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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 5.3 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Iraq vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Switzerland
2100 101,632,594 9,234,296
2099 101,421,266 9,226,472
2098 101,212,536 9,220,109
2097 100,980,835 9,212,728
2096 100,724,441 9,208,997
2095 100,464,590 9,203,477
2094 100,194,041 9,199,095
2093 99,876,174 9,196,672
2092 99,532,041 9,194,082
2091 99,203,830 9,191,145
2090 98,886,956 9,189,122
2089 98,513,025 9,188,754
2088 98,144,039 9,190,102
2087 97,767,537 9,189,763
2086 97,325,026 9,191,494
2085 96,873,007 9,195,728
2084 96,448,602 9,199,983
2083 95,991,166 9,204,908
2082 95,509,663 9,210,695
2081 95,009,326 9,217,065
2080 94,507,216 9,223,475
2079 93,960,228 9,230,920
2078 93,417,384 9,237,649
2077 92,903,983 9,245,300
2076 92,359,592 9,250,248
2075 91,825,254 9,255,753
2074 91,229,266 9,266,455
2073 90,571,021 9,275,439
2072 89,918,374 9,283,185
2071 89,265,548 9,292,913
2070 88,596,492 9,303,843
2069 87,909,474 9,311,935
2068 87,220,494 9,320,335
2067 86,513,996 9,327,741
2066 85,734,530 9,339,455
2065 84,971,898 9,351,481
2064 84,191,350 9,362,413
2063 83,387,951 9,372,441
2062 82,604,577 9,383,258
2061 81,800,637 9,395,036
2060 80,951,008 9,403,920
2059 80,141,868 9,414,241
2058 79,319,543 9,422,560
2057 78,477,339 9,428,212
2056 77,609,202 9,435,441
2055 76,739,924 9,443,890
2054 75,857,125 9,451,268
2053 74,952,948 9,456,389
2052 74,072,580 9,456,418
2051 73,150,234 9,456,395
2050 72,235,938 9,454,544
2049 71,272,122 9,451,083
2048 70,316,860 9,444,091
2047 69,347,823 9,437,061
2046 68,400,664 9,430,954
2045 67,435,953 9,425,155
2044 66,447,309 9,418,152
2043 65,453,565 9,410,763
2042 64,433,831 9,400,808
2041 63,408,709 9,393,857
2040 62,360,117 9,382,662
2039 61,289,355 9,373,984
2038 60,253,073 9,365,030
2037 59,221,658 9,354,254
2036 58,155,990 9,342,450
2035 57,127,999 9,328,907
2034 56,087,695 9,312,054
2033 55,051,140 9,294,881
2032 54,002,289 9,276,221
2031 52,991,443 9,253,034
2030 51,986,773 9,228,188
2029 50,982,563 9,201,743
2028 50,001,133 9,170,620
2027 49,014,822 9,135,740
2026 48,020,334 9,097,532
2025 47,020,527 9,053,983
2024 46,042,015 9,005,582
2023 45,074,049 8,888,822
2022 44,070,551 8,777,088
2021 43,071,211 8,704,546
2020 42,116,605 8,638,167
2019 41,192,171 8,575,280
2018 40,265,624 8,514,329
2017 39,337,353 8,451,840
2016 38,469,627 8,373,338
2015 37,560,535 8,282,396
2014 36,550,059 8,188,649
2013 35,281,989 8,089,346
2012 33,654,842 7,996,861
2011 32,161,424 7,912,398
2010 31,045,366 7,824,909
2009 30,058,206 7,743,831
2008 28,971,036 7,647,675
2007 28,391,607 7,551,117
2006 28,616,515 7,483,934
2005 28,407,448 7,437,115
2004 27,577,878 7,389,625
2003 26,802,659 7,339,001
2002 26,006,559 7,284,753
2001 25,197,840 7,229,854
2000 24,424,056 7,184,250
1999 23,636,527 7,143,991
1998 22,884,399 7,110,001
1997 22,176,593 7,088,906
1996 21,501,321 7,071,850
1995 20,825,860 7,040,687
1994 20,139,807 6,993,795
1993 19,201,195 6,938,265
1992 18,300,845 6,875,364
1991 17,767,253 6,799,978
