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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 47,020,774 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,531,417 people compared to 12,565,048 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 3.86 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.74% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.5M (69.6% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Iraq vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq South Sudan
2100 101,633,126 24,078,379
2099 101,421,797 24,072,957
2098 101,213,066 24,054,947
2097 100,981,364 24,056,753
2096 100,724,968 24,045,972
2095 100,465,117 24,037,837
2094 100,194,566 24,039,267
2093 99,876,697 24,030,512
2092 99,532,563 24,010,555
2091 99,204,350 23,991,816
2090 98,887,474 23,970,012
2089 98,513,541 23,929,017
2088 98,144,553 23,883,712
2087 97,768,049 23,848,809
2086 97,325,536 23,794,890
2085 96,873,514 23,750,772
2084 96,449,107 23,678,728
2083 95,991,669 23,609,290
2082 95,510,163 23,532,790
2081 95,009,824 23,458,146
2080 94,507,711 23,383,482
2079 93,960,720 23,286,011
2078 93,417,874 23,188,860
2077 92,904,470 23,078,416
2076 92,360,076 22,979,198
2075 91,825,735 22,860,496
2074 91,229,744 22,718,148
2073 90,571,495 22,575,682
2072 89,918,845 22,431,004
2071 89,266,016 22,280,140
2070 88,596,956 22,143,813
2069 87,909,934 21,995,874
2068 87,220,950 21,822,076
2067 86,514,449 21,654,546
2066 85,734,979 21,489,275
2065 84,972,344 21,309,913
2064 84,191,791 21,134,522
2063 83,388,388 20,957,705
2062 82,605,010 20,777,701
2061 81,801,066 20,601,672
2060 80,951,432 20,423,629
2059 80,142,288 20,227,862
2058 79,319,959 20,041,880
2057 78,477,750 19,846,671
2056 77,609,609 19,652,407
2055 76,740,326 19,457,411
2054 75,857,522 19,250,667
2053 74,953,340 19,053,773
2052 74,072,968 18,833,795
2051 73,150,617 18,626,605
2050 72,236,317 18,427,690
2049 71,272,496 18,224,430
2048 70,317,228 18,014,650
2047 69,348,186 17,799,982
2046 68,401,022 17,572,953
2045 67,436,306 17,348,901
2044 66,447,658 17,115,914
2043 65,453,908 16,882,303
2042 64,434,168 16,639,465
2041 63,409,041 16,390,966
2040 62,360,444 16,137,104
2039 61,289,676 15,884,330
2038 60,253,388 15,622,514
2037 59,221,968 15,358,539
2036 58,156,294 15,085,936
2035 57,128,298 14,810,066
2034 56,087,988 14,538,365
2033 55,051,428 14,273,128
2032 54,002,572 14,002,178
2031 52,991,720 13,725,779
2030 51,987,045 13,460,850
2029 50,982,830 13,201,804
2028 50,001,395 12,942,501
2027 49,015,079 12,688,278
2026 48,020,585 12,434,895
2025 47,020,774 12,188,788
2024 46,042,015 11,943,408
2023 45,074,049 11,483,374
2022 44,070,551 11,021,177
2021 43,071,211 10,865,780
2020 42,116,605 10,698,467
2019 41,192,171 10,423,384
2018 40,265,624 10,122,977
2017 39,337,353 10,259,154
2016 38,469,627 10,830,102
2015 37,560,535 11,107,561
2014 36,550,059 11,235,073
2013 35,281,989 11,166,275
2012 33,654,842 10,756,240
2011 32,161,424 10,288,109
2010 31,045,366 9,745,953
2009 30,058,206 9,243,556
2008 28,971,036 8,817,647
2007 28,391,607 8,388,788
2006 28,616,515 7,976,526
2005 28,407,448 7,590,143
2004 27,577,878 7,233,041
2003 26,802,659 6,903,127
2002 26,006,559 6,596,806
2001 25,197,840 6,308,391
2000 24,424,056 6,032,267
1999 23,636,527 5,771,628
1998 22,884,399 5,620,068
