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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iraq was 46,042,015 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iraq's population is 48,289,334 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 2.13 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Iraq is ranked the 33rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.58% for Iraq vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Iraq has had an average growth rate of +2.45% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iraq has increased from 28.6M people to 48.3M (68.7% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Iraq vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iraq Zambia
2100 101,632,594 65,217,429
2099 101,421,266 64,871,545
2098 101,212,536 64,515,891
2097 100,980,835 64,148,736
2096 100,724,441 63,777,313
2095 100,464,590 63,393,169
2094 100,194,041 62,992,652
2093 99,876,174 62,590,327
2092 99,532,041 62,175,930
2091 99,203,830 61,750,591
2090 98,886,956 61,321,399
2089 98,513,025 60,880,148
2088 98,144,039 60,434,676
2087 97,767,537 59,970,107
2086 97,325,026 59,499,234
2085 96,873,007 59,023,040
2084 96,448,602 58,535,857
2083 95,991,166 58,040,512
2082 95,509,663 57,538,672
2081 95,009,326 57,027,491
2080 94,507,216 56,506,421
2079 93,960,228 55,983,242
2078 93,417,384 55,449,777
2077 92,903,983 54,906,771
2076 92,359,592 54,361,075
2075 91,825,254 53,806,856
2074 91,229,266 53,246,777
2073 90,571,021 52,677,348
2072 89,918,374 52,101,139
2071 89,265,548 51,519,691
2070 88,596,492 50,931,614
2069 87,909,474 50,334,700
2068 87,220,494 49,737,479
2067 86,513,996 49,135,488
2066 85,734,530 48,530,443
2065 84,971,898 47,918,592
2064 84,191,350 47,299,740
2063 83,387,951 46,677,439
2062 82,604,577 46,048,819
2061 81,800,637 45,416,657
2060 80,951,008 44,777,347
2059 80,141,868 44,137,306
2058 79,319,543 43,494,451
2057 78,477,339 42,851,923
2056 77,609,202 42,206,898
2055 76,739,924 41,558,284
2054 75,857,125 40,906,492
2053 74,952,948 40,255,629
2052 74,072,580 39,603,888
2051 73,150,234 38,949,958
2050 72,235,938 38,294,607
2049 71,272,122 37,634,194
2048 70,316,860 36,971,309
2047 69,347,823 36,309,749
2046 68,400,664 35,645,868
2045 67,435,953 34,981,812
2044 66,447,309 34,316,981
2043 65,453,565 33,652,420
2042 64,433,831 32,990,657
2041 63,408,709 32,329,447
2040 62,360,117 31,664,262
2039 61,289,355 31,001,305
2038 60,253,073 30,335,662
2037 59,221,658 29,668,561
2036 58,155,990 29,000,264
2035 57,127,999 28,333,498
2034 56,087,695 27,671,195
2033 55,051,140 27,011,974
2032 54,002,289 26,356,580
2031 52,991,443 25,702,812
2030 51,986,773 25,055,216
2029 50,982,563 24,414,405
2028 50,001,133 23,780,809
2027 49,014,822 23,151,479
2026 48,020,334 22,529,742
2025 47,020,527 21,918,187
2024 46,042,015 21,314,956
2023 45,074,049 20,723,965
2022 44,070,551 20,152,938
2021 43,071,211 19,603,607
2020 42,116,605 19,059,395
2019 41,192,171 18,513,839
2018 40,265,624 17,973,569
2017 39,337,353 17,441,320
2016 38,469,627 16,914,423
2015 37,560,535 16,399,089
2014 36,550,059 15,895,315
2013 35,281,989 15,398,997
2012 33,654,842 14,913,629
2011 32,161,424 14,437,796
2010 31,045,366 13,965,594
2009 30,058,206 13,490,389
2008 28,971,036 13,021,324
2007 28,391,607 12,565,085
2006 28,616,515 12,129,553
2005 28,407,448 11,718,819
2004 27,577,878 11,338,198
2003 26,802,659 10,983,595
2002 26,006,559 10,647,949
2001 25,197,840 10,325,185
2000 24,424,056 10,017,631
1999 23,636,527 9,740,005
1998 22,884,399 9,482,408
1997 22,176,593 9,237,063
1996 21,501,321 9,004,053
1995 20,825,860 8,785,763
1994 20,139,807 8,576,269
1993 19,201,195 8,373,921