1990 17,581,206 6,715,519
1989 17,364,542 6,646,912
1988 16,908,819 6,593,386
1987 16,521,049 6,545,106
1986 16,074,145 6,504,124
1985 15,683,430 6,470,365
1984 15,310,733 6,441,865
1983 14,840,555 6,418,773
1982 14,406,083 6,391,309
1981 14,006,381 6,354,074
1980 13,591,992 6,319,408
1979 13,170,365 6,294,365
1978 12,753,355 6,281,738
1977 12,331,046 6,281,174
1976 11,927,651 6,302,504
1975 11,543,639 6,338,632
1974 11,167,761 6,341,405
1973 10,795,869 6,307,347
1972 10,430,164 6,260,956
1971 10,077,809 6,213,399
1970 9,735,611 6,180,877
1969 9,403,356 6,136,387
1968 9,085,016 6,067,714
1967 8,778,869 5,991,785
1966 8,485,104 5,918,002
1965 8,202,140 5,856,472
1964 7,929,566 5,789,228
1963 7,667,928 5,694,247
1962 7,413,875 5,573,815
1961 7,194,553 5,434,294
1960 7,022,052 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Switzerland
2100 0.21% 0.08%
2099 0.21% 0.07%
2098 0.23% 0.08%
2097 0.25% 0.04%
2096 0.26% 0.06%
2095 0.27% 0.05%
2094 0.32% 0.03%
2093 0.35% 0.03%
2092 0.33% 0.03%
2091 0.32% 0.02%
2090 0.38% 0.004%
2089 0.38% -0.01%
2088 0.39% 0.004%
2087 0.45% -0.02%
2086 0.47% -0.05%
2085 0.44% -0.05%
2084 0.48% -0.05%
2083 0.5% -0.06%
2082 0.53% -0.07%
2081 0.53% -0.07%
2080 0.58% -0.08%
2079 0.58% -0.07%
2078 0.55% -0.08%
2077 0.59% -0.05%
2076 0.58% -0.06%
2075 0.65% -0.12%
2074 0.73% -0.1%
2073 0.73% -0.08%
2072 0.73% -0.1%
2071 0.76% -0.12%
2070 0.78% -0.09%
2069 0.79% -0.09%
2068 0.82% -0.08%
2067 0.91% -0.13%
2066 0.9% -0.13%
2065 0.93% -0.12%
2064 0.96% -0.11%
2063 0.95% -0.12%
2062 0.98% -0.13%
2061 1.05% -0.09%
2060 1.01% -0.11%
2059 1.04% -0.09%
2058 1.07% -0.06%
2057 1.12% -0.08%
2056 1.13% -0.09%
2055 1.16% -0.08%
2054 1.21% -0.05%
2053 1.19% -0%
2052 1.26% 0%
2051 1.27% 0.02%
2050 1.35% 0.04%
2049 1.36% 0.07%
2048 1.4% 0.07%
2047 1.38% 0.06%
2046 1.43% 0.06%
2045 1.49% 0.07%
2044 1.52% 0.08%
2043 1.58% 0.11%
2042 1.62% 0.07%
2041 1.68% 0.12%
2040 1.75% 0.09%
2039 1.72% 0.1%
2038 1.74% 0.12%
2037 1.83% 0.13%
2036 1.8% 0.15%
2035 1.85% 0.18%
2034 1.88% 0.18%
2033 1.94% 0.2%
2032 1.91% 0.25%
2031 1.93% 0.27%
2030 1.97% 0.29%
2029 1.96% 0.34%
2028 2.01% 0.38%
2027 2.07% 0.42%
2026 2.13% 0.48%
2025 2.13% 0.54%
2024 2.15% 1.31%
2023 2.28% 1.27%
2022 2.32% 0.83%
2021 2.27% 0.77%
2020 2.24% 0.73%
2019 2.3% 0.72%
2018 2.36% 0.74%
2017 2.26% 0.94%
2016 2.42% 1.1%
2015 2.76% 1.14%
2014 3.59% 1.23%
2013 4.83% 1.16%
2012 4.64% 1.07%
2011 3.59% 1.12%
2010 3.28% 1.05%
2009 3.75% 1.26%
2008 2.04% 1.28%
2007 -0.79% 0.9%
2006 0.74% 0.63%
2005 3.01% 0.64%
2004 2.89% 0.69%
2003 3.06% 0.74%
2002 3.21% 0.76%
2001 3.17% 0.63%
2000 3.33% 0.56%
1999 3.29% 0.48%
1998 3.19% 0.3%
1997 3.14% 0.24%
1996 3.24% 0.44%
1995 3.41% 0.67%
1994 4.89% 0.8%
1993 4.92% 0.91%
1992 3% 1.11%
1991 1.06% 1.26%
1990 1.25% 1.03%
1989 2.7% 0.81%
1988 2.35% 0.74%
1987 2.78% 0.63%
1986 2.49% 0.52%
1985 2.43% 0.44%
1984 3.17% 0.36%
1983 3.02% 0.43%
1982 2.85% 0.59%
1981 3.05% 0.55%
1980 3.2% 0.4%
1979 3.27% 0.2%
1978 3.42% 0.009%
1977 3.38% -0.34%
1976 3.33% -0.57%
1975 3.37% -0.04%
1974 3.44% 0.54%
1973 3.51% 0.74%
1972 3.5% 0.77%
1971 3.51% 0.53%
1970 3.53% 0.73%
