Iraq census shows 46 million residents, urban growth and shifting demographics

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Planning announced Monday that the nation’s population has climbed to 46,118,000, up from preliminary figures of 45,407,000 released last November. The official census reveals that 70.17% of Iraqis live in urban areas while 29.83% reside in rural communities. In the Kurdistan Region, urban living is even more pronounced, with 84.57% of residents in towns compared with 15.43% in rural areas.

The census, conducted in November 2024 with 120,000 field researchers, marks Iraq’s first comprehensive national survey since 1987. Although a nationwide count was held in 1997, that effort excluded the Kurdistan Region, making this round a pivotal step in understanding current population dynamics.

At a press conference in Baghdad, the ministry detailed the age distribution of the population. Nationally, children under age five account for 11.16% of residents, while those aged 5 to 14 represent 24.74%.  60.44% of the population are aged 15 to 64, and just 3.66% are 65 or older. In the Kurdistan Region, the demographic profile is slightly older: 9.92% are under five, 21.76% fall in the 5-to-14 age group, 63.92% are 15-64, and 4.4% are 65 or above.

The report also sheds light on marital trends. The national average age at first marriage is 22.24 years, with men marrying at an average of 24.06 years and women at 20.7 years. The median age at marriage is 23 for men and 20 for women. Overall, 41.6% of Iraq’s population is single, 54.01% is married, 1.28% is divorced, 2.8% is widowed and 0.24% is separated. In the Kurdistan Region, 41% are single, 55.83% are married, 0.66% are divorced, 2.18% are widowed and 0.33% are separated.

Public health indicators show a national maternal mortality rate of 26.7 deaths per 100,000 live births, rising to 34.3 in the Kurdistan Region. Iraq’s overall fertility rate stands at 3.9%, compared with 3.5% in the autonomous region.

Economic data indicate that 41.61% of Iraqis aged 15 and older are economically active, a figure that climbs to 46.06% in Kurdistan. Public sector employment comprises 38.25% of the economically active population in Iraq and 37.18% in the Kurdistan Region.

Education statistics reveal a 15.31% national illiteracy rate among those aged 10 and above, slightly higher at 16.23% in Kurdistan. Primary and secondary school enrollment is nearly balanced by gender—51.5% male and 48.5% female—with overall primary enrollment rates of 88% nationwide and 93% in the Kurdistan Region.

Infrastructure data show that 87% of Iraqi households have access to drinking water at home, compared with 82% in Kurdistan. Access to the public electricity grid reaches 98% of households in Iraq and 93% in the Kurdistan Region. Meanwhile, 58% of households rely on waste collectors, and 13% burn their waste, posing environmental risks. Sewer network access remains limited, with 44% of households in Iraq and 49% in Kurdistan connected to proper sanitation systems.

Homeownership is common, with 72.15% of households in Iraq owning their homes compared with 70.19% in the Kurdistan Region.

The United Nations Population Fund in Iraq praised the quality of the census data. Hind Jalal, UNFPA’s representative in Iraq, described the release of the census results as a “pivotal moment in Iraq’s history,” noting that the data will enable policymakers to track progress on national goals and develop programs aligned with the country’s sustainable development objectives.