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Population in Iraq compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 4.13 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Iraq vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq UAE
2100 101,632,594 26,368,750
2099 101,421,266 26,130,374
2098 101,212,536 25,894,010
2097 100,980,835 25,660,062
2096 100,724,441 25,427,961
2095 100,464,590 25,197,670
2094 100,194,041 24,968,891
2093 99,876,174 24,741,434
2092 99,532,041 24,515,086
2091 99,203,830 24,289,496
2090 98,886,956 24,064,404
2089 98,513,025 23,839,033
2088 98,144,039 23,613,963
2087 97,767,537 23,388,786
2086 97,325,026 23,163,641
2085 96,873,007 22,938,169
2084 96,448,602 22,711,804
2083 95,991,166 22,484,154
2082 95,509,663 22,255,625
2081 95,009,326 22,026,183
2080 94,507,216 21,796,073
2079 93,960,228 21,565,118
2078 93,417,384 21,333,574
2077 92,903,983 21,101,274
2076 92,359,592 20,868,733
2075 91,825,254 20,636,203
2074 91,229,266 20,404,044
2073 90,571,021 20,171,659
2072 89,918,374 19,940,853
2071 89,265,548 19,710,934
2070 88,596,492 19,483,026
2069 87,909,474 19,256,572
2068 87,220,494 19,032,681
2067 86,513,996 18,811,331
2066 85,734,530 18,593,017
2065 84,971,898 18,377,364
2064 84,191,350 18,164,584
2063 83,387,951 17,955,352
2062 82,604,577 17,749,596
2061 81,800,637 17,547,827
2060 80,951,008 17,349,620
2059 80,141,868 17,153,273
2058 79,319,543 16,959,263
2057 78,477,339 16,767,893
2056 77,609,202 16,579,195
2055 76,739,924 16,392,558
2054 75,857,125 16,207,309
2053 74,952,948 16,024,789
2052 74,072,580 15,844,357
2051 73,150,234 15,665,362
2050 72,235,938 15,487,008
2049 71,272,122 15,309,031
2048 70,316,860 15,132,784
2047 69,347,823 14,958,209
2046 68,400,664 14,788,046
2045 67,435,953 14,620,902
2044 66,447,309 14,454,466
2043 65,453,565 14,289,021
2042 64,433,831 14,124,515
2041 63,408,709 13,961,010
2040 62,360,117 13,798,651
2039 61,289,355 13,637,499
2038 60,253,073 13,477,450
2037 59,221,658 13,319,346
2036 58,155,990 13,163,073
2035 57,127,999 13,009,160
2034 56,087,695 12,857,729
2033 55,051,140 12,709,520
2032 54,002,289 12,564,906
2031 52,991,443 12,424,286
2030 51,986,773 12,288,186
2029 50,982,563 12,148,661
2028 50,001,133 11,999,549
2027 49,014,822 11,831,082
2026 48,020,334 11,632,806
2025 47,020,527 11,367,504
2024 46,042,015 10,986,400
2023 45,074,049 10,483,751
2022 44,070,551 10,074,977
2021 43,071,211 9,575,152
2020 42,116,605 9,401,038
2019 41,192,171 9,445,785
2018 40,265,624 9,346,701
2017 39,337,353 9,223,225
2016 38,469,627 8,935,095
2015 37,560,535 8,505,237
2014 36,550,059 8,059,440
2013 35,281,989 7,693,031
2012 33,654,842 7,391,448
2011 32,161,424 7,104,538
2010 31,045,366 6,869,838
2009 30,058,206 6,707,058
2008 28,971,036 6,302,664
2007 28,391,607 5,624,635
2006 28,616,515 5,009,100
2005 28,407,448 4,664,790
2004 27,577,878 4,428,967
2003 26,802,659 4,192,457
2002 26,006,559 3,956,826
2001 25,197,840 3,723,590
2000 24,424,056 3,493,575
1999 23,636,527 3,266,009
1998 22,884,399 3,040,421
1997 22,176,593 2,817,410
1996 21,501,321 2,597,564
1995 20,825,860 2,434,662
