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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 1.8 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Iraq vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Syria
2100 101,632,594 44,620,090
2099 101,421,266 44,690,260
2098 101,212,536 44,750,249
2097 100,980,835 44,813,148
2096 100,724,441 44,867,740
2095 100,464,590 44,895,489
2094 100,194,041 44,945,231
2093 99,876,174 44,974,311
2092 99,532,041 45,003,795
2091 99,203,830 45,016,478
2090 98,886,956 45,048,083
2089 98,513,025 45,047,102
2088 98,144,039 45,041,864
2087 97,767,537 45,049,516
2086 97,325,026 45,068,928
2085 96,873,007 45,034,847
2084 96,448,602 44,999,929
2083 95,991,166 44,971,600
2082 95,509,663 44,910,859
2081 95,009,326 44,843,908
2080 94,507,216 44,744,718
2079 93,960,228 44,687,371
2078 93,417,384 44,649,760
2077 92,903,983 44,604,175
2076 92,359,592 44,520,132
2075 91,825,254 44,426,423
2074 91,229,266 44,328,795
2073 90,571,021 44,221,016
2072 89,918,374 44,084,262
2071 89,265,548 43,939,848
2070 88,596,492 43,795,999
2069 87,909,474 43,648,130
2068 87,220,494 43,465,442
2067 86,513,996 43,271,173
2066 85,734,530 43,060,752
2065 84,971,898 42,810,442
2064 84,191,350 42,559,554
2063 83,387,951 42,311,907
2062 82,604,577 42,062,193
2061 81,800,637 41,808,082
2060 80,951,008 41,522,274
2059 80,141,868 41,208,825
2058 79,319,543 40,925,728
2057 78,477,339 40,643,453
2056 77,609,202 40,332,578
2055 76,739,924 40,026,632
2054 75,857,125 39,691,425
2053 74,952,948 39,348,020
2052 74,072,580 39,045,268
2051 73,150,234 38,733,827
2050 72,235,938 38,410,423
2049 71,272,122 38,089,455
2048 70,316,860 37,784,449
2047 69,347,823 37,492,636
2046 68,400,664 37,181,526
2045 67,435,953 36,843,579
2044 66,447,309 36,526,509
2043 65,453,565 36,188,225
2042 64,433,831 35,825,419
2041 63,408,709 35,447,414
2040 62,360,117 35,042,107
2039 61,289,355 34,626,945
2038 60,253,073 34,183,740
2037 59,221,658 33,703,682
2036 58,155,990 33,223,843
2035 57,127,999 32,696,648
2034 56,087,695 32,148,814
2033 55,051,140 31,562,427
2032 54,002,289 30,967,322
2031 52,991,443 30,329,874
2030 51,986,773 29,672,629
2029 50,982,563 28,949,535
2028 50,001,133 28,217,748
2027 49,014,822 27,428,807
2026 48,020,334 26,607,148
2025 47,020,527 25,689,551
2024 46,042,015 24,672,760
2023 45,074,049 23,594,623
2022 44,070,551 22,462,173
2021 43,071,211 21,628,839
2020 42,116,605 21,049,429
2019 41,192,171 20,353,534
2018 40,265,624 19,577,845
2017 39,337,353 19,224,668
2016 38,469,627 19,193,834
2015 37,560,535 19,424,618
2014 36,550,059 20,273,659
2013 35,281,989 21,666,917
2012 33,654,842 22,759,763
2011 32,161,424 22,878,098
2010 31,045,366 22,482,421
2009 30,058,206 21,976,969
2008 28,971,036 21,636,564
2007 28,391,607 20,884,125
2006 28,616,515 19,637,022
2005 28,407,448 18,814,091
2004 27,577,878 18,336,875
2003 26,802,659 17,889,296
2002 26,006,559 17,468,332
2001 25,197,840 17,051,338
2000 24,424,056 16,637,888
1999 23,636,527 16,228,061
1998 22,884,399 15,820,413
1997 22,176,593 15,417,542
1996 21,501,321 15,018,104
1995 20,825,860 14,616,801
1994 20,139,807 14,208,583
