Net migration in Iraq
Iraq: Net migration was -1,064 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Iraq, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Iraq stood at -1,064.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 94.0% on the previous year and up 95.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Iraq peaked at 753,907 in 2012 and was at its lowest, -1.21 million, in 2006.
Iraq ranks 110th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,573 | — |
| 1961 | 2,981 | +89.5% |
| 1962 | 3,343 | +12.1% |
| 1963 | 3,197 | -4.4% |
| 1964 | 3,224 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 4,555 | +41.3% |
| 1966 | 1,298 | -71.5% |
| 1967 | 2,531 | +95.0% |
| 1968 | 928 | -63.3% |
| 1969 | 312 | -66.4% |
| 1970 | 1,377 | +341.3% |
| 1971 | -6,479 | -570.5% |
| 1972 | -2,600 | -59.9% |
| 1973 | -1,507 | -42.0% |
| 1974 | -4,090 | +171.4% |
| 1975 | -6,237 | +52.5% |
| 1976 | -13,915 | +123.1% |
| 1977 | 8,204 | -159.0% |
| 1978 | 7,434 | -9.4% |
| 1979 | -20,617 | -377.3% |
| 1980 | 15,757 | -176.4% |
| 1981 | -23,640 | -250.0% |
| 1982 | -22,302 | -5.7% |
| 1983 | 23,115 | -203.6% |
| 1984 | 21,709 | -6.1% |
| 1985 | -199,505 | -1019.0% |
| 1986 | 39,136 | -119.6% |
| 1987 | -108,426 | -377.0% |
| 1988 | -81,562 | -24.8% |
| 1989 | 19,392 | -123.8% |
| 1990 | -601,469 | -3201.6% |
| 1991 | -95,155 | -84.2% |
| 1992 | 20,292 | -121.3% |
| 1993 | 581,818 | +2767.2% |
| 1994 | 54,355 | -90.7% |
| 1995 | 40,424 | -25.6% |
| 1996 | 14,652 | -63.8% |
| 1997 | 15,429 | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 48,446 | +214.0% |
| 1999 | 69,491 | +43.4% |
| 2000 | 87,624 | +26.1% |
| 2001 | 14,451 | -83.5% |
| 2002 | 133,839 | +826.2% |
| 2003 | -27,236 | -120.3% |
| 2004 | 69,948 | -356.8% |
| 2005 | 51,019 | -27.1% |
| 2006 | -1.21 million | -2465.5% |
| 2007 | -824,428 | -31.7% |
| 2008 | 396,792 | -148.1% |
| 2009 | 120,092 | -69.7% |
| 2010 | 92,779 | -22.7% |
| 2011 | 261,880 | +182.3% |
| 2012 | 753,907 | +187.9% |
| 2013 | 474,379 | -37.1% |
| 2014 | -5,033 | -101.1% |
| 2015 | -22,338 | +343.8% |
| 2016 | -113,980 | +410.3% |
| 2017 | -21,998 | -80.7% |
| 2018 | 15,775 | -171.7% |
| 2019 | -43,919 | -378.4% |
| 2020 | 29,858 | -168.0% |
| 2021 | 17,474 | -41.5% |
| 2022 | 76,821 | +339.6% |
| 2023 | -5,710 | -107.4% |
| 2024 | -17,735 | +210.6% |
| 2025 | -1,064 | -94.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's -1,064 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2,815, 38% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iraq's -1,064 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -581, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Iraq changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -3201.6% | 19,392 | -601,469 |
| 1993 | +2767.2% | 20,292 | 581,818 |
| 2006 | -2465.5% | 51,019 | -1.21 million |
| 1985 | -1019.0% | 21,709 | -199,505 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,394 | 312 | 4,555 | 10 |
| 1970s | -3,843 | -20,617 | 8,204 | 10 |
| 1980s | -31,633 | -199,505 | 39,136 | 10 |
| 1990s | 14,828 | -601,469 | 581,818 | 10 |
| 2000s | -118,475 | -1.21 million | 396,792 | 10 |
| 2010s | 139,145 | -113,980 | 753,907 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,607 | -17,735 | 76,821 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 107 Northern Mariana Islands -963 compare
- 108 Suriname -967 compare
- 109 American Samoa -1,051 compare
- 111 Micronesia (country) -1,125 compare
- 112 Saint Martin (French part) -1,170 compare
- 113 French Polynesia -1,199 compare
More financial sector data for Iraq
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 8.44 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 6.17 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0016 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 8.44 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Iraq?
- Net migration in Iraq was -1,064 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 753,907 in 2012.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.21 million in 2006.
- How does Iraq rank for net migration?
- Iraq ranks 110th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.