Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 1.01 times bigger than Iraq's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.17% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Iraq vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Spain
2100 101,632,594 33,862,981
2099 101,421,266 34,039,965
2098 101,212,536 34,215,187
2097 100,980,835 34,387,116
2096 100,724,441 34,552,002
2095 100,464,590 34,719,411
2094 100,194,041 34,882,039
2093 99,876,174 35,044,043
2092 99,532,041 35,204,657
2091 99,203,830 35,366,895
2090 98,886,956 35,535,838
2089 98,513,025 35,707,942
2088 98,144,039 35,877,681
2087 97,767,537 36,043,209
2086 97,325,026 36,210,710
2085 96,873,007 36,386,207
2084 96,448,602 36,564,622
2083 95,991,166 36,749,680
2082 95,509,663 36,936,644
2081 95,009,326 37,133,976
2080 94,507,216 37,337,517
2079 93,960,228 37,551,557
2078 93,417,384 37,771,135
2077 92,903,983 38,002,963
2076 92,359,592 38,249,247
2075 91,825,254 38,506,040
2074 91,229,266 38,777,715
2073 90,571,021 39,056,249
2072 89,918,374 39,348,447
2071 89,265,548 39,642,346
2070 88,596,492 39,949,413
2069 87,909,474 40,256,590
2068 87,220,494 40,575,543
2067 86,513,996 40,893,798
2066 85,734,530 41,218,263
2065 84,971,898 41,543,254
2064 84,191,350 41,878,338
2063 83,387,951 42,208,320
2062 82,604,577 42,542,893
2061 81,800,637 42,874,096
2060 80,951,008 43,191,452
2059 80,141,868 43,506,737
2058 79,319,543 43,809,907
2057 78,477,339 44,112,668
2056 77,609,202 44,415,689
2055 76,739,924 44,691,749
2054 75,857,125 44,958,971
2053 74,952,948 45,223,225
2052 74,072,580 45,470,541
2051 73,150,234 45,695,307
2050 72,235,938 45,911,520
2049 71,272,122 46,127,777
2048 70,316,860 46,322,244
2047 69,347,823 46,510,152
2046 68,400,664 46,687,914
2045 67,435,953 46,858,778
2044 66,447,309 47,016,278
2043 65,453,565 47,158,325
2042 64,433,831 47,301,091
2041 63,408,709 47,434,593
2040 62,360,117 47,563,236
2039 61,289,355 47,685,343
2038 60,253,073 47,798,797
2037 59,221,658 47,910,899
2036 58,155,990 48,020,350
2035 57,127,999 48,124,430
2034 56,087,695 48,220,051
2033 55,051,140 48,311,842
2032 54,002,289 48,402,470
2031 52,991,443 48,495,278
2030 51,986,773 48,579,920
2029 50,982,563 48,648,699
2028 50,001,133 48,707,969
2027 49,014,822 48,758,200
2026 48,020,334 48,806,901
2025 47,020,527 48,838,057
2024 46,042,015 48,848,840
2023 45,074,049 48,352,528
2022 44,070,551 47,786,102
2021 43,071,211 47,443,821
2020 42,116,605 47,359,424
2019 41,192,171 47,118,501
2018 40,265,624 46,782,011
2017 39,337,353 46,571,232
2016 38,469,627 46,458,139
2015 37,560,535 46,422,303
2014 36,550,059 46,460,733
2013 35,281,989 46,604,197
2012 33,654,842 46,773,055
2011 32,161,424 46,742,697
2010 31,045,366 46,576,897
2009 30,058,206 46,362,946
2008 28,971,036 45,954,106
2007 28,391,607 45,226,803
2006 28,616,515 44,397,319
2005 28,407,448 43,653,155
2004 27,577,878 42,921,895
2003 26,802,659 42,187,645
2002 26,006,559 41,431,558
2001 25,197,840 40,850,412
2000 24,424,056 40,567,864
1999 23,636,527 40,386,875
1998 22,884,399 40,223,509
1997 22,176,593 40,057,389
1996 21,501,321 39,889,852
1995 20,825,860 39,724,050
1994 20,139,807 39,549,108
