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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 47,020,774 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,531,417 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 1.06 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 1.21% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.5M (69.6% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Iraq vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq South Korea
2100 101,633,126 22,001,649
2099 101,421,797 22,324,514
2098 101,213,066 22,657,541
2097 100,981,364 22,998,315
2096 100,724,968 23,348,632
2095 100,465,117 23,711,049
2094 100,194,566 24,081,510
2093 99,876,697 24,460,970
2092 99,532,563 24,848,715
2091 99,204,350 25,242,926
2090 98,887,474 25,642,926
2089 98,513,541 26,048,094
2088 98,144,553 26,457,020
2087 97,768,049 26,871,556
2086 97,325,536 27,288,450
2085 96,873,514 27,710,065
2084 96,449,107 28,133,600
2083 95,991,669 28,564,090
2082 95,510,163 28,998,646
2081 95,009,824 29,441,497
2080 94,507,711 29,887,135
2079 93,960,720 30,337,095
2078 93,417,874 30,793,984
2077 92,904,470 31,258,278
2076 92,360,076 31,728,826
2075 91,825,735 32,205,338
2074 91,229,744 32,689,892
2073 90,571,495 33,180,187
2072 89,918,845 33,679,874
2071 89,266,016 34,187,068
2070 88,596,956 34,702,204
2069 87,909,934 35,224,472
2068 87,220,950 35,745,164
2067 86,514,449 36,274,411
2066 85,734,979 36,808,495
2065 84,972,344 37,349,660
2064 84,191,791 37,897,742
2063 83,388,388 38,450,082
2062 82,605,010 39,009,227
2061 81,801,066 39,565,102
2060 80,951,432 40,130,032
2059 80,142,288 40,692,438
2058 79,319,959 41,256,780
2057 78,477,750 41,813,259
2056 77,609,609 42,356,530
2055 76,740,326 42,888,143
2054 75,857,522 43,405,840
2053 74,953,340 43,917,075
2052 74,072,968 44,419,192
2051 73,150,617 44,901,452
2050 72,236,317 45,362,931
2049 71,272,496 45,809,553
2048 70,317,228 46,235,718
2047 69,348,186 46,645,885
2046 68,401,022 47,033,200
2045 67,436,306 47,409,815
2044 66,447,658 47,773,842
2043 65,453,908 48,120,989
2042 64,434,168 48,455,085
2041 63,409,041 48,782,206
2040 62,360,444 49,091,438
2039 61,289,676 49,388,464
2038 60,253,388 49,669,835
2037 59,221,968 49,932,869
2036 58,156,294 50,175,947
2035 57,128,298 50,401,135
2034 56,087,988 50,607,994
2033 55,051,428 50,796,030
2032 54,002,572 50,961,878
2031 52,991,720 51,109,725
2030 51,987,045 51,242,628
2029 50,982,830 51,360,529
2028 50,001,395 51,461,403
2027 49,015,079 51,551,313
2026 48,020,585 51,624,449
2025 47,020,774 51,684,564
2024 46,042,015 51,751,065
2023 45,074,049 51,712,619
2022 44,070,551 51,672,569
2021 43,071,211 51,769,539
2020 42,116,605 51,836,239
2019 41,192,171 51,764,822
2018 40,265,624 51,585,058
2017 39,337,353 51,361,911
2016 38,469,627 51,217,803
2015 37,560,535 51,014,947
2014 36,550,059 50,746,659
2013 35,281,989 50,428,893
2012 33,654,842 50,199,853
2011 32,161,424 49,936,638
2010 31,045,366 49,554,112
2009 30,058,206 49,307,835
2008 28,971,036 49,054,708
2007 28,391,607 48,683,638
2006 28,616,515 48,438,292
2005 28,407,448 48,184,561
2004 27,577,878 48,082,519
2003 26,802,659 47,892,330
2002 26,006,559 47,644,736
2001 25,197,840 47,370,164
2000 24,424,056 47,008,111
1999 23,636,527 46,616,677
1998 22,884,399 46,286,503
1997 22,176,593 45,953,580
1996 21,501,321 45,524,681
1995 20,825,860 45,092,991
1994 20,139,807 44,641,540
1993 19,201,195 44,194,628
1992 18,300,845 43,747,962
1991 17,767,253 43,295,704
1990 17,581,206 42,869,283
