Iraq is a country in Western Asia, one of the 17 entries this site files under that subregion. The long form of the name is Republic of Iraq. The capital is Baghdad.
Its territory runs to 438,317 km², which ranks it 60th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Morocco and just ahead of Paraguay. For scale, it is almost exactly the same size as Morocco.
Some 46.0 million people call it home, placing it 34th of 250 by population — between Algeria above it and Argentina below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 4th of 17 in size and 2nd in population.
How Iraq sits on the globe
The coordinates the dataset gives are 33.0° N, 44.0° E, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 3,674 km from the equator, in what geographers would call subtropical latitudes.
China, Morocco and Tunisia sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
6 countries share a land border with it: Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Türkiye. The largest of them by area is Saudi Arabia, while the most populous is Iran. Together those neighbours hold about 253.5 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population, density and language
Density comes out at around 105 people per square kilometre, which makes it more crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
3 languages carry official status: Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. Aramaic and Sorani are listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes them effectively unique to Iraq. Arabic, the first listed, is shared with 24 other entries worldwide.
The demonym is Iraqi, so residents are Iraqis.
Inside Asia it places 14th of 50 by population, and it accounts for 15% of everyone living in Western Asia.
Money, internet and phone codes
It uses the Iraqi dinar (ع.د, IQD). It is issued for Iraq alone.
The top-level domain is .iq. Calls from overseas start with +964. In ISO terms it is iq in two letters and IRQ in three.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Iraq, the answer is Baghdad.
Iraq is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Iraq shares borders with 6 countries:
Fun facts about Iraq
- In land area it is almost exactly the same size as Morocco.
- Within Western Asia it is the 4th largest of 17.
- Ranked by land area, Iraq is 60th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- Arabic is official here and in 24 other entries worldwide.
- Its full official name is Republic of Iraq.
- People from Iraq are known as Iraqis.
Iraq — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Iraq?
- The capital of Iraq is Baghdad.
- What is the population of Iraq?
- Iraq has a population of about 46.0 million, which makes it the 34th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Algeria sits just above it and Argentina just below.
- Which countries border Iraq?
- Iraq borders 6 countries: Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Türkiye. Saudi Arabia is the largest of them by area.
- What currency does Iraq use?
- Iraq uses the Iraqi dinar, written ع.د (currency code IQD). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Is Iraq a country?
- Yes. Iraq is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What language is spoken in Iraq?
- Iraq lists 3 official languages: Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani. Aramaic and Sorani do not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- How big is Iraq?
- Iraq covers 438,317 km², ranking 60th of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Morocco.
- Where is Iraq located?
- Iraq is in Western Asia, part of Asia. Its reference coordinates are 33.0° north and 44.0° east, roughly 3,674 km from the equator in subtropical latitudes.
