Iraq Rate of Natural Increase

Iraq’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—remains relatively high compared to many of its neighbors. As of recent data, Iraq’s RNI hovers around 2.3% per year, reflecting a youthful population and high fertility rates. In contrast, neighboring Iran has experienced a dramatic decline in its RNI, now below 1%, due to effective family planning policies and a significant drop in fertility rates. Turkey’s RNI is also lower, around 1.1%, as it too has seen declining birth rates. Meanwhile, countries like Syria and Jordan have RNIs closer to Iraq’s, though ongoing conflict and migration have affected Syria’s demographic trends. In the Gulf states, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the RNI is lower than Iraq’s, largely due to smaller national populations and lower fertility rates, though their overall population growth is often bolstered by immigration. Thus, Iraq stands out in the region for its sustained high natural population growth, driven by both high birth rates and a relatively low death rate.

Data from US Census International Database