Iraq - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Iraq was 28,514,940 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 28,514,940 in 2020 and a minimum value of 3,127,231 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 3,127,231
1961 3,321,447
1962 3,528,451
1963 3,749,757
1964 3,987,431
1965 4,242,424
1966 4,487,185
1967 4,737,199
1968 5,002,623
1969 5,280,603
1970 5,569,341
1971 5,867,784
1972 6,176,316
1973 6,495,300
1974 6,826,943
1975 7,171,878
1976 7,530,612
1977 7,901,444
1978 8,253,726
1979 8,598,796
1980 8,945,810
1981 9,294,817
1982 9,646,516
1983 9,998,788
1984 10,349,520
1985 10,697,260
1986 11,040,740
1987 11,382,710
1988 11,640,580
1989 11,877,600
1990 12,142,170
1991 12,437,110
1992 12,759,910
1993 13,107,820
1994 13,475,510
1995 13,858,720
1996 14,255,730
1997 14,665,740
1998 15,123,550
1999 15,606,190
2000 16,094,910
2001 16,594,710
2002 17,104,300
2003 17,607,000
2004 18,080,760
2005 18,513,370
2006 18,889,520
2007 19,223,310
2008 19,565,440
2009 19,985,680
2010 20,552,600
2011 21,282,800
2012 22,141,870
2013 23,075,660
2014 24,005,090
2015 24,872,490
2016 25,661,860
2017 26,391,350
2018 27,085,310
2019 27,783,370
2020 28,514,940

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization