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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 12,507,858 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 0.73% 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 +2.45% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Iraq vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq South Sudan
2100 101,632,594 24,086,901
2099 101,421,266 24,081,477
2098 101,212,536 24,063,461
2097 100,980,835 24,065,268
2096 100,724,441 24,054,483
2095 100,464,590 24,046,345
2094 100,194,041 24,047,776
2093 99,876,174 24,039,017
2092 99,532,041 24,019,054
2091 99,203,830 24,000,308
2090 98,886,956 23,978,496
2089 98,513,025 23,937,487
2088 98,144,039 23,892,166
2087 97,767,537 23,857,250
2086 97,325,026 23,803,312
2085 96,873,007 23,759,178
2084 96,448,602 23,687,109
2083 95,991,166 23,617,646
2082 95,509,663 23,541,119
2081 95,009,326 23,466,449
2080 94,507,216 23,391,758
2079 93,960,228 23,294,252
2078 93,417,384 23,197,067
2077 92,903,983 23,086,584
2076 92,359,592 22,987,331
2075 91,825,254 22,868,587
2074 91,229,266 22,726,189
2073 90,571,021 22,583,672
2072 89,918,374 22,438,943
2071 89,265,548 22,288,026
2070 88,596,492 22,151,650
2069 87,909,474 22,003,659
2068 87,220,494 21,829,800
2067 86,513,996 21,662,211
2066 85,734,530 21,496,881
2065 84,971,898 21,317,455
2064 84,191,350 21,142,002
2063 83,387,951 20,965,122
2062 82,604,577 20,785,055
2061 81,800,637 20,608,964
2060 80,951,008 20,430,857
2059 80,141,868 20,235,022
2058 79,319,543 20,048,974
2057 78,477,339 19,853,696
2056 77,609,202 19,659,362
2055 76,739,924 19,464,297
2054 75,857,125 19,257,481
2053 74,952,948 19,060,517
2052 74,072,580 18,840,461
2051 73,150,234 18,633,198
2050 72,235,938 18,434,212
2049 71,272,122 18,230,881
2048 70,316,860 18,021,026
2047 69,347,823 17,806,282
2046 68,400,664 17,579,173
2045 67,435,953 17,355,041
2044 66,447,309 17,121,972
2043 65,453,565 16,888,278
2042 64,433,831 16,645,354
2041 63,408,709 16,396,768
2040 62,360,117 16,142,816
2039 61,289,355 15,889,952
2038 60,253,073 15,628,043
2037 59,221,658 15,363,975
2036 58,155,990 15,091,275
2035 57,127,999 14,815,307
2034 56,087,695 14,543,511
2033 55,051,140 14,278,180
2032 54,002,289 14,007,134
2031 52,991,443 13,730,637
2030 51,986,773 13,465,615
2029 50,982,563 13,206,477
2028 50,001,133 12,947,082
2027 49,014,822 12,692,769
2026 48,020,334 12,439,296
2025 47,020,527 12,193,102
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% 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 49.6% to 72,235,938 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 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% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Iraq South Sudan
Current population
48289334
12507858
Population rank 33/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.15%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 7/197
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 - -17,735 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 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 (1960–2024, 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-sudan | 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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