Iraq — Urban population
Urban Population (% of Total) for Iraq, 1960–2025.
Urban population for Iraq was 69.94% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 66 years, from 1960 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 70.20% in 1987. The lowest was 43.98% in 1960 (about 1.6× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.72% per year.
Iraq ranks 90 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 41%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 79.48%, so Iraq sits below it. It peaked in 1987 and has fallen 0% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 0%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 18 of 23 economies; Morocco (63.13%) is just below it.
Data highlights
Doubling roughly every 97 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 76th of 217 in 1960 → 63rd of 217 in 1970 → 60th of 217 in 1980 → 62nd of 217 in 1990 → 73rd of 217 in 2000 → 78th of 217 in 2010 → 86th of 217 in 2020 → 90th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1960 to 2025
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69.94% | +0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 69.89% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 69.87% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 69.87% | +0.0 pp |
| 2021 | 69.87% | -0.0 pp |
| 2020 | 69.87% | -0.0 pp |
| 2019 | 69.87% | -0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 69.88% | -0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 69.89% | -0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 69.91% | -0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 69.92% | +0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 69.67% | +0.2 pp |
| 2013 | 69.44% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 69.22% | +0.1 pp |
| 2011 | 69.13% | +0.1 pp |
| 2010 | 69.06% | +0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 68.97% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 68.86% | +0.1 pp |
| 2007 | 68.72% | +0.2 pp |
| 2006 | 68.56% | +0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 68.39% | +0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 68.22% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 68.05% | +0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 67.89% | +0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 67.75% | +0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 67.63% | +0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 67.54% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 67.49% | +0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 67.49% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 67.61% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 67.85% | -0.3 pp |
| 1994 | 68.17% | -0.4 pp |
| 1993 | 68.56% | -0.4 pp |
| 1992 | 68.97% | -0.4 pp |
| 1991 | 69.36% | -0.4 pp |
| 1990 | 69.72% | -0.3 pp |
| 1989 | 70% | -0.2 pp |
| 1988 | 70.17% | -0.0 pp |
| 1987 | 70.2% | +0.2 pp |
| 1986 | 70.02% | +0.4 pp |
| 1985 | 69.66% | +0.5 pp |
| 1984 | 69.13% | +0.7 pp |
| 1983 | 68.47% | +0.8 pp |
| 1982 | 67.7% | +0.8 pp |
| 1981 | 66.87% | +0.9 pp |
| 1980 | 66.01% | +0.9 pp |
| 1979 | 65.13% | +0.9 pp |
| 1978 | 64.28% | +0.8 pp |
| 1977 | 63.47% | +0.8 pp |
| 1976 | 62.66% | +0.9 pp |
| 1975 | 61.81% | +0.9 pp |
| 1974 | 60.91% | +0.9 pp |
| 1973 | 59.98% | +1.0 pp |
| 1972 | 59.01% | +1.0 pp |
| 1971 | 58.01% | +1.0 pp |
| 1970 | 56.97% | +1.1 pp |
| 1969 | 55.91% | +1.1 pp |
| 1968 | 54.81% | +1.1 pp |
| 1967 | 53.69% | +1.1 pp |
| 1966 | 52.55% | +1.2 pp |
| 1965 | 51.36% | +1.3 pp |
| 1964 | 50.05% | +1.5 pp |
| 1963 | 48.58% | +1.5 pp |
| 1962 | 47.04% | +1.6 pp |
| 1961 | 45.48% | +1.5 pp |
| 1960 | 43.98% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Iraq’s Urban population in 1961?
45.48% (1961). 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 % of total population, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Iraq’s Urban population growing or shrinking?
Between 1960 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +59.0% in total — about 0.7% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. 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: 69.94%; 2024: 69.89%; 2023: 69.87%; 2022: 69.87%; 2021: 69.87%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS — Urban Population (% of Total). 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.