Governorates
The population of the governorates of Iraq according to census results and latest official estimates.
| Name | Abbr. | Native | Capital | Area A-L (km²) | Population Census (C) 1977-10-17 | Population Census (C) 1987-10-17 | Population Census (C) 1997-10-17 | Population Estimate (E) 2009-10-17 | Population Estimate (E) 2018-07-01 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | IRQ | العراق | Baghdād | 435,050 | 12,000,497 | 16,335,198 | 22,046,244 | 31,664,466 | 38,124,182 | |||
| Al-Anbār | ANB | الانبار | Ar-Ramādī | 135,000 | 466,100 | 820,690 | 1,023,736 | 1,483,359 | 1,771,656 | 13500000 | → | |
| Al-Baṣrah [Basra] | BSR | البصرة | Al-Baṣrah | 19,070 | 1,008,600 | 872,176 | 1,556,445 | 2,405,434 | 2,908,491 | 1907000 | → | |
| Al-Muthannā | MTN | المثنى | As-Samāwah | 51,740 | 215,600 | 315,815 | 436,825 | 683,126 | 814,371 | 5174000 | → | |
| Al-Qādisiyah | QAD | القادسية | Ad-Dīwāniyah | 8,150 | 423,000 | 559,805 | 751,331 | 1,077,614 | 1,291,048 | 815000 | → | |
| An-Najaf | NJF | النجف | An-Najaf | 28,820 | 389,700 | 590,078 | 775,042 | 1,221,228 | 1,471,592 | 2882000 | → | |
| Arbīl [Erbil] | ARB | أربيل | Arbīl | 12,000 | 541,500 | 770,439 | 1,095,992 | 1,532,081 | 1,854,778 | 1200000 | → | |
| As-Sulaymāniyah | SLM | السليمانية | As-Sulaymāniyah | 20,000 | 690,600 | 951,723 | 1,362,739 | 1,694,895 | 2,053,305 | 2000000 | → | |
| Bābil [Babylon] | BAB | بابل | Al-Ḥillah | 5,800 | 592,000 | 1,109,574 | 1,181,751 | 1,729,666 | 2,065,042 | 580000 | → | |
| Baghdād | BGD | بغداد | Baghdād | 5,200 | 3,189,700 | 3,841,268 | 5,423,964 | 6,702,538 | 8,126,755 | 520000 | → | |
| Dahūk [Dohuk] | DHK | دهوك | Dahūk | 10,000 | 250,600 | 293,304 | 402,970 | 1,072,324 | 1,292,535 | 1000000 | → | |
| Dhī Qār [Theqar] | DHI | ذي قار | An-Nāṣiriyah | 12,900 | 623,000 | 921,066 | 1,184,796 | 1,744,398 | 2,095,172 | 1290000 | → | |
| Diyālā | DYL | ديالى | Ba'qūbah | 14,700 | 587,800 | 961,073 | 1,135,223 | 1,371,035 | 1,637,226 | 1470000 | → | |
| Ḥalabjah [Halabja] | HLB | حلبجة | Ḥalabjah | 880 | ... | ... | ... | 89,958 | 108,974 | 88000 | → | |
| Karbalā' [Karbala] | KRB | كربلاء | Karbalā' | 5,030 | 269,800 | 469,282 | 594,235 | 1,013,254 | 1,218,732 | 503000 | → | |
| Kirkūk | KRK | كركوك | Kirkūk | 10,500 | 495,400 | 601,219 | 753,171 | 1,325,853 | 1,597,876 | 1050000 | → | |
| Maysān | MYS | ميسان | Al-'Amārah | 16,070 | 372,600 | 487,448 | 637,126 | 922,890 | 1,112,673 | 1607000 | → | |
| Nīnawā [Nineveh] | NIN | نينوى | Al-Mawṣil | 36,700 | 1,105,700 | 1,479,430 | 2,042,852 | 3,106,948 | 3,729,998 | 3670000 | → | |
| Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn [Saladin] | SLD | صلاح الدين | Tikrīt | 26,000 | 363,800 | 726,138 | 904,432 | 1,337,786 | 1,595,235 | 2600000 | → | |
| Wasiṭ | WST | واسط | Al-Kūt | 17,150 | 415,100 | 564,670 | 783,614 | 1,150,079 | 1,378,723 | 1715000 | → |
- The 1997 figures of the Kurdish governorates are not census results, but estimates. The 2009 figures refer to the population estimation done by the household listing in 2009; the exact reference day is uncertain.
