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Population in Iraq compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 51,591 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Iraq vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Vatican
2100 101,632,594 2,521
2099 101,421,266 2,506
2098 101,212,536 2,497
2097 100,980,835 2,482
2096 100,724,441 2,469
2095 100,464,590 2,452
2094 100,194,041 2,435
2093 99,876,174 2,421
2092 99,532,041 2,400
2091 99,203,830 2,384
2090 98,886,956 2,359
2089 98,513,025 2,337
2088 98,144,039 2,319
2087 97,767,537 2,291
2086 97,325,026 2,269
2085 96,873,007 2,248
2084 96,448,602 2,217
2083 95,991,166 2,183
2082 95,509,663 2,159
2081 95,009,326 2,129
2080 94,507,216 2,105
2079 93,960,228 2,089
2078 93,417,384 2,068
2077 92,903,983 2,050
2076 92,359,592 2,025
2075 91,825,254 2,001
2074 91,229,266 1,970
2073 90,571,021 1,944
2072 89,918,374 1,912
2071 89,265,548 1,866
2070 88,596,492 1,829
2069 87,909,474 1,795
2068 87,220,494 1,777
2067 86,513,996 1,755
2066 85,734,530 1,729
2065 84,971,898 1,701
2064 84,191,350 1,679
2063 83,387,951 1,651
2062 82,604,577 1,623
2061 81,800,637 1,595
2060 80,951,008 1,556
2059 80,141,868 1,530
2058 79,319,543 1,512
2057 78,477,339 1,493
2056 77,609,202 1,469
2055 76,739,924 1,441
2054 75,857,125 1,419
2053 74,952,948 1,382
2052 74,072,580 1,358
2051 73,150,234 1,335
2050 72,235,938 1,311
2049 71,272,122 1,283
2048 70,316,860 1,256
2047 69,347,823 1,237
2046 68,400,664 1,215
2045 67,435,953 1,192
2044 66,447,309 1,174
2043 65,453,565 1,152
2042 64,433,831 1,135
2041 63,408,709 1,105
2040 62,360,117 1,070
2039 61,289,355 1,033
2038 60,253,073 1,001
2037 59,221,658 996
2036 58,155,990 1,001
2035 57,127,999 988
2034 56,087,695 988
2033 55,051,140 974
2032 54,002,289 964
2031 52,991,443 977
2030 51,986,773 979
2029 50,982,563 985
2028 50,001,133 983
2027 49,014,822 946
2026 48,020,334 933
2025 47,020,527 927
2024 46,042,015 910
2023 45,074,049 927
2022 44,070,551 951
2021 43,071,211 972
2020 42,116,605 987
2019 41,192,171 1,000
2018 40,265,624 -
2017 39,337,353 1,000
2016 38,469,627 -
2015 37,560,535 1,000
2014 36,550,059 842
2013 35,281,989 839
2012 33,654,842 836
2011 32,161,424 832
2010 31,045,366 829
2009 30,058,206 826
2008 28,971,036 824
2007 28,391,607 821
2006 28,616,515 932
2005 28,407,448 921
2004 27,577,878 921
2003 26,802,659 911
2002 26,006,559 900
2001 25,197,840 890
2000 24,424,056 880
1999 23,636,527 -
1998 22,884,399 -
1997 22,176,593 -
1996 21,501,321 -
1995 20,825,860 -
1994 20,139,807 -
1993 19,201,195 -
1992 18,300,845 -
1991 17,767,253 -
1990 17,581,206 -
1989 17,364,542 -
1988 16,908,819 -
1987 16,521,049 -
1986 16,074,145 -
1985 15,683,430 -
1984 15,310,733 -
1983 14,840,555 -
1982 14,406,083 -
1981 14,006,381 -
1980 13,591,992 -
1979 13,170,365 -
1978 12,753,355 -
1977 12,331,046 -
1976 11,927,651 -
1975 11,543,639 -
1974 11,167,761 -
1973 10,795,869 -
1972 10,430,164 -
1971 10,077,809 -
1970 9,735,611 -
1969 9,403,356 -
1968 9,085,016 -
1967 8,778,869 -
1966 8,485,104 -
1965 8,202,140 -
1964 7,929,566 -
1963 7,667,928 -
1962 7,413,875 -
1961 7,194,553 -
1960 7,022,052 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Vatican
2100 0.21% 0.59%
2099 0.21% 0.37%
2098 0.23% 0.6%
2097 0.25% 0.53%
2096 0.26% 0.68%
2095 0.27% 0.69%
2094 0.32% 0.61%
2093 0.35% 0.85%
2092 0.33% 0.7%
2091 0.32% 1.02%
2090 0.38% 0.95%
2089 0.38% 0.8%
2088 0.39% 1.21%
2087 0.45% 0.98%
2086 0.47% 0.91%
2085 0.44% 1.42%
2084 0.48% 1.53%
2083 0.5% 1.12%
2082 0.53% 1.39%
2081 0.53% 1.15%
2080 0.58% 0.8%
2079 0.58% 0.99%
2078 0.55% 0.9%
2077 0.59% 1.19%
2076 0.58% 1.2%
2075 0.65% 1.6%
2074 0.73% 1.34%
2073 0.73% 1.65%
2072 0.73% 2.49%
2071 0.76% 2.03%
2070 0.78% 1.86%
2069 0.79% 1.04%
2068 0.82% 1.27%
2067 0.91% 1.5%
2066 0.9% 1.64%
2065 0.93% 1.33%
2064 0.96% 1.69%
2063 0.95% 1.71%
2062 0.98% 1.74%
2061 1.05% 2.5%
2060 1.01% 1.7%
2059 1.04% 1.23%
2058 1.07% 1.24%
2057 1.12% 1.64%
2056 1.13% 1.93%
2055 1.16% 1.57%
2054 1.21% 2.68%
2053 1.19% 1.78%
2052 1.26% 1.67%
2051 1.27% 1.84%
2050 1.35% 2.17%
2049 1.36% 2.22%
2048 1.4% 1.5%
2047 1.38% 1.83%
2046 1.43% 1.87%
2045 1.49% 1.58%
2044 1.52% 1.93%
2043 1.58% 1.47%
2042 1.62% 2.68%
2041 1.68% 3.29%
2040 1.75% 3.59%
2039 1.72% 3.15%
2038 1.74% 0.56%
2037 1.83% -0.56%
2036 1.8% 1.31%
2035 1.85% 0%
2034 1.88% 1.52%
2033 1.94% 0.96%
2032 1.91% -1.33%
2031 1.93% -0.19%
2030 1.97% -0.56%
2029 1.96% 0.19%
2028 2.01% 3.92%
2027 2.07% 1.39%
2026 2.13% 0.6%
2025 2.13% 1.83%
2024 2.15% -1.8%
2023 2.28% -2.53%
2022 2.32% -2.1%
2021 2.27% -1.5%
2020 2.24% -1.3%
2019 2.3% 0%
2018 2.36% 0%
2017 2.26% 0%
2016 2.42% 0%
2015 2.76% 18.8%
2014 3.59% 0.36%
2013 4.83% 0.36%
2012 4.64% 0.48%
2011 3.59% 0.36%
2010 3.28% 0.36%
2009 3.75% 0.24%
2008 2.04% 0.37%
2007 -0.79% -11.9%
2006 0.74% 1.19%
2005 3.01% 0%
2004 2.89% 1.1%
2003 3.06% 1.22%
2002 3.21% 1.12%
2001 3.17% 1.14%
2000 3.33% -
1999 3.29% -
1998 3.19% -
1997 3.14% -
1996 3.24% -
1995 3.41% -
1994 4.89% -
1993 4.92% -
1992 3% -
1991 1.06% -
1990 1.25% -
1989 2.7% -
1988 2.35% -
1987 2.78% -
1986 2.49% -
1985 2.43% -
1984 3.17% -
1983 3.02% -
1982 2.85% -
1981 3.05% -
1980 3.2% -
1979 3.27% -
1978 3.42% -
1977 3.38% -
1976 3.33% -
1975 3.37% -
1974 3.44% -
1973 3.51% -
1972 3.5% -
1971 3.51% -
1970 3.53% -
1969 3.5% -
1968 3.49% -
1967 3.46% -
1966 3.45% -
1965 3.44% -
1964 3.41% -
1963 3.43% -
1962 3.05% -
1961 2.46% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Iraq Vatican
Current population
48289334
936
Population rank 33/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.00001%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
1 month
One birth every
27.2 seconds
n/a
One death every
2.82 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +0
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +0%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 163/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
n/a
Annual migration change -1,064 n/a
Net migration rank 93/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - -
2024 - -17,735 - -
2023 973,420 -5,710 - -
2022 962,501 76,821 - -
2021 941,924 17,474 - -
2020 919,953 29,858 - -
2019 942,972 -43,919 - -
2018 938,310 15,775 - -
2017 924,507 -21,998 - -
2016 946,968 -113,980 - -
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 - -
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 - -
2013 1,026,036 474,379 - -
2012 999,987 753,907 - -
2011 971,082 261,880 - -
2010 906,369 92,779 - -
2009 855,096 120,092 - -
2008 802,382 396,792 - -
2007 784,119 -824,428 - -
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 - -
2005 776,603 51,019 - -
2004 761,563 69,948 - -
2003 746,159 -27,236 - -
2002 739,419 133,839 - -
2001 729,704 14,451 - -
2000 715,771 87,624 - -
1999 702,170 69,491 - -
1998 684,152 48,446 - -
1997 667,582 15,429 - -
1996 652,866 14,652 - -
1995 642,977 40,424 - -
1994 634,344 54,355 - -
1993 606,700 581,818 - -
1992 591,886 20,292 - -
1991 550,146 -95,155 - -
1990 518,575 -601,469 - -
1989 496,852 19,392 - -
1988 476,778 -81,562 - -
1987 488,742 -108,426 - -
1986 474,348 39,136 - -
1985 467,445 -199,505 - -
1984 455,740 21,709 - -
1983 439,800 23,115 - -
1982 428,336 -22,302 - -
1981 416,998 -23,640 - -
1980 419,653 15,757 - -
1979 428,458 -20,617 - -
1978 418,756 7,434 - -
1977 410,229 8,204 - -
1976 402,260 -13,915 - -
1975 385,916 -6,237 - -
1974 376,197 -4,090 - -
1973 373,191 -1,507 - -
1972 362,334 -2,600 - -
1971 351,464 -6,479 - -
1970 338,030 1,377 - -
1969 324,792 312 - -
1968 310,644 928 - -
1967 298,192 2,531 - -
1966 285,507 1,298 - -
1965 274,551 4,555 - -
1964 262,825 3,224 - -
1963 254,046 3,197 - -
1962 247,520 3,343 - -
1961 184,792 2,981 - -
1960 155,651 1,573 - -

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

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

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Iraq and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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