Najaf, Iraq Metro Area Population 1950-2024

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Najaf, Iraq metro area from 1950 to 2024. United Nations population projections are also included through the year 2035.
  • The current metro area population of Najaf in 2024 is 988,000, a 3.13% increase from 2023.
  • The metro area population of Najaf in 2023 was 958,000, a 3.01% increase from 2022.
  • The metro area population of Najaf in 2022 was 930,000, a 3.22% increase from 2021.
  • The metro area population of Najaf in 2021 was 901,000, a 3.09% increase from 2020.
Data Source: United Nations - World Population Prospects

MLA Citation:
Other Cities in Iraq
City Name Population
Baghdad 7,921,000
Mosul 1,848,000
Basra 1,485,000
Kirkuk 1,100,000
Najaf 988,000
Erbil 918,000
Sulaimaniya 823,000
Amara 754,000
Nasiriyah 691,000
Hillah 657,000
Karbala 603,000
Diwaniyah 592,000
Kut 512,000
Ramadi 491,000
Faloojah 377,000
Baaqoobah 366,000
Samarra 339,000
Najaf - Historical Population Data
Year Population Growth Rate
2024 988,000 3.13%
2023 958,000 3.01%
2022 930,000 3.22%
2021 901,000 3.09%
2020 874,000 3.19%
2019 847,000 3.29%
2018 820,000 3.14%
2017 795,000 3.25%
2016 770,000 3.22%
2015 746,000 3.18%
2014 723,000 3.29%
2013 700,000 3.09%
2012 679,000 3.35%
2011 657,000 3.14%
2010 637,000 3.24%
2009 617,000 0.49%
2008 614,000 0.49%
2007 611,000 0.49%
2006 608,000 0.50%
2005 605,000 0.67%
2004 601,000 0.50%
2003 598,000 3.28%
2002 579,000 3.39%
2001 560,000 3.32%
2000 542,000 3.44%
1999 524,000 3.35%
1998 507,000 3.68%
1997 489,000 4.94%
1996 466,000 4.72%
1995 445,000 4.95%
1994 424,000 4.69%
1993 405,000 4.92%
1992 386,000 4.89%
1991 368,000 4.84%
1990 351,000 4.78%
1989 335,000 5.02%
1988 319,000 4.25%
1987 306,000 4.08%
1986 294,000 3.52%
1985 284,000 4.03%
1984 273,000 3.80%
1983 263,000 3.95%
1982 253,000 3.69%
1981 244,000 3.83%
1980 235,000 3.52%
1979 227,000 4.13%
1978 218,000 3.81%
1977 210,000 3.45%
1976 203,000 4.10%
1975 195,000 3.72%
1974 188,000 3.87%
1973 181,000 4.02%
1972 174,000 3.57%
1971 168,000 3.70%
1970 162,000 3.85%
1969 156,000 4.00%
1968 150,000 3.45%
1967 145,000 4.32%
1966 139,000 3.73%
1965 134,000 5.51%
1964 127,000 5.83%
1963 120,000 5.26%
1962 114,000 5.56%
1961 108,000 4.85%
1960 103,000 5.10%
1959 98,000 5.38%
1958 93,000 3.33%
1957 90,000 -1.10%
1956 91,000 -1.09%
1955 92,000 -1.08%
1954 93,000 -1.06%
1953 94,000 -2.08%
1952 96,000 -1.03%
1951 97,000 -1.02%
1950 98,000 0.00%