1997 22,176,593 5,509,136
1996 21,501,321 5,356,925
1995 20,825,860 5,225,836
1994 20,139,807 5,071,184
1993 19,201,195 4,956,002
1992 18,300,845 4,909,749
1991 17,767,253 4,836,677
1990 17,581,206 4,737,633
1989 17,364,542 4,713,229
1988 16,908,819 4,848,029
1987 16,521,049 4,962,395
1986 16,074,145 4,921,240
1985 15,683,430 4,834,296
1984 15,310,733 4,750,627
1983 14,840,555 4,661,574
1982 14,406,083 4,557,686
1981 14,006,381 4,447,272
1980 13,591,992 4,339,030
1979 13,170,365 4,232,605
1978 12,753,355 4,127,657
1977 12,331,046 4,024,032
1976 11,927,651 3,921,910
1975 11,543,639 3,821,494
1974 11,167,761 3,723,259
1973 10,795,869 3,627,383
1972 10,430,164 3,542,497
1971 10,077,809 3,468,646
1970 9,735,611 3,409,614
1969 9,403,356 3,365,533
1968 9,085,016 3,321,528
1967 8,778,869 3,277,648
1966 8,485,104 3,236,423
1965 8,202,140 3,189,835
1964 7,929,566 3,129,918
1963 7,667,928 3,072,669
1962 7,413,875 3,024,308
1961 7,194,553 2,976,724
1960 7,022,052 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq South Sudan
2100 0.21% 0.02%
2099 0.21% 0.07%
2098 0.23% -0.008%
2097 0.25% 0.04%
2096 0.26% 0.03%
2095 0.27% -0.006%
2094 0.32% 0.04%
2093 0.35% 0.08%
2092 0.33% 0.08%
2091 0.32% 0.09%
2090 0.38% 0.17%
2089 0.38% 0.19%
2088 0.39% 0.15%
2087 0.45% 0.23%
2086 0.47% 0.19%
2085 0.44% 0.3%
2084 0.48% 0.29%
2083 0.5% 0.33%
2082 0.53% 0.32%
2081 0.53% 0.32%
2080 0.58% 0.42%
2079 0.58% 0.42%
2078 0.55% 0.48%
2077 0.59% 0.43%
2076 0.58% 0.52%
2075 0.65% 0.63%
2074 0.73% 0.63%
2073 0.73% 0.64%
2072 0.73% 0.68%
2071 0.76% 0.62%
2070 0.78% 0.67%
2069 0.79% 0.8%
2068 0.82% 0.77%
2067 0.91% 0.77%
2066 0.9% 0.84%
2065 0.93% 0.83%
2064 0.96% 0.84%
2063 0.95% 0.87%
2062 0.98% 0.85%
2061 1.05% 0.87%
2060 1.01% 0.97%
2059 1.04% 0.93%
2058 1.07% 0.98%
2057 1.12% 0.99%
2056 1.13% 1%
2055 1.16% 1.07%
2054 1.21% 1.03%
2053 1.19% 1.17%
2052 1.26% 1.11%
2051 1.27% 1.08%
2050 1.35% 1.12%
2049 1.36% 1.16%
2048 1.4% 1.21%
2047 1.38% 1.29%
2046 1.43% 1.29%
2045 1.49% 1.36%
2044 1.52% 1.38%
2043 1.58% 1.46%
2042 1.62% 1.52%
2041 1.68% 1.57%
2040 1.75% 1.59%
2039 1.72% 1.68%
2038 1.74% 1.72%
2037 1.83% 1.81%
2036 1.8% 1.86%
2035 1.85% 1.87%
2034 1.88% 1.86%
2033 1.94% 1.94%
2032 1.91% 2.01%
2031 1.93% 1.97%
2030 1.97% 1.96%
2029 1.96% 2%
2028 2.01% 2%
2027 2.07% 2.04%
2026 2.13% 2.02%
2025 2.13% 2.05%
2024 2.15% 4.01%
2023 2.28% 4.19%
2022 2.32% 1.43%
2021 2.27% 1.56%
2020 2.24% 2.64%
2019 2.3% 2.97%
2018 2.36% -1.33%
2017 2.26% -5.27%
2016 2.42% -2.5%
2015 2.76% -1.13%
2014 3.59% 0.62%
2013 4.83% 3.81%
2012 4.64% 4.55%
2011 3.59% 5.56%
2010 3.28% 5.44%
2009 3.75% 4.83%
2008 2.04% 5.11%
2007 -0.79% 5.17%
2006 0.74% 5.09%
2005 3.01% 4.94%
2004 2.89% 4.78%
2003 3.06% 4.64%
2002 3.21% 4.57%
2001 3.17% 4.58%
2000 3.33% 4.52%
1999 3.29% 2.7%
1998 3.19% 2.01%
1997 3.14% 2.84%
1996 3.24% 2.51%
1995 3.41% 3.05%
1994 4.89% 2.32%
1993 4.92% 0.94%
1992 3% 1.51%
1991 1.06% 2.09%
1990 1.25% 0.52%
1989 2.7% -2.78%
1988 2.35% -2.3%
1987 2.78% 0.84%
1986 2.49% 1.8%
1985 2.43% 1.76%
1984 3.17% 1.91%
1983 3.02% 2.28%
1982 2.85% 2.48%
1981 3.05% 2.49%
1980 3.2% 2.51%
1979 3.27% 2.54%
1978 3.42% 2.58%
1977 3.38% 2.6%
1976 3.33% 2.63%
1975 3.37% 2.64%
1974 3.44% 2.64%
1973 3.51% 2.4%
1972 3.5% 2.13%
1971 3.51% 1.73%
1970 3.53% 1.31%
1969 3.5% 1.32%
1968 3.49% 1.34%
1967 3.46% 1.27%
