Iraq’s population grew to 45.4 million, says first survey in decades

Preliminary results from Iraq's first national census in nearly four decades indicate that the country’s population has reached 45.4 million, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced.

The census, conducted earlier this month, represents a significant step towards modernizing data collection and planning in a nation that has long been affected by conflict and political fragmentation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Prime Minister al-Sudani revealed that the initial findings show Iraq's population now stands at approximately 45.4 million. In contrast, an unofficial estimate in 2009 pegged the population at 31.6 million.

The gender breakdown from the preliminary results reveals a nearly equal distribution, with males constituting 50.1 per cent of the population and females 49.8 per cent.

The census, the first in 37 years, is a highly sensitive issue in Iraq, with significant implications for the distribution of resources, budget allocations, and development strategies. Minority groups have expressed concerns that a documented decline in their population could lead to diminished political power and reduced economic benefits within the country’s sectarian-based power-sharing system.

In line with a directive from Iraq's federal court, the census excluded questions regarding ethnicity and sectarian affiliation, instead focusing only on broad religious categories such as Muslim and Christian.

By Vafa Guliyeva