Iraq's population reaches 45.4 million, census shows

BAGHDAD,— Iraq’s population has reached 45.4 million, according to preliminary results from the nation’s first comprehensive census in over three decades.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the findings on Monday, marking a significant milestone for the country’s future planning and development efforts.

The nationwide survey, which took place on November 20, 2024, provides a detailed snapshot of Iraq’s demographics. The planning ministry previously estimated the population at 43 million.

This updated figure includes both Iraqi citizens and non-citizens, such as refugees and foreign residents.

During a televised address, Sudani highlighted that 70.3% of the population resides in urban areas, while 29.7% live in rural regions.

He also noted that Iraq has 7,898,588 families, with an average household size of 5.3 people. The population growth rate stands at 2.3%.

Gender distribution is almost evenly split, with males comprising 50.1% (22.78 million) and females accounting for 49.8% (22.62 million). Women head 11.33% of households, while men lead the remaining 88.67%.

The census revealed housing statistics as well, showing 8,037,221 housing units across Iraq. Of these, 92.1% are houses, 6.6% are apartments, and 0.4% are mud houses.

The age structure of the population was another key finding. Approximately 36.1% of Iraqis are under 15 years old, 60.2% are of working age, and 3.7% are over 65. Sudani described this demographic balance as a “demographic gift,” emphasizing the country’s significant working-age population.

This is Iraq’s first census since 1987, as a previous survey in 1997 excluded the Kurdistan Region, which has been governed by Kurdish authorities since the 1991 Gulf War. The census reported a population of 19 million, with an estimated additional 3 million residing in the Kurdish north.

The current census marks a pivotal step in gathering accurate data for future governance. Officials plan to finalize and release complete results over the next two months, providing further insights into Iraq’s diverse and evolving population.

(With files from Agencies)