1966 3.45% 1.46%
1965 3.44% 1.91%
1964 3.41% 1.86%
1963 3.43% 1.6%
1962 3.05% 1.6%
1961 2.46% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iraq grew by 2.13%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Iraq South Sudan
Current population
48531417
12565048
Population rank 33/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.15%
One net population change
32.3 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
26.8 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
2.74 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,682 +672
Annual growth/decline +978,759 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +2.13% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 48/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -1,064 +6,145
Net migration rank 93/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 6,145
2024 985,943 -17,735 231,714 15,374
2023 973,420 -5,710 217,966 455,000
2022 962,501 76,821 211,166 40,259
2021 941,924 17,474 213,567 -154,359
2020 919,953 29,858 212,332 62,935
2019 942,972 -43,919 209,708 65,198
2018 938,310 15,775 168,497 157,408
2017 924,507 -21,998 72,193 -670,477
2016 946,968 -113,980 110,553 -654,225
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 148,542 -159,822
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 227,611 -471,523
2013 1,026,036 474,379 315,983 65,337
2012 999,987 753,907 312,974 125,771
2011 971,082 261,880 303,181 194,325
2010 906,369 92,779 287,409 299,402
2009 855,096 120,092 278,859 139,129
2008 802,382 396,792 268,268 165,557
2007 784,119 -824,428 256,546 167,350
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 246,706 153,926
2005 776,603 51,019 239,272 132,869
2004 761,563 69,948 231,877 110,182
2003 746,159 -27,236 225,822 91,951
2002 739,419 133,839 212,014 82,847
2001 729,704 14,451 204,108 77,856
2000 715,771 87,624 196,055 74,227
1999 702,170 69,491 180,721 70,271
1998 684,152 48,446 -12,157 64,285
1997 667,582 15,429 121,454 48,280
1996 652,866 14,652 116,728 17,953
1995 642,977 40,424 110,417 17,077
1994 634,344 54,355 165,407 16,407
1993 606,700 581,818 32,779 15,772
1992 591,886 20,292 28,874 15,077
1991 550,146 -95,155 87,873 14,327
1990 518,575 -601,469 82,900 12,988
1989 496,852 19,392 83,735 -130,821
1988 476,778 -81,562 -125,447 -97,065
1987 488,742 -108,426 5,756 -11,976
1986 474,348 39,136 99,502 -10,973
1985 467,445 -199,505 95,342 -9,986
1984 455,740 21,709 90,970 -8,984
1983 439,800 23,115 104,107 -7,986
1982 428,336 -22,302 118,641 -6,983
1981 416,998 -23,640 115,163 -5,994
1980 419,653 15,757 112,307 -4,997
1979 428,458 -20,617 109,540 -3,997
1978 418,756 7,434 107,352 -2,998
1977 410,229 8,204 104,886 -1,997
1976 402,260 -13,915 102,346 -995
1975 385,916 -6,237 99,882 -395
1974 376,197 -4,090 97,181 -192
1973 373,191 -1,507 94,765 0
1972 362,334 -2,600 74,803 193
1971 351,464 -6,479 72,308 394
1970 338,030 1,377 44,776 587
1969 324,792 312 42,015 786
1968 310,644 928 44,213 995
1967 298,192 2,531 41,357 1,194
1966 285,507 1,298 38,523 1,386
1965 274,551 4,555 51,682 1,591
1964 262,825 3,224 64,786 1,785
1963 254,046 3,197 46,333 1,591
1962 247,520 3,343 47,406 1,386
1961 184,792 2,981 45,186 1,194
1960 155,651 1,573 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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