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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 2.18 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 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Iraq vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Sri Lanka
2100 101,632,594 20,270,496
2099 101,421,266 20,383,669
2098 101,212,536 20,498,567
2097 100,980,835 20,611,123
2096 100,724,441 20,723,560
2095 100,464,590 20,834,629
2094 100,194,041 20,943,809
2093 99,876,174 21,052,131
2092 99,532,041 21,158,833
2091 99,203,830 21,263,961
2090 98,886,956 21,371,263
2089 98,513,025 21,475,426
2088 98,144,039 21,577,177
2087 97,767,537 21,677,510
2086 97,325,026 21,777,420
2085 96,873,007 21,876,464
2084 96,448,602 21,970,336
2083 95,991,166 22,062,801
2082 95,509,663 22,151,745
2081 95,009,326 22,240,834
2080 94,507,216 22,326,555
2079 93,960,228 22,411,438
2078 93,417,384 22,489,772
2077 92,903,983 22,565,028
2076 92,359,592 22,637,463
2075 91,825,254 22,707,112
2074 91,229,266 22,778,489
2073 90,571,021 22,844,703
2072 89,918,374 22,905,707
2071 89,265,548 22,964,866
2070 88,596,492 23,022,515
2069 87,909,474 23,076,310
2068 87,220,494 23,129,541
2067 86,513,996 23,184,596
2066 85,734,530 23,234,419
2065 84,971,898 23,285,901
2064 84,191,350 23,331,390
2063 83,387,951 23,372,184
2062 82,604,577 23,409,522
2061 81,800,637 23,441,893
2060 80,951,008 23,474,032
2059 80,141,868 23,502,132
2058 79,319,543 23,528,076
2057 78,477,339 23,550,580
2056 77,609,202 23,570,923
2055 76,739,924 23,582,432
2054 75,857,125 23,591,414
2053 74,952,948 23,601,371
2052 74,072,580 23,605,361
2051 73,150,234 23,606,194
2050 72,235,938 23,603,330
2049 71,272,122 23,597,604
2048 70,316,860 23,587,307
2047 69,347,823 23,570,881
2046 68,400,664 23,547,409
2045 67,435,953 23,515,133
2044 66,447,309 23,483,546
2043 65,453,565 23,446,242
2042 64,433,831 23,404,983
2041 63,408,709 23,357,358
2040 62,360,117 23,306,148
2039 61,289,355 23,248,341
2038 60,253,073 23,187,512
2037 59,221,658 23,120,775
2036 58,155,990 23,053,427
2035 57,127,999 22,981,808
2034 56,087,695 22,906,587
2033 55,051,140 22,826,414
2032 54,002,289 22,742,267
2031 52,991,443 22,655,907
2030 51,986,773 22,564,038
2029 50,982,563 22,470,759
2028 50,001,133 22,370,999
2027 49,014,822 22,266,017
2026 48,020,334 22,155,543
2025 47,020,527 22,039,908
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% 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 49.6% to 72,235,938 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 23.6M 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% 0.57%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Iraq Sri Lanka
Current population
48289334
22185425
Population rank 33/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.27%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 -332
Annual growth/decline +967,966 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 188/197
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 - -17,735 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 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 (1960–2024, 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/sri-lanka | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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