Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq
Iraq: Do more people live in urban or rural areas? was 69.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
69.9%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
106th
of 238 countries
All-time high
70.2%
in 1987
All-time low
2.5%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq stood at 69.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq peaked at 70.2% in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 1000.
That places Iraq 106th out of 238 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 2.5% | — |
| 1100 | 2.6% | +6.0% |
| 1200 | 2.8% | +5.6% |
| 1300 | 2.9% | +5.3% |
| 1400 | 3.1% | +5.1% |
| 1500 | 3.2% | +4.8% |
| 1600 | 3.4% | +4.6% |
| 1700 | 3.5% | +4.4% |
| 1710 | 4.0% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 4.7% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 5.2% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 5.7% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 6.2% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 6.8% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 7.5% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 8.2% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 9.0% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 9.8% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 10.8% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 11.8% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 12.9% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 14.1% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 15.5% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 17.0% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 18.6% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 20.3% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 22.3% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 24.4% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 26.7% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 29.3% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 32.1% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 35.0% | +9.0% |
| 1951 | 35.5% | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 36.2% | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 36.9% | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 37.7% | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 38.6% | +2.2% |
| 1956 | 39.5% | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 40.4% | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 41.4% | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 42.6% | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 44.0% | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 45.5% | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 47.0% | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 48.6% | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 50.0% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 51.4% | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 52.5% | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 53.7% | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 54.8% | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 55.9% | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 57.0% | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 58.0% | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 59.0% | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 60.0% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 60.9% | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 61.8% | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 62.7% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 63.5% | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 64.3% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 65.1% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 66.0% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 66.9% | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 67.7% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 68.5% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 69.1% | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 69.7% | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 70.0% | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 70.2% | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 70.2% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 70.0% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 69.7% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 69.4% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 69.0% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 68.6% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 68.2% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 67.8% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 67.6% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 67.5% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 67.5% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 67.5% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 67.8% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 67.9% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 68.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 68.2% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 68.4% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 68.6% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 68.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 68.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 69.1% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 69.1% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 69.2% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 69.4% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 69.7% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 69.9% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 69.9% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 69.9% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 69.9% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 69.9% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 69.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 69.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 69.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 69.9% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 69.9% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 69.9% | +0.1% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 69.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 69.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 79.5%, 88% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1100s | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1 |
| 1200s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
| 1300s | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1 |
| 1400s | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1710s | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1730s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1740s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1750s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 1760s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1770s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1780s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1790s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1810s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1 |
| 1820s | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 1 |
| 1830s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 1850s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 1 |
| 1860s | 15.5% | 15.5% | 15.5% | 1 |
| 1870s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 1890s | 20.3% | 20.3% | 20.3% | 1 |
| 1900s | 22.3% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 1 |
| 1910s | 24.4% | 24.4% | 24.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 1 |
| 1930s | 29.3% | 29.3% | 29.3% | 1 |
| 1940s | 32.1% | 32.1% | 32.1% | 1 |
| 1950s | 38.4% | 35.0% | 42.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 50.3% | 44.0% | 55.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 61.2% | 57.0% | 65.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 68.8% | 66.0% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 68.3% | 67.5% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.3% | 67.6% | 69.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.6% | 69.1% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 69.9% | 69.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq?
- Do more people live in urban or rural areas? in Iraq was 69.9% in 2025, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 70.2% in 1987.
- What is the lowest do more people live in urban or rural areas? recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 1000.
- How does Iraq rank for do more people live in urban or rural areas??
- Iraq ranks 106th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is do more people live in urban or rural areas? rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Do more people live in urban or rural areas?. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 108 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.