1992 18,300,845 8,176,680
1991 17,767,253 7,981,650
1990 17,581,206 7,786,169
1989 17,364,542 7,589,216
1988 16,908,819 7,391,440
1987 16,521,049 7,191,282
1986 16,074,145 6,986,471
1985 15,683,430 6,780,953
1984 15,310,733 6,580,490
1983 14,840,555 6,381,038
1982 14,406,083 6,178,637
1981 14,006,381 5,983,289
1980 13,591,992 5,802,833
1979 13,170,365 5,631,728
1978 12,753,355 5,465,374
1977 12,331,046 5,302,480
1976 11,927,651 5,143,842
1975 11,543,639 4,990,086
1974 11,167,761 4,842,746
1973 10,795,869 4,702,693
1972 10,430,164 4,569,309
1971 10,077,809 4,442,525
1970 9,735,611 4,321,718
1969 9,403,356 4,197,116
1968 9,085,016 4,065,593
1967 8,778,869 3,936,343
1966 8,485,104 3,812,003
1965 8,202,140 3,692,086
1964 7,929,566 3,577,017
1963 7,667,928 3,465,907
1962 7,413,875 3,358,099
1961 7,194,553 3,254,086
1960 7,022,052 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iraq increased by 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iraq gained 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Iraq was ranked 39th most populous country in 2006 and is 33rd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Iraq
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iraq Zambia
2100 0.21% 0.53%
2099 0.21% 0.55%
2098 0.23% 0.57%
2097 0.25% 0.58%
2096 0.26% 0.61%
2095 0.27% 0.64%
2094 0.32% 0.64%
2093 0.35% 0.67%
2092 0.33% 0.69%
2091 0.32% 0.7%
2090 0.38% 0.72%
2089 0.38% 0.74%
2088 0.39% 0.77%
2087 0.45% 0.79%
2086 0.47% 0.81%
2085 0.44% 0.83%
2084 0.48% 0.85%
2083 0.5% 0.87%
2082 0.53% 0.9%
2081 0.53% 0.92%
2080 0.58% 0.93%
2079 0.58% 0.96%
2078 0.55% 0.99%
2077 0.59% 1%
2076 0.58% 1.03%
2075 0.65% 1.05%
2074 0.73% 1.08%
2073 0.73% 1.11%
2072 0.73% 1.13%
2071 0.76% 1.15%
2070 0.78% 1.19%
2069 0.79% 1.2%
2068 0.82% 1.23%
2067 0.91% 1.25%
2066 0.9% 1.28%
2065 0.93% 1.31%
2064 0.96% 1.33%
2063 0.95% 1.37%
2062 0.98% 1.39%
2061 1.05% 1.43%
2060 1.01% 1.45%
2059 1.04% 1.48%
2058 1.07% 1.5%
2057 1.12% 1.53%
2056 1.13% 1.56%
2055 1.16% 1.59%
2054 1.21% 1.62%
2053 1.19% 1.65%
2052 1.26% 1.68%
2051 1.27% 1.71%
2050 1.35% 1.75%
2049 1.36% 1.79%
2048 1.4% 1.82%
2047 1.38% 1.86%
2046 1.43% 1.9%
2045 1.49% 1.94%
2044 1.52% 1.97%
2043 1.58% 2.01%
2042 1.62% 2.05%
2041 1.68% 2.1%
2040 1.75% 2.14%
2039 1.72% 2.19%
2038 1.74% 2.25%
2037 1.83% 2.3%
2036 1.8% 2.35%
2035 1.85% 2.39%
2034 1.88% 2.44%
2033 1.94% 2.49%
2032 1.91% 2.54%
2031 1.93% 2.58%
2030 1.97% 2.62%
2029 1.96% 2.66%
2028 2.01% 2.72%
2027 2.07% 2.76%
2026 2.13% 2.79%
2025 2.13% 2.83%
2024 2.15% 2.85%
2023 2.28% 2.83%
2022 2.32% 2.8%
2021 2.27% 2.86%
2020 2.24% 2.95%
2019 2.3% 3.01%
2018 2.36% 3.05%
2017 2.26% 3.12%
2016 2.42% 3.14%
2015 2.76% 3.17%
2014 3.59% 3.22%
2013 4.83% 3.25%
2012 4.64% 3.3%
2011 3.59% 3.38%
2010 3.28% 3.52%
2009 3.75% 3.6%
2008 2.04% 3.63%
2007 -0.79% 3.59%
2006 0.74% 3.5%
2005 3.01% 3.36%
2004 2.89% 3.23%
2003 3.06% 3.15%
2002 3.21% 3.13%
2001 3.17% 3.07%
2000 3.33% 2.85%
1999 3.29% 2.72%
1998 3.19% 2.66%
1997 3.14% 2.59%
1996 3.24% 2.48%
1995 3.41% 2.44%
1994 4.89% 2.42%
1993 4.92% 2.41%
1992 3% 2.44%
1991 1.06% 2.51%
1990 1.25% 2.6%
1989 2.7% 2.68%
1988 2.35% 2.78%
1987 2.78% 2.93%
1986 2.49% 3.03%
1985 2.43% 3.05%
1984 3.17% 3.13%
1983 3.02% 3.28%
1982 2.85% 3.26%
1981 3.05% 3.11%
1980 3.2% 3.04%
1979 3.27% 3.04%
1978 3.42% 3.07%
1977 3.38% 3.08%
1976 3.33% 3.08%
1975 3.37% 3.04%
1974 3.44% 2.98%
1973 3.51% 2.92%
1972 3.5% 2.85%
1971 3.51% 2.8%
1970 3.53% 2.97%
1969 3.5% 3.24%
1968 3.49% 3.28%
1967 3.46% 3.26%
1966 3.45% 3.25%
1965 3.44% 3.22%
1964 3.41% 3.21%
1963 3.43% 3.21%
1962 3.05% 3.2%
1961 2.46% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iraq grew by 2.15%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Iraq Zambia