1994 20,139,807 2,328,188
1993 19,201,195 2,222,093
1992 18,300,845 2,114,730
1991 17,767,253 2,006,626
1990 17,581,206 1,898,220
1989 17,364,542 1,789,851
1988 16,908,819 1,681,788
1987 16,521,049 1,574,244
1986 16,074,145 1,467,383
1985 15,683,430 1,377,911
1984 15,310,733 1,305,996
1983 14,840,555 1,235,305
1982 14,406,083 1,166,370
1981 14,006,381 1,099,855
1980 13,591,992 1,015,700
1979 13,170,365 912,010
1978 12,753,355 809,274
1977 12,331,046 710,209
1976 11,927,651 615,866
1975 11,543,639 542,856
1974 11,167,761 489,087
1973 10,795,869 436,399
1972 10,430,164 385,014
1971 10,077,809 335,027
1970 9,735,611 286,536
1969 9,403,356 239,660
1968 9,085,016 199,416
1967 8,778,869 179,700
1966 8,485,104 173,976
1965 8,202,140 167,103
1964 7,929,566 159,692
1963 7,667,928 152,211
1962 7,413,875 144,946
1961 7,194,553 137,989
1960 7,022,052 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq UAE
2100 0.21% 0.91%
2099 0.21% 0.91%
2098 0.23% 0.91%
2097 0.25% 0.91%
2096 0.26% 0.91%
2095 0.27% 0.92%
2094 0.32% 0.92%
2093 0.35% 0.92%
2092 0.33% 0.93%
2091 0.32% 0.94%
2090 0.38% 0.95%
2089 0.38% 0.95%
2088 0.39% 0.96%
2087 0.45% 0.97%
2086 0.47% 0.98%
2085 0.44% 1%
2084 0.48% 1.01%
2083 0.5% 1.03%
2082 0.53% 1.04%
2081 0.53% 1.06%
2080 0.58% 1.07%
2079 0.58% 1.09%
2078 0.55% 1.1%
2077 0.59% 1.11%
2076 0.58% 1.13%
2075 0.65% 1.14%
2074 0.73% 1.15%
2073 0.73% 1.16%
2072 0.73% 1.17%
2071 0.76% 1.17%
2070 0.78% 1.18%
2069 0.79% 1.18%
2068 0.82% 1.18%
2067 0.91% 1.17%
2066 0.9% 1.17%
2065 0.93% 1.17%
2064 0.96% 1.17%
2063 0.95% 1.16%
2062 0.98% 1.15%
2061 1.05% 1.14%
2060 1.01% 1.14%
2059 1.04% 1.14%
2058 1.07% 1.14%
2057 1.12% 1.14%
2056 1.13% 1.14%
2055 1.16% 1.14%
2054 1.21% 1.14%
2053 1.19% 1.14%
2052 1.26% 1.14%
2051 1.27% 1.15%
2050 1.35% 1.16%
2049 1.36% 1.16%
2048 1.4% 1.17%
2047 1.38% 1.15%
2046 1.43% 1.14%
2045 1.49% 1.15%
2044 1.52% 1.16%
2043 1.58% 1.16%
2042 1.62% 1.17%
2041 1.68% 1.18%
2040 1.75% 1.18%
2039 1.72% 1.19%
2038 1.74% 1.19%
2037 1.83% 1.19%
2036 1.8% 1.18%
2035 1.85% 1.18%
2034 1.88% 1.17%
2033 1.94% 1.15%
2032 1.91% 1.13%
2031 1.93% 1.11%
2030 1.97% 1.15%
2029 1.96% 1.24%
2028 2.01% 1.42%
2027 2.07% 1.7%
2026 2.13% 2.33%
2025 2.13% 3.47%
2024 2.15% 4.79%
2023 2.28% 4.06%
2022 2.32% 5.22%
2021 2.27% 1.85%
2020 2.24% -0.47%
2019 2.3% 1.06%
2018 2.36% 1.34%
2017 2.26% 3.22%
2016 2.42% 5.05%
2015 2.76% 5.53%
2014 3.59% 4.76%
2013 4.83% 4.08%
2012 4.64% 4.04%
2011 3.59% 3.42%
2010 3.28% 2.43%
2009 3.75% 6.42%
2008 2.04% 12.1%
2007 -0.79% 12.3%
2006 0.74% 7.38%
2005 3.01% 5.32%
2004 2.89% 5.64%
2003 3.06% 5.96%
2002 3.21% 6.26%
2001 3.17% 6.58%
2000 3.33% 6.97%
1999 3.29% 7.42%
1998 3.19% 7.92%
1997 3.14% 8.46%
1996 3.24% 6.69%
1995 3.41% 4.57%
1994 4.89% 4.77%
1993 4.92% 5.08%
1992 3% 5.39%
1991 1.06% 5.71%
1990 1.25% 6.05%
1989 2.7% 6.43%
1988 2.35% 6.83%
1987 2.78% 7.28%
1986 2.49% 6.49%
1985 2.43% 5.51%
1984 3.17% 5.72%
1983 3.02% 5.91%
1982 2.85% 6.05%
1981 3.05% 8.29%
1980 3.2% 11.4%
1979 3.27% 12.7%
1978 3.42% 13.9%
1977 3.38% 15.3%
1976 3.33% 13.4%
1975 3.37% 11%
1974 3.44% 12.1%
1973 3.51% 13.3%