1993 19,201,195 39,361,262
1992 18,300,845 39,157,685
1991 17,767,253 38,966,376
1990 17,581,206 38,867,322
1989 17,364,542 38,827,764
1988 16,908,819 38,766,939
1987 16,521,049 38,684,815
1986 16,074,145 38,584,624
1985 15,683,430 38,469,512
1984 15,310,733 38,330,364
1983 14,840,555 38,171,525
1982 14,406,083 37,986,012
1981 14,006,381 37,758,631
1980 13,591,992 37,491,165
1979 13,170,365 37,191,330
1978 12,753,355 36,864,898
1977 12,331,046 36,511,638
1976 11,927,651 36,137,812
1975 11,543,639 35,757,900
1974 11,167,761 35,373,335
1973 10,795,869 34,988,947
1972 10,430,164 34,604,469
1971 10,077,809 34,224,490
1970 9,735,611 33,814,531
1969 9,403,356 33,441,054
1968 9,085,016 33,113,134
1967 8,778,869 32,682,947
1966 8,485,104 32,283,194
1965 8,202,140 31,954,292
1964 7,929,566 31,609,195
1963 7,667,928 31,296,651
1962 7,413,875 31,023,366
1961 7,194,553 30,739,250
1960 7,022,052 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Spain
2100 0.21% -0.52%
2099 0.21% -0.51%
2098 0.23% -0.5%
2097 0.25% -0.48%
2096 0.26% -0.48%
2095 0.27% -0.47%
2094 0.32% -0.46%
2093 0.35% -0.46%
2092 0.33% -0.46%
2091 0.32% -0.48%
2090 0.38% -0.48%
2089 0.38% -0.47%
2088 0.39% -0.46%
2087 0.45% -0.46%
2086 0.47% -0.48%
2085 0.44% -0.49%
2084 0.48% -0.5%
2083 0.5% -0.51%
2082 0.53% -0.53%
2081 0.53% -0.55%
2080 0.58% -0.57%
2079 0.58% -0.58%
2078 0.55% -0.61%
2077 0.59% -0.64%
2076 0.58% -0.67%
2075 0.65% -0.7%
2074 0.73% -0.71%
2073 0.73% -0.74%
2072 0.73% -0.74%
2071 0.76% -0.77%
2070 0.78% -0.76%
2069 0.79% -0.79%
2068 0.82% -0.78%
2067 0.91% -0.79%
2066 0.9% -0.78%
2065 0.93% -0.8%
2064 0.96% -0.78%
2063 0.95% -0.79%
2062 0.98% -0.77%
2061 1.05% -0.73%
2060 1.01% -0.72%
2059 1.04% -0.69%
2058 1.07% -0.69%
2057 1.12% -0.68%
2056 1.13% -0.62%
2055 1.16% -0.59%
2054 1.21% -0.58%
2053 1.19% -0.54%
2052 1.26% -0.49%
2051 1.27% -0.47%
2050 1.35% -0.47%
2049 1.36% -0.42%
2048 1.4% -0.4%
2047 1.38% -0.38%
2046 1.43% -0.36%
2045 1.49% -0.33%
2044 1.52% -0.3%
2043 1.58% -0.3%
2042 1.62% -0.28%
2041 1.68% -0.27%
2040 1.75% -0.26%
2039 1.72% -0.24%
2038 1.74% -0.23%
2037 1.83% -0.23%
2036 1.8% -0.22%
2035 1.85% -0.2%
2034 1.88% -0.19%
2033 1.94% -0.19%
2032 1.91% -0.19%
2031 1.93% -0.17%
2030 1.97% -0.14%
2029 1.96% -0.12%
2028 2.01% -0.1%
2027 2.07% -0.1%
2026 2.13% -0.06%
2025 2.13% -0.02%
2024 2.15% 1.03%
2023 2.28% 1.19%
2022 2.32% 0.72%
2021 2.27% 0.18%
2020 2.24% 0.51%
2019 2.3% 0.72%
2018 2.36% 0.45%
2017 2.26% 0.24%
2016 2.42% 0.08%
2015 2.76% -0.08%
2014 3.59% -0.31%
2013 4.83% -0.36%
2012 4.64% 0.06%
2011 3.59% 0.36%
2010 3.28% 0.46%
2009 3.75% 0.89%
2008 2.04% 1.61%
2007 -0.79% 1.87%
2006 0.74% 1.7%
2005 3.01% 1.7%
2004 2.89% 1.74%
2003 3.06% 1.82%
2002 3.21% 1.42%
2001 3.17% 0.7%
2000 3.33% 0.45%
1999 3.29% 0.41%
1998 3.19% 0.41%
1997 3.14% 0.42%
1996 3.24% 0.42%
1995 3.41% 0.44%
1994 4.89% 0.48%
1993 4.92% 0.52%
1992 3% 0.49%
1991 1.06% 0.25%
1990 1.25% 0.1%
1989 2.7% 0.16%
1988 2.35% 0.21%
1987 2.78% 0.26%
1986 2.49% 0.3%
1985 2.43% 0.36%
1984 3.17% 0.42%
1983 3.02% 0.49%
1982 2.85% 0.6%
1981 3.05% 0.71%
1980 3.2% 0.81%
1979 3.27% 0.89%
1978 3.42% 0.97%
1977 3.38% 1.03%
1976 3.33% 1.06%
1975 3.37% 1.09%
