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Population in Iraq compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 47,020,774 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,531,417 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 2.21 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.85% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.32% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.5M (69.6% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Iraq vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Sri Lanka
2100 101,633,126 20,009,380
2099 101,421,797 20,121,095
2098 101,213,066 20,234,513
2097 100,981,364 20,345,619
2096 100,724,968 20,456,607
2095 100,465,117 20,566,246
2094 100,194,566 20,674,019
2093 99,876,697 20,780,946
2092 99,532,563 20,886,274
2091 99,204,350 20,990,047
2090 98,887,474 21,095,968
2089 98,513,541 21,198,788
2088 98,144,553 21,299,229
2087 97,768,049 21,398,269
2086 97,325,536 21,496,892
2085 96,873,514 21,594,661
2084 96,449,107 21,687,323
2083 95,991,669 21,778,597
2082 95,510,163 21,866,395
2081 95,009,824 21,954,337
2080 94,507,711 22,038,953
2079 93,960,720 22,122,744
2078 93,417,874 22,200,069
2077 92,904,470 22,274,355
2076 92,360,076 22,345,857
2075 91,825,735 22,414,609
2074 91,229,744 22,485,066
2073 90,571,495 22,550,427
2072 89,918,845 22,610,645
2071 89,266,016 22,669,042
2070 88,596,956 22,725,948
2069 87,909,934 22,779,050
2068 87,220,950 22,831,596
2067 86,514,449 22,885,941
2066 85,734,979 22,935,123
2065 84,972,344 22,985,942
2064 84,191,791 23,030,844
2063 83,388,388 23,071,114
2062 82,605,010 23,107,970
2061 81,801,066 23,139,924
2060 80,951,432 23,171,649
2059 80,142,288 23,199,387
2058 79,319,959 23,224,997
2057 78,477,750 23,247,211
2056 77,609,609 23,267,292
2055 76,740,326 23,278,653
2054 75,857,522 23,287,520
2053 74,953,340 23,297,347
2052 74,072,968 23,301,287
2051 73,150,617 23,302,108
2050 72,236,317 23,299,282
2049 71,272,496 23,293,630
2048 70,317,228 23,283,465
2047 69,348,186 23,267,251
2046 68,401,022 23,244,081
2045 67,436,306 23,212,221
2044 66,447,658 23,181,041
2043 65,453,908 23,144,217
2042 64,434,168 23,103,489
2041 63,409,041 23,056,478
2040 62,360,444 23,005,928
2039 61,289,676 22,948,866
2038 60,253,388 22,888,821
2037 59,221,968 22,822,943
2036 58,156,294 22,756,462
2035 57,128,298 22,685,766
2034 56,087,988 22,611,514
2033 55,051,428 22,532,374
2032 54,002,572 22,449,310
2031 52,991,720 22,364,063
2030 51,987,045 22,273,377
2029 50,982,830 22,181,300
2028 50,001,395 22,082,826
2027 49,015,079 21,979,196
2026 48,020,585 21,870,145
2025 47,020,774 21,756,000
2024 46,042,015 21,916,000
2023 45,074,049 22,037,000
2022 44,070,551 22,181,000
2021 43,071,211 22,156,000
2020 42,116,605 21,919,000
2019 41,192,171 21,803,000
2018 40,265,624 21,670,000
2017 39,337,353 21,453,000
2016 38,469,627 21,209,000
2015 37,560,535 20,970,000
2014 36,550,059 20,778,000
2013 35,281,989 20,585,000
2012 33,654,842 21,169,458
2011 32,161,424 21,009,048
2010 31,045,366 20,879,089
2009 30,058,206 20,756,435
2008 28,971,036 20,629,378
2007 28,391,607 20,492,545
2006 28,616,515 20,352,411
2005 28,407,448 20,216,524
2004 27,577,878 20,087,605
2003 26,802,659 19,951,521
2002 26,006,559 19,805,752
2001 25,197,840 19,600,362
2000 24,424,056 19,293,054
1999 23,636,527 18,944,731
1998 22,884,399 18,596,003
1997 22,176,593 18,248,200