1969 3.5% 1.13%
1968 3.49% 1.27%
1967 3.46% 1.25%
1966 3.45% 1.05%
1965 3.44% 1.16%
1964 3.41% 1.67%
1963 3.43% 2.16%
1962 3.05% 2.57%
1961 2.46% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Iraq Switzerland
Current population
48289334
9107866
Population rank 33/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.11%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
4.5 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
6.57 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +320
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 81/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +37,253
Net migration rank 93/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 37,253
2024 - -17,735 - 40,099
2023 973,420 -5,710 8,000 45,098
2022 962,501 76,821 7,899 96,424
2021 941,924 17,474 18,279 50,665
2020 919,953 29,858 9,502 55,523
2019 942,972 -43,919 18,008 44,517
2018 938,310 15,775 20,434 41,253
2017 924,507 -21,998 20,284 45,658
2016 946,968 -113,980 22,608 71,009
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 19,050 71,876
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 21,290 78,122
2013 1,026,036 474,379 17,797 83,823
2012 999,987 753,907 18,393 67,840
2011 971,082 261,880 18,990 67,194
2010 906,369 92,779 17,997 76,388
2009 855,096 120,092 15,487 69,324
2008 802,382 396,792 15,295 94,430
2007 784,119 -824,428 13,592 72,475
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 12,723 37,308
2005 776,603 51,019 11,899 33,203
2004 761,563 69,948 13,302 39,484
2003 746,159 -27,236 8,807 42,567
2002 739,419 133,839 10,199 49,650
2001 729,704 14,451 10,845 35,420
2000 715,771 87,624 15,806 24,463
1999 702,170 69,491 16,431 25,599
1998 684,152 48,446 16,353 11,325
1997 667,582 15,429 17,722 -1,939
1996 652,866 14,652 19,801 -131
1995 642,977 40,424 19,010 25,343
1994 634,344 54,355 20,982 30,274
1993 606,700 581,818 21,509 40,267
1992 591,886 20,292 24,064 42,014
1991 550,146 -95,155 23,800 69,738
1990 518,575 -601,469 20,146 58,428
1989 496,852 19,392 19,941 34,432
1988 476,778 -81,562 21,099 34,602
1987 488,742 -108,426 15,708 27,081
1986 474,348 39,136 16,261 23,242
1985 467,445 -199,505 14,882 14,402
1984 455,740 21,709 16,105 12,532
1983 439,800 23,115 12,837 5,663
1982 428,336 -22,302 15,339 21,929
1981 416,998 -23,640 13,979 24,229
1980 419,653 15,757 14,535 17,841
1979 428,458 -20,617 14,477 4,262
1978 418,756 7,434 13,820 -6,552
1977 410,229 8,204 16,959 -22,516
1976 402,260 -13,915 17,017 -54,255
1975 385,916 -6,237 22,820 -58,187
1974 376,197 -4,090 27,902 2,008
1973 373,191 -1,507 30,906 8,158
1972 362,334 -2,600 35,061 19,991
1971 351,464 -6,479 38,523 2,636
1970 338,030 1,377 42,648 -18,326
1969 324,792 312 44,182 20,754
1968 310,644 928 47,328 25,828
1967 298,192 2,531 52,128 27,697
1966 285,507 1,298 53,854 14,979
1965 274,551 4,555 56,222 -1,351
1964 262,825 3,224 59,050 21,455
1963 254,046 3,197 52,956 58,415
1962 247,520 3,343 49,050 82,798
1961 184,792 2,981 48,365 101,278
1960 155,651 1,573 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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