Kurdistan Region population accounts for 14.03% of Iraq’s total

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Planning announced the preliminary results of its general census, revealing a population of 6,370,668, excluding disputed areas. This figure accounts for 14.03% of Iraq’s total population, which stands at 45,407,895.

Dr. Dara Rashid, Minister of Planning for the Kurdistan Region, shared the details during a press conference. “The population of the Kurdistan Region, excluding disputed areas, is 6,370,668 according to the preliminary census results,” Rashid stated. “Currently, data for 4% of households in the region has not yet been fully integrated into the system.”

The census revealed that 84% of the region’s population resides in urban areas, while 16% live in rural settings. The total number of households is 1,379,163, with an average household size of 4.3 individuals. The population is nearly balanced between genders, with males accounting for 50.24% (3,200,506) and females 49.76% (3,170,162). Additionally, 11.86% of households are headed by women, while 88.14% are led by men.

The census also highlighted the age distribution, showing that 31.9% of the population is under the age of 15, while 63.07% falls within the working-age bracket of 15 to 64 years. Those aged 65 and above make up 4.4% of the population. The Kurdistan Region’s annual population growth rate since 2009 has been calculated at 2.48%.

Dr. Rashid emphasized the significance of the region’s demographic window, as 63.07% of the population is within the working-age group. “This stage requires strategic planning to leverage the workforce as the working-age population exceeds 60%,” he said.

Additionally, according to 2023 data from the Kurdistan Regional Government, the total population of the Kurdistan Region was previously recorded at 6,556,752.

The census also noted that the region has 2,028,037 housing units. Urban areas predominantly consist of modern housing, with some rural areas still using traditional designs. Among the interesting findings, the region’s oldest recorded resident is 126 years old. Rashid added that while 96% of the population was accounted for, the remaining 4% will be included in the final report.

“These figures are preliminary and represent a significant step toward understanding the demographics of the Kurdistan Region,” Rashid concluded, emphasizing the importance of data-driven planning for sustainable development in the region.

This census, conducted from Nov. 20-22, 2024, marks Iraq’s first comprehensive population count in nearly four decades. The process involved a nationwide curfew to facilitate data collection and was managed by 120,000 researchers across all 18 governorates.