1996 21,501,321 17,905,018
1995 20,825,860 17,564,068
1994 20,139,807 17,275,773
1993 19,201,195 17,025,918
1992 18,300,845 16,739,284
1991 17,767,253 16,475,354
1990 17,581,206 16,352,458
1989 17,364,542 16,248,557
1988 16,908,819 16,078,621
1987 16,521,049 15,916,576
1986 16,074,145 15,731,256
1985 15,683,430 15,544,154
1984 15,310,733 15,441,860
1983 14,840,555 15,388,794
1982 14,406,083 15,286,567
1981 14,006,381 15,099,414
1980 13,591,992 14,847,974
1979 13,170,365 14,579,614
1978 12,753,355 14,310,128
1977 12,331,046 14,049,371
1976 11,927,651 13,796,770
1975 11,543,639 13,548,984
1974 11,167,761 13,305,693
1973 10,795,869 13,060,916
1972 10,430,164 12,809,205
1971 10,077,809 12,551,910
1970 9,735,611 12,287,110
1969 9,403,356 12,013,858
1968 9,085,016 11,736,088
1967 8,778,869 11,457,328
1966 8,485,104 11,183,928
1965 8,202,140 10,916,965
1964 7,929,566 10,653,397
1963 7,667,928 10,395,040
1962 7,413,875 10,143,754
1961 7,194,553 9,899,372
1960 7,022,052 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 23.3M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Sri Lanka
2100 0.21% -0.56%
2099 0.21% -0.56%
2098 0.23% -0.55%
2097 0.25% -0.54%
2096 0.26% -0.53%
2095 0.27% -0.52%
2094 0.32% -0.51%
2093 0.35% -0.5%
2092 0.33% -0.49%
2091 0.32% -0.5%
2090 0.38% -0.49%
2089 0.38% -0.47%
2088 0.39% -0.46%
2087 0.45% -0.46%
2086 0.47% -0.45%
2085 0.44% -0.43%
2084 0.48% -0.42%
2083 0.5% -0.4%
2082 0.53% -0.4%
2081 0.53% -0.38%
2080 0.58% -0.38%
2079 0.58% -0.35%
2078 0.55% -0.33%
2077 0.59% -0.32%
2076 0.58% -0.31%
2075 0.65% -0.31%
2074 0.73% -0.29%
2073 0.73% -0.27%
2072 0.73% -0.26%
2071 0.76% -0.25%
2070 0.78% -0.23%
2069 0.79% -0.23%
2068 0.82% -0.24%
2067 0.91% -0.21%
2066 0.9% -0.22%
2065 0.93% -0.19%
2064 0.96% -0.17%
2063 0.95% -0.16%
2062 0.98% -0.14%
2061 1.05% -0.14%
2060 1.01% -0.12%
2059 1.04% -0.11%
2058 1.07% -0.1%
2057 1.12% -0.09%
2056 1.13% -0.05%
2055 1.16% -0.04%
2054 1.21% -0.04%
2053 1.19% -0.02%
2052 1.26% -0.004%
2051 1.27% 0.01%
2050 1.35% 0.02%
2049 1.36% 0.04%
2048 1.4% 0.07%
2047 1.38% 0.1%
2046 1.43% 0.14%
2045 1.49% 0.13%
2044 1.52% 0.16%
2043 1.58% 0.18%
2042 1.62% 0.2%
2041 1.68% 0.22%
2040 1.75% 0.25%
2039 1.72% 0.26%
2038 1.74% 0.29%
2037 1.83% 0.29%
2036 1.8% 0.31%
2035 1.85% 0.33%
2034 1.88% 0.35%
2033 1.94% 0.37%
2032 1.91% 0.38%
2031 1.93% 0.41%
2030 1.97% 0.42%
2029 1.96% 0.45%
2028 2.01% 0.47%
2027 2.07% 0.5%
2026 2.13% 0.52%
2025 2.13% -0.73%
2024 2.15% -0.55%
2023 2.28% -0.65%
2022 2.32% 0.11%
2021 2.27% 1.08%
2020 2.24% 0.53%
2019 2.3% 0.61%
2018 2.36% 1.01%
2017 2.26% 1.15%
2016 2.42% 1.14%
2015 2.76% 0.92%
2014 3.59% 0.94%
2013 4.83% -2.76%
2012 4.64% 0.76%
2011 3.59% 0.62%
2010 3.28% 0.59%
2009 3.75% 0.62%
2008 2.04% 0.67%
2007 -0.79% 0.69%
2006 0.74% 0.67%
2005 3.01% 0.64%
2004 2.89% 0.68%
2003 3.06% 0.74%
2002 3.21% 1.05%
2001 3.17% 1.59%
2000 3.33% 1.84%
1999 3.29% 1.88%
1998 3.19% 1.91%
1997 3.14% 1.92%
1996 3.24% 1.94%
1995 3.41% 1.67%
1994 4.89% 1.47%
1993 4.92% 1.71%
1992 3% 1.6%
1991 1.06% 0.75%
1990 1.25% 0.64%
1989 2.7% 1.06%
1988 2.35% 1.02%
1987 2.78% 1.18%
1986 2.49% 1.2%
1985 2.43% 0.66%
1984 3.17% 0.34%
1983 3.02% 0.67%
1982 2.85% 1.24%
1981 3.05% 1.69%
1980 3.2% 1.84%
1979 3.27% 1.88%
1978 3.42% 1.86%
1977 3.38% 1.83%
1976 3.33% 1.83%
1975 3.37% 1.83%
1974 3.44% 1.87%
1973 3.51% 1.97%
1972 3.5% 2.05%
1971 3.51% 2.16%
1970 3.53% 2.27%
1969 3.5% 2.37%
