Iraq — Population growth
Population Growth (Annual %) for Iraq, 1961–2025.
Population growth for Iraq was 2.10% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 65 years, from 1961 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 4.80% in 1993. The lowest was -0.79% in 2007 (about -2.7× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.22% per year.
Iraq ranks 43 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 20%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 1.56%, so Iraq sits above it. It peaked in 1993 and has fallen 56% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 23%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 9 of 23 economies; Malta (1.89%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 356% in 2008. That is 8% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 98th of 216 in 1961 → 19th of 216 in 1970 → 37th of 216 in 1980 → 140th of 216 in 1990 → 16th of 217 in 2000 → 15th of 217 in 2010 → 44th of 217 in 2020 → 43rd of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1961 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.1% | -0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 2.12% | -0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 2.25% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 2.29% | +0.1 pp |
| 2021 | 2.24% | +0.0 pp |
| 2020 | 2.22% | -0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 2.28% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 2.33% | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 2.23% | -0.2 pp |
| 2016 | 2.39% | -0.3 pp |
| 2015 | 2.73% | -0.8 pp |
| 2014 | 3.53% | -1.2 pp |
| 2013 | 4.72% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 4.54% | +1.0 pp |
| 2011 | 3.53% | +0.3 pp |
| 2010 | 3.23% | -0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 3.68% | +1.7 pp |
| 2008 | 2.02% | +2.8 pp |
| 2007 | -0.79% | -1.5 pp |
| 2006 | 0.73% | -2.2 pp |
| 2005 | 2.96% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 2.85% | -0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 3.02% | -0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 3.16% | +0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 3.12% | -0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 3.28% | +0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 3.23% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 3.14% | +0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 3.09% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 3.19% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 3.35% | -1.4 pp |
| 1994 | 4.77% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 4.8% | +1.8 pp |
| 1992 | 2.96% | +1.9 pp |
| 1991 | 1.05% | -0.2 pp |
| 1990 | 1.24% | -1.4 pp |
| 1989 | 2.66% | +0.3 pp |
| 1988 | 2.32% | -0.4 pp |
| 1987 | 2.74% | +0.3 pp |
| 1986 | 2.46% | +0.1 pp |
| 1985 | 2.41% | -0.7 pp |
| 1984 | 3.12% | +0.1 pp |
| 1983 | 2.97% | +0.2 pp |
| 1982 | 2.81% | -0.2 pp |
| 1981 | 3% | -0.1 pp |
| 1980 | 3.15% | -0.1 pp |
| 1979 | 3.22% | -0.1 pp |
| 1978 | 3.37% | +0.0 pp |
| 1977 | 3.33% | +0.1 pp |
| 1976 | 3.27% | -0.0 pp |
| 1975 | 3.31% | -0.1 pp |
| 1974 | 3.39% | -0.1 pp |
| 1973 | 3.45% | +0.0 pp |
| 1972 | 3.44% | -0.0 pp |
| 1971 | 3.45% | -0.0 pp |
| 1970 | 3.47% | +0.0 pp |
| 1969 | 3.44% | +0.0 pp |
| 1968 | 3.43% | +0.0 pp |
| 1967 | 3.4% | +0.0 pp |
| 1966 | 3.39% | +0.0 pp |
| 1965 | 3.38% | +0.0 pp |
| 1964 | 3.36% | -0.0 pp |
| 1963 | 3.37% | +0.4 pp |
| 1962 | 3% | +0.6 pp |
| 1961 | 2.43% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Iraq’s Population growth in 1962?
3% (1962). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Iraq’s Population growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1961 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -13.3% in total — about 0.2% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.GROW. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 2.1%; 2024: 2.12%; 2023: 2.25%; 2022: 2.29%; 2021: 2.24%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.GROW — Population Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.