,236 415,018 65,604
2002 739,419 133,839 430,926 50,313
2001 729,704 14,451 484,801 -60,793
2000 715,771 87,624 526,963 -136,794
1999 702,170 69,491 594,643 -126,011
1998 684,152 48,446 627,027 -82,722
1997 667,582 15,429 667,969 -98,181
1996 652,866 14,652 710,868 -193,007
1995 642,977 40,424 743,488 -98,403
1994 634,344 54,355 698,609 -268,849
1993 606,700 581,818 789,220 194,977
1992 591,886 20,292 794,415 -71,342
1991 550,146 -95,155 827,296 -39,131
1990 518,575 -601,469 835,421 259,718
1989 496,852 19,392 884,629 255,605
1988 476,778 -81,562 909,221 246,382
1987 488,742 -108,426 922,330 231,009
1986 474,348 39,136 903,644 234,378
1985 467,445 -199,505 893,889 244,940
1984 455,740 21,709 869,011 290,789
1983 439,800 23,115 837,013 310,172
1982 428,336 -22,302 807,550 293,195
1981 416,998 -23,640 767,833 279,985
1980 419,653 15,757 738,415 258,127
1979 428,458 -20,617 716,541 56,323
1978 418,756 7,434 694,341 62,121
1977 410,229 8,204 680,929 63,739
1976 402,260 -13,915 675,011 27,333
1975 385,916 -6,237 667,862 38,809
1974 376,197 -4,090 658,438 38,518
1973 373,191 -1,507 651,596 41,125
1972 362,334 -2,600 638,754 38,163
1971 351,464 -6,479 624,761 32,961
1970 338,030 1,377 605,102 61,514
1969 324,792 312 590,794 73,225
1968 310,644 928 571,841 78,932
1967 298,192 2,531 553,741 81,932
1966 285,507 1,298 534,862 77,417
1965 274,551 4,555 506,632 82,514
1964 262,825 3,224 490,606 76,298
1963 254,046 3,197 473,821 72,844
1962 247,520 3,343 455,634 69,771
1961 184,792 2,981 437,851 57,728
1960 155,651 1,573 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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