1972 3.5% 14.9%
1971 3.51% 16.9%
1970 3.53% 19.6%
1969 3.5% 20.2%
1968 3.49% 11%
1967 3.46% 3.29%
1966 3.45% 4.11%
1965 3.44% 4.64%
1964 3.41% 4.91%
1963 3.43% 5.01%
1962 3.05% 5.04%
1961 2.46% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Iraq UAE
Current population
48289334
11686438
Population rank 33/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.14%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
27.2 seconds
5.13 minutes
One death every
2.82 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 3/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -1,064 +158,634
Net migration rank 93/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 158,634
2024 - -17,735 - 278,439
2023 973,420 -5,710 92,698 300,004
2022 962,501 76,821 81,758 322,773
2021 941,924 17,474 76,802 421,663
2020 919,953 29,858 87,871 92,541
2019 942,972 -43,919 86,296 -125,186
2018 938,310 15,775 86,840 14,611
2017 924,507 -21,998 89,382 34,155
2016 946,968 -113,980 87,028 195,317
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 85,044 342,468
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 84,277 360,174
2013 1,026,036 474,379 82,977 279,269
2012 999,987 753,907 78,682 225,921
2011 971,082 261,880 73,496 215,183
2010 906,369 92,779 69,907 161,842
2009 855,096 120,092 66,521 163,643
2008 802,382 396,792 55,426 523,207
2007 784,119 -824,428 55,048 722,380
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 54,338 399,306
2005 776,603 51,019 60,046 174,926
2004 761,563 69,948 60,344 176,319
2003 746,159 -27,236 59,118 177,237
2002 739,419 133,839 55,922 178,988
2001 729,704 14,451 52,789 178,779
2000 715,771 87,624 49,993 178,469
1999 702,170 69,491 46,198 180,469
1998 684,152 48,446 41,176 183,329
1997 667,582 15,429 38,207 183,310
1996 652,866 14,652 37,886 180,296
1995 642,977 40,424 38,685 68,938
1994 634,344 54,355 42,976 62,352
1993 606,700 581,818 41,324 65,545
1992 591,886 20,292 42,119 65,739
1991 550,146 -95,155 41,409 66,943
1990 518,575 -601,469 41,339 67,118
1989 496,852 19,392 40,148 68,132
1988 476,778 -81,562 38,861 68,991
1987 488,742 -108,426 37,741 69,493
1986 474,348 39,136 36,829 69,655
1985 467,445 -199,505 34,855 37,605
1984 455,740 21,709 33,250 38,124
1983 439,800 23,115 31,480 38,536
1982 428,336 -22,302 29,585 38,276
1981 416,998 -23,640 27,560 37,600
1980 419,653 15,757 25,005 78,148
1979 428,458 -20,617 21,987 82,238
1978 418,756 7,434 18,879 82,359
1977 410,229 8,204 15,787 81,111
1976 402,260 -13,915 12,876 78,903
1975 385,916 -6,237 11,859 42,380
1974 376,197 -4,090 10,835 42,474
1973 373,191 -1,507 9,822 42,243
1972 362,334 -2,600 8,818 41,888
1971 351,464 -6,479 7,839 41,425
1970 338,030 1,377 6,922 40,792
1969 324,792 312 6,138 39,902
1968 310,644 928 5,588 28,866
1967 298,192 2,531 5,264 -283
1966 285,507 1,298 4,955 1,516
1965 274,551 4,555 4,675 2,598
1964 262,825 3,224 4,410 3,126
1963 254,046 3,197 4,157 3,264
1962 247,520 3,343 3,901 3,212
1961 184,792 2,981 3,657 3,141
1960 155,651 1,573 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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