Final 2024 Census Results: Iraq's Population at 46.1 Million

Iraq 10:26 AM - 2025-02-24

Iraq's population stands at 46 million, 118 thousand people.

The Ministry of Planning in the federal government announced today, Monday 24th February 2025, the final results of Iraq's general population and housing census, which was conducted from 20th to 22nd November 2024. According to the data, the population of Iraq stands at 46 million, 118 thousand people.

During a press conference held at the Ministry's headquarters in the presence of several officials, including Mohammed Tamim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning of Iraq, Sirwan Mohammed, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Planning in the Kurdistan Regional Government, Claudio Cordone the Deputy Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and numerous ambassadors and foreign diplomats, the final results were revealed.

The ministry stated in its report announcing the results that "the final figures from the general population census revealed that Iraq's population stands at 46 million, 118 thousand, and 793, with 6 million, 370 thousand residing in the Kurdistan Region. This follows the initial results announced last November, which recorded the population at 45 million, 407 thousand."

The ministry further noted that "the population distribution is as follows: 70.17% live in urban areas and 29.83% in rural areas across Iraq, while in the Kurdistan Region, 84.57% live in urban areas and 15.43% in rural areas."

Population distribution by age group:
Under 5 years: 11.16%
Under working age (5-14): 24.74%
Working age (15-64): 60.44%
Over 65 years: 3.66%

Kurdistan Region:
Under 5 years: 9.92%
Under working age (5-14): 21.76%
Working age (15-64): 63.92%
Over 65 years: 4.4%

Marital status
The average age at first marriage is 22.24 years, with males at 24.06 years and females at 20.7 years. The median age for married individuals is 23 years for males and 20 years for females.

Marital status distribution in Iraq:
Single: 41.6%
Married: 54.01%
Divorced: 1.28%
Widowed: 2.8%
Separated: 0.24%

Marital status distribution in the Kurdistan Region:
Single: 41%
Married: 55.83%
Divorced: 0.66%
Widowed: 2.18%
Separated: 0.33%

Mortality and fertility rates:
The maternal mortality rate is 26.7 per 100,000 live births in Iraq, rising to 34.3 in the Kurdistan Region. The total fertility rate in Iraq is 3.9%, whereas it is 3.5% in the Kurdistan Region.

Economic situation:
The census revealed that 41.61% of the population aged 15 and over is economically active in Iraq, compared to 46.06% in the Kurdistan Region.

Workers by sector:
Government/public sector workers: 38.25% in Iraq, 37.18% in the Kurdistan Region.

Education:
The illiteracy rate for those aged 10 and over is 15.31% in Iraq, and 16.23% in the Kurdistan Region.
Student enrolment by stage (primary, secondary):

Males: 51.5%
Females: 48.5%

The primary school enrolment rate is 88% in Iraq, rising to 93% in the Kurdistan Region. The Ministry of Planning describes this as a "good rate," although it still indicates that some children are either not enrolled or have dropped out of primary education.

Services:
According to the census, 87% of Iraq's population has drinking water available inside their homes, compared to 82% in the Kurdistan Region. Though "a good percentage," 13% of the population still obtains drinking water from other sources.

Electricity sources:
Public network: 98% in Iraq, 93% in the Kurdistan Region.
Other sources: 93% in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Waste disposal methods:
58% of households use waste collectors.
13% of households burn waste, which is environmentally harmful, indicating a need for improved waste management services.

Sanitation:
49% of households in the Kurdistan Region and 44% in Iraq use sewage networks to dispose of wastewater.

Housing units:
The census results show that 72.15% of households in Iraq own their homes, while in the Kurdistan Region, this figure is 70.19%.

On 25th November 2024, the Federal Prime Minister announced the preliminary results of the general population and housing census, revealing that Iraq's population stands at 45,407,895. The Minister of Planning in the Kurdistan Regional Government also announced the region's preliminary population at 6,370,688, which includes residents from some disputed areas.



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