- Dohuk, Erbil, Halabja and Sulaymaniyah form the Kurdistan Region with a population of 4.389.258 in 2009 and 5,309,592 in 2018. Halabja Governorate was split from Sulaymaniyah Governorate in 2014 after decisions of Kurdish authorities. Further Kurdish boundaries as recognized by Iraq in 2005.
- The mid-2020 population is projected as 40,150,200.
- (1977) Statistisches Bundesamt: Statistik des Auslands - Irak, 1986.
(1987) Britannica Book of the Year 1990.
(1997) (2009) (2018) Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (web).
Major Cities
| Name | Adm. | Population Estimate (E) 2018-07-01 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baghdād | BGD | 6,719,476 |
| 2 | Al-Mawṣil | NIN | 1,361,819 |
| 3 | Al-Baṣrah | BSR | 1,340,827 |
| 4 | Kirkūk | KRK | 972,272 |
| 5 | Arbīl | ARB | 879,071 |
| 6 | An-Najaf | NJF | 747,261 |
| 7 | Karbalā' | KRB | 711,530 |
| 8 | As-Sulaymāniyah | SLM | 676,492 |
| 9 | An-Nāṣiriyah | DHI | 558,446 |
| 10 | Al-'Amārah | MYS | 527,472 |
Contents: Cities & Urban Centers
The population of the cities and urban centers of Iraq with more than 20,000 inhabitants according to census results and latest estimates.
| Name | Native | Adm. | Population Census (C) 1987-10-17 | Population Estimate (E) 2009-07-01 | Population Estimate (E) 2018-07-01 | Area | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abī Gharaq | أبي غرق | BAB | ... | 20,982 | 25,632 | 0 | ||
| Abū al-Kahṣīb | أبو الخصيب | BSR | ... | 165,102 | 203,155 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Daghārah | الدغارة | QAD | ... | 16,886 | 20,530 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Daīr | الدیر | BSR | ... | 25,398 | 31,196 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Dawāyah | الدوایة | DHI | ... | 30,905 | 37,872 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Dawr | الدور | SLD | ... | 18,763 | 22,822 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Dibs | الدبس | KRK | ... | 17,073 | 21,224 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Dīwāniyah [Diwaniyah] | الديوانية | QAD | 196,519 | 332,124 | 403,796 | 0 | ||
| Ad-Dujaīl | الدجیل | SLD | ... | 29,909 | 36,379 | 0 | ||
| 'Afak | عفك | QAD | ... | 29,228 | 35,536 | 0 | ||
| 'Ākra (Akrê) | ئاكرى | DHK | ... | 55,961 | 68,093 | 0 | ||
| Al-'Amārah [Amara] | العمارة | MYS | 208,797 | 428,804 | 527,472 | 0 | ||
| Al-'Āmiriyah | العامریة | ANB | ... | 19,500 | 24,046 | 0 | ||
| Al-'Azīziyah | العزیزیة | WST | ... | 44,868 | 55,886 | 0 | ||
| Al-Ba'āj | البعاج | NIN | ... | 24,317 | 29,125 | 0 | ||
| Al-Baṣrah (incl. Al-Hāriṭah) [Basra] | البصرة | BSR | 406,296 | 1,091,627 | 1,340,827 | 0 | ||
| Al-Baṭḥā'a | البطحاء | DHI | ... | 21,075 | 25,826 | 0 | ||
| Al-Budaīr | البدیر | QAD | ... | 16,330 | 19,854 | 0 | ||
| Al-Fajr | الفجر | DHI | ... | 23,442 | 28,726 | 0 | ||
| Al-Fallūjah [Fallujah] | الفلوجة | ANB | ... | 203,451 | 250,884 | 0 | ||
| Al-Fāw | الفاو | BSR | ... | 29,176 | 35,836 | 0 | ||
| Al-Fuhūd | الفھود | DHI | ... | 23,127 | 28,337 | 0 | ||
| Al-Gharrāf | الغراف | DHI | ... | 39,624 | 48,556 | 0 | ||
| Al-Ḥabbāniyah | الحبانیة | ANB | ... | 26,184 | 32,288 | 0 | ||
| Al-Ḥamzah | الحمزة | QAD | ... | 71,346 | 86,743 | 0 | ||
| Al-Hāshmiyah | الھاشمیة | BAB | ... | 30,511 | 37,273 | 0 | ||
| Al-Ḥawījah | الحویجة | KRK | ... | 36,776 | 45,716 | 0 | ||
| Al-Ḥay | الحي | WST | ... | 68,640 | 85,496 | 0 | ||
| Al-Ḥillah [Hillah] | الحلة | BAB | 268,834 | 373,063 | 455,741 | 0 | ||
| Al-Hindiyah | الھندیة | KRB | ... | 69,504 | 84,065 | 0 | ||
| Al-Iskandrīah | الاسكندریة | BAB | ... | 82,366 | 100,619 | 0 | ||
| Al-Jibāyish | الجبایش | DHI | ... | 30,416 | 37,272 | 0 | ||
| Al-Kaḥlā' | الكحلاء | MYS | ... | 18,202 | 22,390 | 0 | ||
| Al-Khāliṣ | الخالص | DYL | ... | 51,003 | 62,500 | 0 | ||
| Al-Khiḍir | الخضر | MTN | ... | 34,597 | 42,824 | 0 | ||
| Al-Kifl | الكفل | BAB | ... | 18,700 | 22,845 | 0 | ||
| Al-Kūfah | الكوفة | NJF | ... | 141,472 | 171,305 | 0 | ||
| Al-Kūt [Kut] | الكوت | WST | 183,183 | 312,610 | 389,376 | 0 | ||
| Al-Madā'in | المدائن | BGD | ... | 23,206 | 28,243 | 0 | ||
| Al-Madḥatiyah | المدحتية | BAB | ... | 48,672 | 59,458 | 0 | ||
| Al-Maḥāwīl | المحاویل | BAB | ... | 25,499 | 31,150 | 0 | ||
| Al-Maḥmūdiyah | المحمودیة | BGD | ... | 83,336 | 101,421 | 0 | ||
| Al-Maīmūnah | المیمونة | MYS | ... | 16,172 | 19,894 | 0 | ||
| Al-Majar al-Kabīr | المجر الكبير | MYS | ... | 76,365 | 93,937 | 0 | ||
| Al-Manādhirah | المناذرة | NJF | ... | 26,198 | 31,723 | 0 | ||
| Al-Mashrū' | المشروع | BAB | ... | 31,662 | 38,679 | 0 | ||
| Al-Mawṣil [Mosul] | الموصل | NIN | 664,221 | 1,136,990 | 1,361,819 | 0 | ||
| Al-Midaīnah | المدینة | BSR | ... | 25,554 | 31,388 | 0 | ||
| Al-Mishkhāb | المشخاب | NJF | ... | 25,319 | 30,658 | 0 | ||
| Al-Muqdādiyah | المقدادیة | DYL | ... | 65,038 | 79,699 | 0 | ||
| Al-Musayab | المسیب | BAB | ... | 46,934 | 57,335 | 0 | ||
| Al-Qaḥṭānyah | القحطانیة | NIN | ... | 47,385 | 56,755 | 0 | ||