1974 3.44% 1.1%
1973 3.51% 1.11%
1972 3.5% 1.11%
1971 3.51% 1.21%
1970 3.53% 1.12%
1969 3.5% 0.99%
1968 3.49% 1.32%
1967 3.46% 1.24%
1966 3.45% 1.03%
1965 3.44% 1.09%
1964 3.41% 1%
1963 3.43% 0.88%
1962 3.05% 0.92%
1961 2.46% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Iraq Spain
Current population
48289334
48806901
Population rank 33/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.59%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
1.06 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
1.62 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 100/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +96,630
Net migration rank 93/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 96,630
2024 - -17,735 - 111,674
2023 973,420 -5,710 -111,211 119,099
2022 962,501 76,821 -133,801 299,779
2021 941,924 17,474 -113,865 144,385
2020 919,953 29,858 -151,551 236,854
2019 942,972 -43,919 -56,542 464,783
2018 938,310 15,775 -56,139 337,467
2017 924,507 -21,998 -32,600 201,135
2016 946,968 -113,980 0 106,474
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 -4,642 -1,979
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 32,522 -97,870
2013 1,026,036 474,379 37,284 -250,741
2012 999,987 753,907 51,450 -153,486
2011 971,082 261,880 84,137 60,761
2010 906,369 92,779 102,469 69,406
2009 855,096 120,092 106,635 129,557
2008 802,382 396,792 133,267 434,135
2007 784,119 -824,428 108,545 772,317
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 110,994 659,720
2005 776,603 51,019 78,576 629,803
2004 761,563 69,948 85,844 661,158
2003 746,159 -27,236 54,844 658,428
2002 739,419 133,839 53,861 737,880
2001 729,704 14,451 44,936 181,307
2000 715,771 87,624 36,512 176,269
1999 702,170 69,491 8,077 178,559
1998 684,152 48,446 4,022 182,926
1997 667,582 15,429 20,028 165,345
1996 652,866 14,652 11,967 162,704
1995 642,977 40,424 15,889 162,434
1994 634,344 54,355 31,639 160,407
1993 606,700 581,818 47,234 160,907
1992 591,886 20,292 62,652 177,544
1991 550,146 -95,155 58,450 122,841
1990 518,575 -601,469 66,075 -30,684
1989 496,852 19,392 81,538 -25,892
1988 476,778 -81,562 100,794 -17,663
1987 488,742 -108,426 116,054 -12,681
1986 474,348 39,136 131,188 -13,540
1985 467,445 -199,505 146,184 -589
1984 455,740 21,709 172,487 2,754
1983 439,800 23,115 183,223 1,241
1982 428,336 -22,302 231,714 -7,384
1981 416,998 -23,640 237,879 2,563
1980 419,653 15,757 281,184 20,166
1979 428,458 -20,617 312,407 -5,929
1978 418,756 7,434 339,157 -2,504
1977 410,229 8,204 361,465 -1,332
1976 402,260 -13,915 375,834 2,804
1975 385,916 -6,237 371,882 -218
1974 376,197 -4,090 396,182 105,838
1973 373,191 -1,507 374,381 8,624
1972 362,334 -2,600 391,030 7,935
1971 351,464 -6,479 369,625 7,363
1970 338,030 1,377 378,723 -60,580
1969 324,792 312 367,851 -49,956
1968 310,644 928 387,423 -46,088
1967 298,192 2,531 402,001 -42,344
1966 285,507 1,298 397,084 -41,467
1965 274,551 4,555 405,819 -42,476
1964 262,825 3,224 429,885 -41,461
1963 254,046 3,197 394,338 -44,446
1962 247,520 3,343 384,690 -45,211
1961 184,792 2,981 396,537 -46,517
1960 155,651 1,573 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.