Iraq’s Population Surges to 45.4 Million in First Census in Over 30 Years

Iraq’s population has reached 45.4 million, according to preliminary results from the first national census in over three decades, announced by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Arab News reported yesterday.

Conducted on November 20, this census marks a significant milestone for the country, which last counted its population in 1997, excluding the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Before the census, the Iraqi planning ministry estimated the population at 43 million. The 1997 census recorded 19 million Iraqis, with an estimated additional 3 million in the Kurdish north. This census is crucial for future planning and development in Iraq, providing updated demographic data that can inform government policies and resource allocation.