Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Iraq
Iraq: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 106.06 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
106.06 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
100th
of 216 countries
All-time high
106.06 people per sq. km of land area
in 2024
All-time low
16.45 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Population density in Iraq, 1961–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2024, population density in Iraq stood at 106.06 people per sq. km of land area. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Iraq peaked at 106.06 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.45 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
Iraq ranks 100th of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Iraq, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 16.45 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 16.95 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 17.53 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 18.13 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 18.75 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 19.4 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 20.07 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 20.77 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1969 | 21.5 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 22.26 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 23.04 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 23.85 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 24.68 people per sq. km of land area | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 25.53 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 26.39 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 27.27 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 28.19 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 29.16 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 30.11 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 31.08 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 32.02 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 32.94 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 33.93 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 35.01 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 35.86 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 36.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 37.77 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 38.66 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 39.7 people per sq. km of land area | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 40.2 people per sq. km of land area | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 40.62 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 41.84 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 43.9 people per sq. km of land area | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 46.05 people per sq. km of land area | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 47.62 people per sq. km of land area | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 49.16 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 50.7 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 52.32 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 54.04 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 55.84 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 57.61 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 59.46 people per sq. km of land area | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 61.28 people per sq. km of land area | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 63.05 people per sq. km of land area | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 64.95 people per sq. km of land area | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 65.43 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 64.91 people per sq. km of land area | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 66.24 people per sq. km of land area | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 69.21 people per sq. km of land area | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 71.48 people per sq. km of land area | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 74.05 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 77.49 people per sq. km of land area | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 81.27 people per sq. km of land area | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 84.19 people per sq. km of land area | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 86.52 people per sq. km of land area | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 88.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 90.61 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 92.75 people per sq. km of land area | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 94.88 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 97.01 people per sq. km of land area | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 99.21 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 101.52 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 103.83 people per sq. km of land area | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 106.06 people per sq. km of land area | +2.1% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 106.06 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 85.13 people per sq. km of land area, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 106.06 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 117.07 people per sq. km of land area, 91% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.84 people per sq. km of land area | 16.45 people per sq. km of land area | 21.5 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 26.05 people per sq. km of land area | 22.26 people per sq. km of land area | 30.11 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.37 people per sq. km of land area | 31.08 people per sq. km of land area | 39.7 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.65 people per sq. km of land area | 40.2 people per sq. km of land area | 54.04 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.8 people per sq. km of land area | 55.84 people per sq. km of land area | 69.21 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.19 people per sq. km of land area | 71.48 people per sq. km of land area | 94.88 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 101.52 people per sq. km of land area | 97.01 people per sq. km of land area | 106.06 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 97 Turkey 111.12 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 98 Malaysia 108.23 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 99 Armenia 107.57 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 101 Cuba 105.78 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 102 Slovenia 105.66 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 103 Hungary 104.78 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Iraq
- Population in the largest city 24.8% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2461 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 11.57 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 25.23 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 8.14 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 5.3 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 208.53 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Iraq?
- Population density in Iraq was 106.06 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 106.06 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.45 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does Iraq rank for population density?
- Iraq ranks 100th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.