1968 3.49% 2.43%
1967 3.46% 2.44%
1966 3.45% 2.45%
1965 3.44% 2.47%
1964 3.41% 2.49%
1963 3.43% 2.48%
1962 3.05% 2.47%
1961 2.46% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iraq grew by 2.13%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Iraq Sri Lanka
Current population
48531417
21926160
Population rank 33/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.26%
One net population change
32.3 seconds
3.29 minutes
One birth every
26.8 seconds
2.37 minutes
One death every
2.74 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,682 -438
Annual growth/decline +978,759 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.13% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 190/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 -30,724
Net migration rank 93/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -30,724
2024 985,943 -17,735 50,407 -27,245
2023 973,420 -5,710 66,111 -28,011
2022 962,501 76,821 95,378 -27,435
2021 941,924 17,474 121,858 -29,586
2020 919,953 29,858 170,968 -29,875
2019 942,972 -43,919 172,243 -28,426
2018 938,310 15,775 183,610 -28,607
2017 924,507 -21,998 187,993 -22,324
2016 946,968 -113,980 194,232 -18,388
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 201,815 -29,797
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 211,541 -33,672
2013 1,026,036 474,379 221,021 -37,754
2012 999,987 753,907 229,138 -41,955
2011 971,082 261,880 224,461 -90,839
2010 906,369 92,779 224,325 -98,060
2009 855,096 120,092 200,175 -81,130
2008 802,382 396,792 232,225 -97,144
2007 784,119 -824,428 248,287 -109,695
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 248,706 -107,045
2005 776,603 51,019 248,683 -118,594
2004 761,563 69,948 212,527 -84,795
2003 746,159 -27,236 252,008 -107,573
2002 739,419 133,839 252,840 -105,718
2001 729,704 14,451 244,377 19,273
2000 715,771 87,624 227,060 123,894
1999 702,170 69,491 206,876 138,799
1998 684,152 48,446 201,059 150,724
1997 667,582 15,429 208,193 135,636
1996 652,866 14,652 215,290 127,236
1995 642,977 40,424 221,957 117,416
1994 634,344 54,355 228,904 8,323
1993 606,700 581,818 226,257 36,232
1992 591,886 20,292 222,230 88,542
1991 550,146 -95,155 218,117 -1,047
1990 518,575 -601,469 224,454 -195,736
1989 496,852 19,392 212,401 -33,305
1988 476,778 -81,562 219,184 -58,415
1987 488,742 -108,426 226,414 -63,105
1986 474,348 39,136 233,782 -26,460
1985 467,445 -199,505 247,836 -80,950
1984 455,740 21,709 263,175 -225,450
1983 439,800 23,115 277,768 -209,362
1982 428,336 -22,302 300,030 -163,987
1981 416,998 -23,640 328,096 -89,824
1980 419,653 15,757 328,155 -63,541
1979 428,458 -20,617 329,791 -57,683
1978 418,756 7,434 317,055 -50,189
1977 410,229 8,204 300,038 -45,383
1976 402,260 -13,915 291,816 -41,258
1975 385,916 -6,237 282,496 -37,475
1974 376,197 -4,090 275,521 -33,979
1973 373,191 -1,507 278,577 -30,582
1972 362,334 -2,600 282,494 -27,071
1971 351,464 -6,479 281,200 -22,021
1970 338,030 1,377 286,719 -16,299
1969 324,792 312 286,218 -10,152
1968 310,644 928 286,642 -7,163
1967 298,192 2,531 284,738 -6,696
1966 285,507 1,298 275,549 -6,794
1965 274,551 4,555 272,422 -7,249
1964 262,825 3,224 269,584 -7,614
1963 254,046 3,197 262,880 -8,118
1962 247,520 3,343 256,719 -8,909
1961 184,792 2,981 251,087 -10,144
1960 155,651 1,573 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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