Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani revealed the preliminary results of the country’s general population and housing census on Monday, confirming that Iraq’s population now stands at 45,407,895.

Speaking at a press conference, Al-Sudani highlighted the significance of this achievement in advancing Iraq's planning and development goals.

 “This marks a crucial step in our journey towards sustainable development,” he said, expressing gratitude to citizens for adhering to curfews and cooperating with census teams.

He also thanked census officials, security forces, the United Nations Population Fund, and religious leaders for their support throughout the process.

This marks the first comprehensive population census since 1987. Al-Sudani noted that the 1997 census excluded the Kurdistan Region.

He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring this census was conducted as part of a broader strategy for sustainable development benefitting both current and future generations.

Key Findings:

• Population Composition: Iraq’s population totals 45,407,895, with 70.3% living in urban areas and 29.7% in rural regions.
• Household Statistics: Iraq is home to 7,898,588 families, averaging 5.3 members per household.
• Gender Breakdown: Males represent 50.1% of the population (22,784,062), while females account for 49.8% (22,623,833).
• Age Distribution:
  • Under 15 years: 36.1%
  • Working age (15–64 years): 60.2%
  • Over 65 years: 3.7%
• Population Growth Rate: Iraq’s population is growing at a rate of 2.3%.
• Housing Units: The country has 8,037,221 housing units, with 92.1% being traditional floors, 6.6% apartments, and 4.01% mud floors.

Al-Sudani also noted Iraq’s entry into the “demographic gift” phase, with 60% of the population in the working-age bracket, creating opportunities for economic growth.

The Prime Minister underscored the importance of these statistics for shaping Iraq’s future development plans and addressing the needs of its citizens effectively.