Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iraq
Iraq: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 31.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iraq, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iraq is 31.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iraq peaked at 31.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
That places Iraq 32nd out of 180 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 7.8% | 0.0% | 15.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 17.1% | 16.6% | 17.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 18.4% | 18.3% | 18.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 18.4% | 18.0% | 18.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.7% | 17.5% | 19.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 26.0% | 25.6% | 26.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.0% | 31.0% | 31.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Spring temperature anomalies -1.96 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.4693 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.0842 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies -0.077 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.27 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.6 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iraq?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Iraq was 31.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 31.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Iraq rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Iraq ranks 32nd out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.