1989 17,364,542 42,449,038
1988 16,908,819 42,031,247
1987 16,521,049 41,621,690
1986 16,074,145 41,213,674
1985 15,683,430 40,805,744
1984 15,310,733 40,405,956
1983 14,840,555 39,910,403
1982 14,406,083 39,326,352
1981 14,006,381 38,723,248
1980 13,591,992 38,123,775
1979 13,170,365 37,534,236
1978 12,753,355 36,969,185
1977 12,331,046 36,411,795
1976 11,927,651 35,848,523
1975 11,543,639 35,280,725
1974 11,167,761 34,692,266
1973 10,795,869 34,103,149
1972 10,430,164 33,505,406
1971 10,077,809 32,882,704
1970 9,735,611 32,240,827
1969 9,403,356 31,544,266
1968 9,085,016 30,838,302
1967 8,778,869 30,130,983
1966 8,485,104 29,435,571
1965 8,202,140 28,704,674
1964 7,929,566 27,984,155
1963 7,667,928 27,261,747
1962 7,413,875 26,513,030
1961 7,194,553 25,765,673
1960 7,022,052 25,012,374

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iraq's population will grow by 48.8% to 72,236,317 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq South Korea
2100 0.21% -1.45%
2099 0.21% -1.47%
2098 0.23% -1.48%
2097 0.25% -1.5%
2096 0.26% -1.53%
2095 0.27% -1.54%
2094 0.32% -1.55%
2093 0.35% -1.56%
2092 0.33% -1.56%
2091 0.32% -1.56%
2090 0.38% -1.56%
2089 0.38% -1.55%
2088 0.39% -1.54%
2087 0.45% -1.53%
2086 0.47% -1.52%
2085 0.44% -1.51%
2084 0.48% -1.51%
2083 0.5% -1.5%
2082 0.53% -1.5%
2081 0.53% -1.49%
2080 0.58% -1.48%
2079 0.58% -1.48%
2078 0.55% -1.49%
2077 0.59% -1.48%
2076 0.58% -1.48%
2075 0.65% -1.48%
2074 0.73% -1.48%
2073 0.73% -1.48%
2072 0.73% -1.48%
2071 0.76% -1.48%
2070 0.78% -1.48%
2069 0.79% -1.46%
2068 0.82% -1.46%
2067 0.91% -1.45%
2066 0.9% -1.45%
2065 0.93% -1.45%
2064 0.96% -1.44%
2063 0.95% -1.43%
2062 0.98% -1.4%
2061 1.05% -1.41%
2060 1.01% -1.38%
2059 1.04% -1.37%
2058 1.07% -1.33%
2057 1.12% -1.28%
2056 1.13% -1.24%
2055 1.16% -1.19%
2054 1.21% -1.16%
2053 1.19% -1.13%
2052 1.26% -1.07%
2051 1.27% -1.02%
2050 1.35% -0.97%
2049 1.36% -0.92%
2048 1.4% -0.88%
2047 1.38% -0.82%
2046 1.43% -0.79%
2045 1.49% -0.76%
2044 1.52% -0.72%
2043 1.58% -0.69%
2042 1.62% -0.67%
2041 1.68% -0.63%
2040 1.75% -0.6%
2039 1.72% -0.57%
2038 1.74% -0.53%
2037 1.83% -0.48%
2036 1.8% -0.45%
2035 1.85% -0.41%
2034 1.88% -0.37%
2033 1.94% -0.33%
2032 1.91% -0.29%
2031 1.93% -0.26%
2030 1.97% -0.23%
2029 1.96% -0.2%
2028 2.01% -0.17%
2027 2.07% -0.14%
2026 2.13% -0.12%
2025 2.13% -0.13%
2024 2.15% 0.07%
2023 2.28% 0.08%
2022 2.32% -0.19%
2021 2.27% -0.13%
2020 2.24% 0.14%
2019 2.3% 0.35%
2018 2.36% 0.43%
2017 2.26% 0.28%
2016 2.42% 0.4%
2015 2.76% 0.53%
2014 3.59% 0.63%
2013 4.83% 0.46%
2012 4.64% 0.53%
2011 3.59% 0.77%
2010 3.28% 0.5%
2009 3.75% 0.52%
2008 2.04% 0.76%
2007 -0.79% 0.51%
2006 0.74% 0.53%
2005 3.01% 0.21%
2004 2.89% 0.4%
2003 3.06% 0.52%
2002 3.21% 0.58%
2001 3.17% 0.77%
2000 3.33% 0.84%
1999 3.29% 0.71%
1998 3.19% 0.72%
1997 3.14% 0.94%
1996 3.24% 0.96%
1995 3.41% 1.01%
1994 4.89% 1.01%
1993 4.92% 1.02%
1992 3% 1.04%
1991 1.06% 0.99%
1990 1.25% 0.99%
1989 2.7% 0.99%
1988 2.35% 0.98%
1987 2.78% 0.99%
1986 2.49% 1%
1985 2.43% 0.99%
1984 3.17% 1.24%
1983 3.02% 1.49%
1982 2.85% 1.56%
1981 3.05% 1.57%
1980 3.2% 1.57%
1979 3.27% 1.53%
1978 3.42% 1.53%
1977 3.38% 1.57%
1976 3.33% 1.61%
1975 3.37% 1.7%
1974 3.44% 1.73%
1973 3.51% 1.78%
1972 3.5% 1.89%
1971 3.51% 1.99%
1970 3.53% 2.21%
1969 3.5% 2.29%
1968 3.49% 2.35%
1967 3.46% 2.36%
1966 3.45% 2.55%
1965 3.44% 2.57%
1964 3.41% 2.65%
1963 3.43% 2.82%
1962 3.05% 2.9%
1961 2.46% 3.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iraq grew by 2.13%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Iraq South Korea
