Iraq Population Live (2026)
The live population of Iraq, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the most interesting countries on Earth.
Iraq has an estimated population of about 42.2 million people in 2026 — 0.51% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 33rd largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Iraq's latest birth rate (27.3 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (4.3 per 1,000).
Is the population of Iraq growing?
Yes. Around 3,154 babies are born in Iraq every day — about 131 an hour — while around 497 people die. That leaves a natural increase of roughly 2,657 people a day, or about 969,794 a year: a growth rate of 2.30% before migration. At that pace the population would double in roughly 30 years. Iraq has the 6th fastest natural growth of the 72 countries we track.
A birth rate of 27.3 per 1,000 people is well above the world average of about 16.9, which means a large share of the population is made up of children and young adults. It ranks 10th of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
These figures count births and deaths only. Migration moves Iraq's real population up or down each year, which is why official census figures can differ from our estimate.
Births and deaths in Iraq
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 2.2 | 0.3 | 1.8 |
| Per hour | 131 | 21 | 111 |
| Per day | 3,154 | 497 | 2,657 |
| Per week | 22,076 | 3,477 | 18,599 |
| Per year | 1,151,104 | 181,309 | 969,794 |
How crowded is Iraq?
With about 42.2 million people living on 438,317 km², Iraq has roughly 96.2 people per square kilometre. That is above the world average of about 61 per km² (38th of 72 for density).
Life expectancy in Iraq
A baby born in Iraq today can expect to live about 70.9 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is close to the global average (58th of 72). Life expectancy here has risen steadily over the past few decades as child mortality has fallen. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
With GDP of about $5,861 per person (48th of 72), Iraq is a middle-income country that is part-way through the demographic transition: death rates have already fallen a lot, and birth rates are following.
Iraq at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 42,164,965 | 33 |
| Births per day | 3,154 | 22 |
| Deaths per day | 497 | 41 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 27.3 | 10 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 4.3 | 67 |
| Natural growth rate | 2.30% / year | 6 |
| Life expectancy | 70.9 years | 58 |
| Population density | 96.2 / km² | 38 |
| GDP per person | $5,861 | 48 |
| Area | 438,317 km² | — |
| Capital | Baghdad | — |
| Languages | Arabic, Kurdish | — |
| Currency | Iraqi Dinar (IQD) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Iraq's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Iraq's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Iraq in 2026?
The population of Iraq in 2026 is estimated at about 42.2 million people, which is around 0.51% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Iraq every day?
About 3,154 babies are born in Iraq every day — roughly 131 per hour, or 1.2 million per year — based on a birth rate of 27.3 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Iraq every day?
About 497 people die in Iraq every day — roughly 21 per hour, or 181,309 per year — based on a death rate of 4.3 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Iraq growing or shrinking?
Growing. Births exceed deaths by about 2,657 people a day, a natural growth rate of 2.30% a year before migration.
What is the life expectancy in Iraq?
Life expectancy at birth in Iraq is about 70.9 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Iraq population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Iraq's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.