Iraq’s first census in four decades shows population has passed 45 million

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani hails project as 'great national achievement'

Iraq held the nationwide census last week after it was delayed several times. AFP

Initial results from Iraq’s national census showed the country’s population stood at 45.4 million, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said.

Iraq conducted its first census in about four decades last week, a task that promised to deliver critical data to guide development and possibly redefine the country’s political and economic landscape. Mr Al Sudani said on Monday that the census showed that men make up half of the population, 70.3 per cent of the population live in rural areas, and 29.7 per cent live in the countryside. The population growth rate is 2.3 per cent.

Holding a census was a priority for Mr Al Sudani when he took office in October 2022. His government has sought to build on the current political stability and improved security nationwide to push for reforms and development projects, mainly in public services.

About 60.2 per cent of the population is aged between 15 and 65, or "of working age", he said. Those under 15 years old account for 36.1 per cent of the population, he added. An average Iraqi family comprises about five members, the results showed.

"We have accomplished a significant step within the framework of planning, development and advancement, following proper scientific methods," Mr Al Sudani said during the televised briefing, alongside Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim and a UN Population Fund representative.

"It's a great national achievement," Mr Al Sudani said. "We affirm our commitment to continuing the development process aimed at transforming the reality of our current generation and future generations towards tangible and sustainable growth."

Mr Al Sudani said the initial results included foreign citizens and refugees, but did not provide a breakdown.

In a significant endorsement, the UNFP adviser in Iraq, Mahdi Al Alaq, said the census "proceeded smoothly and with a high level of transparency, the enumerators sent data through tablets directly without any interference".

The census was the first to use advanced technologies for gathering and analysing data, providing a comprehensive picture of Iraq’s demographic, social, and economic landscape, officials said. About 120,000 census workers surveyed households across the country, covering about 160 homes each over two days.

Iraq has carried out censuses since its first in 1920, the first being conducted by British authorities. After a fourth in 1947, the Iraqi monarchy established a law mandating a census every decade.

The census in 1987 was the last one that covered all of Iraq. The most recent in 1997 did not include the northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region, which had at the time acquired international protection after the Iraqi army was driven out of Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.

There were attempts to conduct a census after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, but political infighting over several issues, most notably tension over disputed territories, as well as security concerns, lack of funds and the Covid-19 pandemic led to it being delayed several times.

During the hiatus, the Central Organisation for Statistics and Information Technology – the Iraqi government's statistics agency – had been conducting estimates. According to their figures, the population stood at about 43 million, based mainly on an annual birth rate of between 850,000 and one million a year.

The next phase of the census will run over the coming weeks before final results, which will include more detailed information such as health, education, employment, economic status and disabilities. The final figures will be available up to three months later.

The results are crucial for determining parliamentary representation, budget allocations and the development of effective public policies in the country grappling with crumbling infrastructure, power cuts, water shortages and outdated roads.