Current population
48289334
22697916
Population rank 33/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.58% 0.27%
One net population change
32.6 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
27.2 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.82 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,652 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +967,966 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.15% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 46/197 21/197
One migration net change every
8.26 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -1,064 +6,562
Net migration rank 93/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 370,980 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 92/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.8% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 160/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iraq
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iraq Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -1,064 - 6,562
2024 - -17,735 - 7,381
2023 973,420 -5,710 577,660 9,521
2022 962,501 76,821 563,456 -8,566
2021 941,924 17,474 535,629 8,143
2020 919,953 29,858 536,484 8,156
2019 942,972 -43,919 528,089 18,385
2018 938,310 15,775 515,644 18,431
2017 924,507 -21,998 504,630 25,789
2016 946,968 -113,980 497,521 25,860
2015 1,007,561 -22,338 491,021 16,261
2014 1,040,726 -5,033 483,663 16,574
2013 1,026,036 474,379 476,846 15,542
2012 999,987 753,907 469,406 8,958
2011 971,082 261,880 459,743 13,569
2010 906,369 92,779 448,337 22,761
2009 855,096 120,092 434,458 44,867
2008 802,382 396,792 419,560 39,249
2007 784,119 -824,428 403,729 49,945
2006 797,342 -1,206,850 387,891 29,517
2005 776,603 51,019 368,756 35,316
2004 761,563 69,948 349,352 7,819
2003 746,159 -27,236 331,189 20,845
2002 739,419 133,839 316,041 3,206
2001 729,704 14,451 302,682 23,582
2000 715,771 87,624 293,186 -4,338
1999 702,170 69,491 283,297 -16,888
1998 684,152 48,446 275,568 -26,796
1997 667,582 15,429 268,198 -26,276
1996 652,866 14,652 262,468 -38,358
1995 642,977 40,424 257,897 -45,423
1994 634,344 54,355 252,023 -45,504
1993 606,700 581,818 245,917 -47,739
1992 591,886 20,292 239,953 -43,656
1991 550,146 -95,155 237,957 -44,203
1990 518,575 -601,469 235,835 -38,619
1989 496,852 19,392 233,429 -36,736
1988 476,778 -81,562 230,118 -31,270
1987 488,742 -108,426 227,813 -26,338
1986 474,348 39,136 224,768 -16,610
1985 467,445 -199,505 221,351 -18,474
1984 455,740 21,709 216,695 -18,652
1983 439,800 23,115 212,712 -11,849
1982 428,336 -22,302 207,621 -3,676
1981 416,998 -23,640 202,822 -16,072
1980 419,653 15,757 198,817 -24,664
1979 428,458 -20,617 197,578 -29,515
1978 418,756 7,434 194,933 -30,284
1977 410,229 8,204 191,557 -30,423
1976 402,260 -13,915 186,762 -30,612
1975 385,916 -6,237 182,258 -30,886
1974 376,197 -4,090 174,484 -31,178
1973 373,191 -1,507 168,258 -31,472
1972 362,334 -2,600 161,648 -31,672
1971 351,464 -6,479 155,249 -31,651
1970 338,030 1,377 149,380 -31,370
1969 324,792 312 142,660 -11,469
1968 310,644 928 137,315 -5,447
1967 298,192 2,531 131,938 -5,298
1966 285,507 1,298 127,164 -5,129
1965 274,551 4,555 122,814 -5,023
1964 262,825 3,224 117,197 -4,851
1963 254,046 3,197 114,555 -4,676
1962 247,520 3,343 110,173 -4,428
1961 184,792 2,981 106,318 -4,043
1960 155,651 1,573 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/iraq/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 370,980 residents or 0.8% of the population were not native-born in Iraq, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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