| Al-Qā'im | القائم | ANB | ... | 60,055 | 74,056 | 0 | ||
| Al-Qaīrawān (Bulaīj) | القیروان / بليج | NIN | ... | 34,998 | 41,918 | 0 | ||
| Al-Qāsim | القاسم | BAB | ... | 66,713 | 81,498 | 0 | ||
| Al-Qurnah | القرنة | BSR | ... | 102,936 | 126,434 | 0 | ||
| Altūn Kūbrī | التون كوبري | KRK | ... | 23,085 | 28,696 | 0 | ||
| Al-Waḥdah | الوحدة | BGD | ... | 91,071 | 110,836 | 0 | ||
| 'Anah | عنھ | ANB | ... | 17,025 | 20,995 | 0 | ||
| An-Najaf [Najaf] | النجف | NJF | 309,010 | 617,125 | 747,261 | 0 | ||
| An-Naṣir & As-Salām | النصر والسلام | BGD | ... | 52,245 | 63,584 | 0 | ||
| An-Nāṣiriyah [Nasiriyah] | الناصرية | DHI | 265,937 | 455,721 | 558,446 | 0 | ||
| An-Naṣr | النصر | DHI | ... | 41,698 | 51,097 | 0 | ||
| An-Nu'māniyah | النعمانیة | WST | ... | 56,988 | 70,982 | 0 | ||
| Arbīl (Hewlêr) [Erbil] | أربيل | ARB | 485,968 | 725,356 | 879,071 | 0 | ||
| Ar-Ramādī [Ramadi] | الرمادي | ANB | 192,556 | 181,264 | 223,525 | 0 | ||
| Ar-Rifā'ī | الرفاعي | DHI | ... | 60,885 | 74,609 | 0 | ||
| Ar-Rumaītah | الرمیتة | MTN | ... | 69,528 | 86,063 | 0 | ||
| Ar-Ruṭbah | الرطبة | ANB | ... | 23,042 | 28,414 | 0 | ||
| Ash-Shamāl | الشمال | NIN | ... | 106,874 | 128,007 | 0 | ||
| Ash-Shāmiyah | الشامیة | QAD | ... | 47,711 | 58,007 | 0 | ||
| Ash-Shaṭrah | الشطرة | DHI | ... | 148,664 | 182,175 | 0 | ||
| Ash-Shināqiyah | الشناقیة | QAD | ... | 17,245 | 20,964 | 0 | ||
| Ash-Shirqāṭ | الشرقاط | SLD | ... | 44,912 | 54,629 | 0 | ||
| As-Samāwah [Samawah] | السماوة | MTN | ... | 179,140 | 221,743 | 0 | ||
| Aṣ-Ṣaynīah | الصینیة | SLD | ... | 26,661 | 32,428 | 0 | ||
| As-Sulaymāniyah (Silêmanî) [Sulaymaniyah] | السليمانية | SLM | 364,096 | 559,685 | 676,492 | 0 | ||
| Aṣ-Ṣuwaīrah | الصویرة | WST | ... | 61,954 | 77,168 | 0 | ||
| Aṭ-Ṭārmiyah | الطارمية | BGD | ... | 29,222 | 35,564 | 0 | ||
| 'Az Aldīn Salīm (Al-Huwaīr) | عز الدین سلیم / الهوير | BSR | ... | 23,202 | 28,498 | 0 | ||
| Az-Zubaīdiyah | الزبیدیة | WST | ... | 15,956 | 19,874 | 0 | ||
| Az-Zubayr [Zubayr] | الزبیر | BSR | ... | 244,855 | 300,751 | 0 | ||
| Baghdād [Baghdad] | بغداد | BGD | 3,841,268 | 5,521,242 | 6,719,476 | 0 | → | |
| Baghdīdā (Al-Ḥamdāniyah) | بغديدا / الحمدانية | NIN | ... | 38,493 | 46,105 | 0 | ||
| Baījī | بیجي | SLD | ... | 68,170 | 82,918 | 0 | ||
| Bakrah Jū (Bekreco) | بكرة جو | SLM | ... | 59,108 | 71,444 | 0 | ||
| Balad | بلد | SLD | ... | 49,281 | 59,943 | 0 | ||
| Baladrūz | بلدروز | DYL | ... | 52,122 | 63,871 | 0 | ||
| Banī Sa'd | بني سعد | DYL | ... | 22,169 | 27,166 | 0 | ||
| Banjwīn (Pêncwîn) | بنجوین | SLM | ... | 19,738 | 23,858 | 0 | ||
| Ba'qūbah [Baqubah] | بعقوبة | DYL | ... | 227,785 | 279,133 | 0 | ||
| Bardarash (Berdereş) | بردرش | DHK | ... | 22,010 | 26,781 | 0 | ||
| Barṭallah | برطلة | NIN | ... | 17,966 | 21,518 | 0 | ||
| Ba'shīqah | بعشیقة | NIN | ... | 28,072 | 33,623 | 0 | ||
| Bāzyān (Bazyan) | بازیان | SLM | ... | 31,270 | 37,796 | 0 | ||
| Bīrah Makrūn (Pîremegirûn) | بیرة مكرون | SLM | ... | 23,013 | 27,816 | 0 | ||
| Buhruz (Ashnūnā) | بھرز / أشنونا | DYL | ... | 29,787 | 36,502 | 0 | ||
| Dahūk (Dihok) [Dohuk] | دهوك | DHK | ... | 280,137 | 340,871 | 0 | ||
| Dāqūq | داقوق | KRK | ... | 18,319 | 22,772 | 0 | ||
| Dārahtūū (Daretû) | دارةتوو | ARB | ... | 44,308 | 53,697 | 0 | ||
| Darbandikhān (Derbendîxan) | دربندخان | SLM | ... | 37,630 | 45,483 | 0 | ||
| Dhashtā Hawlī'r (Benṣalāwah, Deşta Hewlêrê) | دةشتى ھةولیَر/ بنصلاوة | ARB | ... | 48,035 | 58,214 | 0 | ||
| Dīrahlūk (Dêreluk) | دیَرةلوك | DHK | ... | 38,725 | 47,121 | 0 | ||
| Fāīdah | فایدة | NIN | ... | 57,610 | 69,001 | 0 | ||
| Ghammās | غماس | QAD | ... | 28,532 | 34,690 | 0 | ||
| Ḥadīṭha | حدیثة | ANB | ... | 37,707 | 46,498 | 0 | ||
| Ḥājī 'Āwā (Hacîawe) | حاجي ئاوا | SLM | ... | 44,440 | 53,714 | 0 | ||
| Ḥalabjah (Helebce) | حلبجة | HLB | ... | 55,588 | 67,190 | 0 | ||
| Ḥalabjah Tāzah (Helebcey Taze) [New Halabja] | حلبجة تازة | SLM | ... | 36,685 | 44,341 | 0 | ||
| Ḥamām al-'Alīl | حمام العلیل | NIN | ... | 19,862 | 23,790 | 0 | ||
| Harīr (Harîr) | ھریر | ARB | ... | 24,830 | 30,092 | 0 | ||
| Hīt | ھیت | ANB | ... | 54,055 | 66,657 | 0 | ||
| Jalawlā' | جلولاء | DYL | ... | 50,690 | 62,117 | 0 | ||
| Jamjamāl (Çemçemal) | جمجمال | SLM | ... | 54,003 | 65,274 | 0 | ||
| Jwār Qūrnah (Çiwarqurne) | جوار قورنة | SLM | ... | 37,483 | 45,305 | 0 | ||
| Kalār (Kelar) | كلار | SLM | ... | 120,099 | 145,164 | 0 | ||
| Kan'ān | كنعان | DYL | ... | 18,349 | 22,486 | 0 | ||
| Karbalā' (incl. Al-Ḥur, Al-Ḥasaīniyah) [Kerbala] | كربلاء | KRB | 296,705 | 588,283 | 711,530 | 0 | ||
| Khabāt (Xebat) | خبات | ARB | ... | 28,497 | 34,536 | 0 | ||
| Khalīfān (Xelîfan) | خلیفان | ARB | ... | 18,146 | 21,991 | 0 | ||
| Khānaqīn | خانقین | DYL | ... | 42,057 | 51,538 | 0 | ||
| Khasnahzān (Kesnezan) | كةسنةزان | ARB | ... | 54,391 | 65,917 | 0 | ||
| Kifrī (Kifrî) | كفري | SLM | ... | 28,626 | 34,600 | 0 | ||
| Kirkūk [Kirkuk] | كركوك | KRK | 418,624 | 782,143 | 972,272 | 0 | ||
| Kuysanjaq (Koya) | كؤیسنجق | ARB | ... | 51,196 | 62,046 | 0 | ||
| Qaladiza (Qeladizê) | قلدز | SLM | ... | 61,182 | 73,951 | 0 | ||
| Qal'at Ṣāliḥ (Madhar) | قلعة صالح | MYS | ... | 30,980 | 38,109 | 0 | ||
| Qal'at Sikar | قلعة سكر | DHI | ... | 43,551 | 53,367 | 0 | ||
| Qasrūk (Qesrok) | قسروك | DHK | ... | 46,357 | 56,407 | 0 | ||
| Rānyah (Raniye) | رانیة | SLM | ... | 76,111 | 91,995 | 0 | ||
| Rizkārī (Rizgarî) | رزكاري | SLM | ... | 29,829 | 36,054 | 0 | ||
| Rizkāry (Rizgarî) | رِزكارى | ARB | ... | 26,769 | 32,441 | 0 | ||
| Saddat al-Hindiyah | سدة الھندیة | BAB | ... | 27,739 | 33,886 | 0 | ||
| Safwān | سفوان | BSR | ... | 20,995 | 25,787 | 0 | ||
| Saīd Ṣādiq (Seyd Sadiq) | سید صادق | SLM | ... | 50,995 | 61,638 | 0 | ||
| Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn (Selahedîn) | صلاح الدین | ARB | ... | 31,578 | 38,270 | 0 | ||
| Sāmarrā' | سامراء | SLD | ... | 119,022 | 144,771 | 0 | ||
| Shaqlāwah (Şeqlawe) | شقلاوة | ARB | ... | 21,011 | 25,464 | 0 | ||
| Shaṭṭ al-'Arab | شط العرب | BSR | ... | 108,277 | 132,995 | 0 | ||
| Shūrash (Şoriş) | شورش | SLM | ... | 42,703 | 51,615 | 0 | ||
| Sinjār | سنجار | NIN | ... | 33,921 | 40,629 | 0 | ||
| Sumaīl (Sêmêl) [Simele] | سمیل | DHK | ... | 58,808 | 71,557 | 0 | ||
| Sūq ash-Shuyūkh | سوق الشیوخ | DHI | ... | 107,373 | 131,576 | 0 | ||
| Sūrān / Diyānā (Soran) | سؤران | ARB | ... | 100,512 | 131,813 | 0 | ||
| Tāj Aldīn (Al-Ḥafriyah) | تاج الدین / الحفریة | WST | ... | 33,542 | 41,779 | 0 | ||
| Ṭakiyah (Tekiye) | تة كیة | SLM | ... | 22,953 | 27,743 | 0 | ||
| Tal'afar | تلعفر | NIN | ... | 143,982 | 172,453 | 0 | ||
| Ṭalḥah (Aṣ-Ṣādiq) | طلحة / الصادق | BSR | ... | 37,147 | 45,631 | 0 | ||
| Talkayf (Tel Keppe) | تلكیف | NIN | ... | 29,216 | 34,993 | 0 | ||
| Tānjarū (Tancero) | تانجرو | SLM | ... | 17,524 | 21,181 | 0 | ||
| Ṭaq Ṭaq (Teqteq) | تةق تةق | ARB | ... | 16,886 | 20,464 | 0 | ||
| Tikrīt | تكريت | SLD | ... | 89,584 | 108,964 | 0 | ||
| Ṭūz Khūrmātū | طوز خورماتو | SLD | ... | 84,323 | 102,565 | 0 | ||
| Umm Qaṣr | أم قصر | BSR | ... | 40,531 | 49,783 | 0 | ||
| Zākhū (Zaxo) | زاخو | DHK | ... | 174,197 | 211,964 | 0 |
- The urban population of subdistricts is presented. Thus, in some cases (e.g. Ash-Shamāl) the tabulated figures may refer to more than one settlement.
- (1987) UN Demographic Yearbook 1993.
(2009) (2018) Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (web).