Current population
48531417
51624449
Population rank 33/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.62%
One net population change
32.3 seconds
7.93 minutes
One birth every
26.8 seconds
2.16 minutes
One death every
2.74 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,682 -182
Annual growth/decline +978,759 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +2.13% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 169/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +65,731
Net migration rank 93/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 65,731
2024 985,943 -17,735 -119,027 75,963
2023 973,420 -5,710 -124,111 87,800
2022 962,501 76,821 -124,014 87,800
2021 941,924 17,474 -56,947 -16,778
2020 919,953 29,858 -31,101 112,631
2019 942,972 -43,919 10,353 128,622
2018 938,310 15,775 30,951 118,220
2017 924,507 -21,998 71,907 104,029
2016 946,968 -113,980 122,923 91,568
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 163,248 276,427
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 167,464 308,037
2013 1,026,036 474,379 166,415 301,926
2012 999,987 753,907 215,859 281,866
2011 971,082 261,880 214,728 269,958
2010 906,369 92,779 213,083 52,042
2009 855,096 120,092 197,231 5,308
2008 802,382 396,792 215,841 -19,630
2007 784,119 -824,428 248,286 -42,293
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 203,441 -28,434
2005 776,603 51,019 187,920 -47,821
2004 761,563 69,948 225,988 -42,549
2003 746,159 -27,236 244,251 -31,994
2002 739,419 133,839 247,752 -18,105
2001 729,704 14,451 312,643 -28,006
2000 715,771 87,624 390,167 -84,960
1999 702,170 69,491 368,272 -107,448
1998 684,152 48,446 393,436 -98,044
1997 667,582 15,429 422,773 -109,130
1996 652,866 14,652 446,142 -115,705
1995 642,977 40,424 468,967 -208,491
1994 634,344 54,355 473,200 -208,309
1993 606,700 581,818 477,302 -222,802
1992 591,886 20,292 494,352 -265,849
1991 550,146 -95,155 467,594 -270,754
1990 518,575 -601,469 411,546 79,294
1989 496,852 19,392 403,266 186,120
1988 476,778 -81,562 399,297 192,534
1987 488,742 -108,426 378,758 198,057
1986 474,348 39,136 395,651 189,782
1985 467,445 -199,505 416,219 97,949
1984 455,740 21,709 436,384 101,394
1983 439,800 23,115 514,844 102,167
1982 428,336 -22,302 605,626 48,638
1981 416,998 -23,640 631,189 18,442
1980 419,653 15,757 583,294 -148,341
1979 428,458 -20,617 623,068 -139,566
1978 418,756 7,434 499,084 -85,721
1977 410,229 8,204 578,947 -90,737
1976 402,260 -13,915 530,558 -92,314
1975 385,916 -6,237 603,300 -52,332
1974 376,197 -4,090 673,030 27,005
1973 373,191 -1,507 699,115 35,779
1972 362,334 -2,600 740,469 25,382
1971 351,464 -6,479 789,185 -6,326
1970 338,030 1,377 747,987 -27,999
1969 324,792 312 694,227 -21,175
1968 310,644 928 684,487 -16,868
1967 298,192 2,531 692,169 -16,484
1966 285,507 1,298 623,534 -16,688
1965 274,551 4,555 641,090 -146,386
1964 262,825 3,224 655,501 -102,284
1963 254,046 3,197 685,824 -80,226
1962 247,520 3,343 712,590 -94,606
1961 184,792 2,981 730,173 -93,179
1960 155,651 1,573 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-korea | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Iraq is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South 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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-korea | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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