1993 19,201,195 13,795,686
1992 18,300,845 13,385,571
1991 17,767,253 12,980,821
1990 17,581,206 12,579,208
1989 17,364,542 12,179,060
1988 16,908,819 11,782,264
1987 16,521,049 11,388,923
1986 16,074,145 11,002,844
1985 15,683,430 10,625,672
1984 15,310,733 10,258,398
1983 14,840,555 9,904,809
1982 14,406,083 9,572,511
1981 14,006,381 9,260,189
1980 13,591,992 8,957,663
1979 13,170,365 8,661,909
1978 12,753,355 8,372,759
1977 12,331,046 8,090,501
1976 11,927,651 7,817,320
1975 11,543,639 7,554,364
1974 11,167,761 7,302,160
1973 10,795,869 7,060,321
1972 10,430,164 6,826,024
1971 10,077,809 6,598,094
1970 9,735,611 6,380,609
1969 9,403,356 6,175,166
1968 9,085,016 5,978,742
1967 8,778,869 5,790,198
1966 8,485,104 5,609,047
1965 8,202,140 5,435,267
1964 7,929,566 5,269,087
1963 7,667,928 5,110,467
1962 7,413,875 4,959,340
1961 7,194,553 4,815,466
1960 7,022,052 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Syria
2100 0.21% -0.16%
2099 0.21% -0.13%
2098 0.23% -0.14%
2097 0.25% -0.12%
2096 0.26% -0.06%
2095 0.27% -0.11%
2094 0.32% -0.06%
2093 0.35% -0.07%
2092 0.33% -0.03%
2091 0.32% -0.07%
2090 0.38% 0.002%
2089 0.38% 0.01%
2088 0.39% -0.02%
2087 0.45% -0.04%
2086 0.47% 0.08%
2085 0.44% 0.08%
2084 0.48% 0.06%
2083 0.5% 0.14%
2082 0.53% 0.15%
2081 0.53% 0.22%
2080 0.58% 0.13%
2079 0.58% 0.08%
2078 0.55% 0.1%
2077 0.59% 0.19%
2076 0.58% 0.21%
2075 0.65% 0.22%
2074 0.73% 0.24%
2073 0.73% 0.31%
2072 0.73% 0.33%
2071 0.76% 0.33%
2070 0.78% 0.34%
2069 0.79% 0.42%
2068 0.82% 0.45%
2067 0.91% 0.49%
2066 0.9% 0.58%
2065 0.93% 0.59%
2064 0.96% 0.59%
2063 0.95% 0.59%
2062 0.98% 0.61%
2061 1.05% 0.69%
2060 1.01% 0.76%
2059 1.04% 0.69%
2058 1.07% 0.69%
2057 1.12% 0.77%
2056 1.13% 0.76%
2055 1.16% 0.84%
2054 1.21% 0.87%
2053 1.19% 0.78%
2052 1.26% 0.8%
2051 1.27% 0.84%
2050 1.35% 0.84%
2049 1.36% 0.81%
2048 1.4% 0.78%
2047 1.38% 0.84%
2046 1.43% 0.92%
2045 1.49% 0.87%
2044 1.52% 0.93%
2043 1.58% 1.01%
2042 1.62% 1.07%
2041 1.68% 1.16%
2040 1.75% 1.2%
2039 1.72% 1.3%
2038 1.74% 1.42%
2037 1.83% 1.44%
2036 1.8% 1.61%
2035 1.85% 1.7%
2034 1.88% 1.86%
2033 1.94% 1.92%
2032 1.91% 2.1%
2031 1.93% 2.21%
2030 1.97% 2.5%
2029 1.96% 2.59%
2028 2.01% 2.88%
2027 2.07% 3.09%
2026 2.13% 3.57%
2025 2.13% 4.12%
2024 2.15% 4.57%
2023 2.28% 5.04%
2022 2.32% 3.85%
2021 2.27% 2.75%
2020 2.24% 3.42%
2019 2.3% 3.96%
2018 2.36% 1.84%
2017 2.26% 0.16%
2016 2.42% -1.19%
2015 2.76% -4.19%
2014 3.59% -6.43%
2013 4.83% -4.8%
2012 4.64% -0.52%
2011 3.59% 1.76%
2010 3.28% 2.3%
2009 3.75% 1.57%
2008 2.04% 3.6%
2007 -0.79% 6.35%
2006 0.74% 4.37%
2005 3.01% 2.6%
2004 2.89% 2.5%
2003 3.06% 2.41%
2002 3.21% 2.45%
2001 3.17% 2.48%
2000 3.33% 2.53%
1999 3.29% 2.58%
1998 3.19% 2.61%
1997 3.14% 2.66%
1996 3.24% 2.75%
1995 3.41% 2.87%
1994 4.89% 2.99%
1993 4.92% 3.06%
1992 3% 3.12%
1991 1.06% 3.19%
1990 1.25% 3.29%
1989 2.7% 3.37%
1988 2.35% 3.45%
1987 2.78% 3.51%
1986 2.49% 3.55%
1985 2.43% 3.58%
1984 3.17% 3.57%
1983 3.02% 3.47%
1982 2.85% 3.37%
1981 3.05% 3.38%
1980 3.2% 3.41%
1979 3.27% 3.45%
1978 3.42% 3.49%
1977 3.38% 3.49%
1976 3.33% 3.48%
1975 3.37% 3.45%
1974 3.44% 3.43%
1973 3.51% 3.43%
1972 3.5% 3.45%
1971 3.51% 3.41%
1970 3.53% 3.33%
1969 3.5% 3.29%
1968 3.49% 3.26%
1967 3.46% 3.23%
1966 3.45% 3.2%
1965 3.44% 3.15%
1964 3.41% 3.1%
1963 3.43% 3.05%
1962 3.05% 2.99%
1961 2.46% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Iraq Syria
Current population
48289334
26829400
Population rank 33/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.32%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 6/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +421,693
Net migration rank 93/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 421,693
2024 - -17,735 - 546,494
2023 973,420 -5,710 402,713 757,309
2022 962,501 76,821 369,750 735,142
2021 941,924 17,474 350,560 211,220
2020 919,953 29,858 327,992 269,050
2019 942,972 -43,919 293,762 500,985
2018 938,310 15,775 242,530 514,102
2017 924,507 -21,998 237,214 -287,501
2016 946,968 -113,980 236,007 -124,063
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 253,977 -827,496
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 1,026,036 474,379 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 999,987 753,907 475,520 -999,267
2011 971,082 261,880 543,950 -256,888
2010 906,369 92,779 558,666 -54,359
2009 855,096 120,092 559,314 -52,703
2008 802,382 396,792 576,593 -402,393
2007 784,119 -824,428 529,162 801,514
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 480,616 682,911
2005 776,603 51,019 468,960 13,382
2004 761,563 69,948 461,209 10,881
2003 746,159 -27,236 457,000 -33,920
2002 739,419 133,839 453,967 -35,096
2001 729,704 14,451 451,503 -36,383
2000 715,771 87,624 446,211 -34,425
1999 702,170 69,491 439,261 -31,394
1998 684,152 48,446 433,447 -26,025
1997 667,582 15,429 429,887 -31,571
1996 652,866 14,652 430,765 -30,197
1995 642,977 40,424 430,172 -28,122
1994 634,344 54,355 426,996 -12,630
1993 606,700 581,818 420,244 -8,828
1992 591,886 20,292 412,878 -4,063
1991 550,146 -95,155 410,830 -10,154
1990 518,575 -601,469 409,177 -6,620
1989 496,852 19,392 406,111 -8,379
1988 476,778 -81,562 404,285 -8,426
1987 488,742 -108,426 399,159 -8,335
1986 474,348 39,136 390,821 -9,485
1985 467,445 -199,505 379,231 -6,221
1984 455,740 21,709 366,768 -5,245
1983 439,800 23,115 355,375 -9,729
1982 428,336 -22,302 319,664 -721
1981 416,998 -23,640 330,237 -24,536
1980 419,653 15,757 332,464 -33,114
1979 428,458 -20,617 324,943 -32,793
1978 418,756 7,434 316,724 -30,567
1977 410,229 8,204 306,630 -28,275
1976 402,260 -13,915 294,267 -26,268
1975 385,916 -6,237 282,299 -24,389
1974 376,197 -4,090 270,735 -24,242
1973 373,191 -1,507 254,687 -17,502
1972 362,334 -2,600 249,027 -17,610
1971 351,464 -6,479 239,610 -15,167
1970 338,030 1,377 230,117 -19,594
1969 324,792 312 219,114 -18,749
1968 310,644 928 209,454 -16,968
1967 298,192 2,531 199,223 -14,618
1966 285,507 1,298 191,122 -13,434
1965 274,551 4,555 182,560 -12,704
1964 262,825 3,224 174,549 -12,044
1963 254,046 3,197 166,555 -11,817
1962 247,520 3,343 159,155 -11,641
1961 184,792 2,981 151,485 -11,237
1960 155,651 1,573 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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