Rural population growth in Iraq
Iraq: Rural population growth was 1.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Iraq, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population growth in Iraq is 1.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 6.8% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Iraq peaked at 6.1% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -1.3%, in 2007.
That places Iraq 21st out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Iraq, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -0.3% | — |
| 1962 | 0.1% | -136.0% |
| 1963 | 0.4% | +284.8% |
| 1964 | 0.5% | +12.0% |
| 1965 | 0.7% | +52.9% |
| 1966 | 0.9% | +29.7% |
| 1967 | 1.0% | +4.1% |
| 1968 | 1.0% | +1.9% |
| 1969 | 1.0% | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 1.0% | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 1.0% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 1.0% | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -2.6% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.0% | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | +12.5% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 0.8% | -29.0% |
| 1980 | 0.6% | -24.4% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | -31.7% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -33.7% |
| 1983 | 0.6% | +112.5% |
| 1984 | 1.0% | +70.6% |
| 1985 | 0.7% | -32.7% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +84.3% |
| 1987 | 2.2% | +74.8% |
| 1988 | 2.4% | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 3.2% | +34.6% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | -32.9% |
| 1991 | 2.2% | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +91.5% |
| 1993 | 6.1% | +43.7% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | -26.9% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | -10.1% |
| 1997 | 3.5% | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -9.1% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 3.0% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -7.8% |
| 2005 | 2.4% | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | -91.7% |
| 2007 | -1.3% | -740.7% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -221.6% |
| 2009 | 3.3% | +110.6% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -10.5% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | +27.4% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | -29.9% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | -32.6% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | +28.2% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 2.2% | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 2.3% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | -8.3% |
| 2025 | 1.9% | -6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.6% | -0.3% | 1.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.3% | 0.3% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.9% | 2.2% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | -1.3% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 1.9% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More agriculture & rural data for Iraq
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -8.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0341 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 184.67 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3006 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 3.41 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 3.41 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2016)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.1% (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Iraq?
- Rural population growth in Iraq was 1.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 6.1% in 1993.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.3% in 2007.
- How does Iraq rank for rural population growth?
- Iraq ranks 21st out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.