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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 47,020,774 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,531,417 people compared to 26,956,472 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 +2.32% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.5M (69.6% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Iraq vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Syria
2100 101,633,126 44,500,028
2099 101,421,797 44,570,009
2098 101,213,066 44,629,837
2097 100,981,364 44,692,566
2096 100,724,968 44,747,012
2095 100,465,117 44,774,686
2094 100,194,566 44,824,294
2093 99,876,697 44,853,295
2092 99,532,563 44,882,700
2091 99,204,350 44,895,349
2090 98,887,474 44,926,869
2089 98,513,541 44,925,891
2088 98,144,553 44,920,667
2087 97,768,049 44,928,298
2086 97,325,536 44,947,658
2085 96,873,514 44,913,669
2084 96,449,107 44,878,845
2083 95,991,669 44,850,592
2082 95,510,163 44,790,014
2081 95,009,824 44,723,244
2080 94,507,711 44,624,321
2079 93,960,720 44,567,127
2078 93,417,874 44,529,618
2077 92,904,470 44,484,155
2076 92,360,076 44,400,339
2075 91,825,735 44,306,882
2074 91,229,744 44,209,517
2073 90,571,495 44,102,028
2072 89,918,845 43,965,642
2071 89,266,016 43,821,617
2070 88,596,956 43,678,154
2069 87,909,934 43,530,683
2068 87,220,950 43,348,487
2067 86,514,449 43,154,741
2066 85,734,979 42,944,885
2065 84,972,344 42,695,249
2064 84,191,791 42,445,036
2063 83,388,388 42,198,056
2062 82,605,010 41,949,014
2061 81,801,066 41,695,586
2060 80,951,432 41,410,547
2059 80,142,288 41,097,942
2058 79,319,959 40,815,606
2057 78,477,750 40,534,091
2056 77,609,609 40,224,053
2055 76,740,326 39,918,930
2054 75,857,522 39,584,624
2053 74,953,340 39,242,144
2052 74,072,968 38,940,206
2051 73,150,617 38,629,604
2050 72,236,317 38,307,069
2049 71,272,496 37,986,965
2048 70,317,228 37,682,780
2047 69,348,186 37,391,752
2046 68,401,022 37,081,479
2045 67,436,306 36,744,441
2044 66,447,658 36,428,225
2043 65,453,908 36,090,851
2042 64,434,168 35,729,021
2041 63,409,041 35,352,033
2040 62,360,444 34,947,817
2039 61,289,676 34,533,772
2038 60,253,388 34,091,760
2037 59,221,968 33,612,993
2036 58,156,294 33,134,445
2035 57,128,298 32,608,669
2034 56,087,988 32,062,309
2033 55,051,428 31,477,500
2032 54,002,572 30,883,996
2031 52,991,720 30,248,264
2030 51,987,045 29,592,787
2029 50,982,830 28,871,638
2028 50,001,395 28,141,821
2027 49,015,079 27,355,002
2026 48,020,585 26,535,554
2025 47,020,774 25,620,427
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% 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 48.8% to 72,236,317 people with a rank change from 33rd to 28th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 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 44.9M 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% 3.84%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iraq grew by 2.13%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Iraq Syria
Current population
48531417
26956472
Population rank 33/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.32%
One net population change
32.3 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
26.8 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
2.74 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,682 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +978,759 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.13% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 43/197 5/197
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 985,943 -17,735 449,784 546,494
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 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 (1960–2025, 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/syria | 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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