According to the nationwide Iraqi census conducted on November 20–21, the Kurdistan Region’s population stands at 6,370,668, accounting for 14% of Iraq’s total population of 45,407,895. While this figure includes internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, the precise proportion of these groups within Kurdistan’s population remains unclear.

Demographic Breakdown

  • Gender Distribution:
    • Males: 3,200,506 (50.4%)
    • Females: 3,170,162 (49.6%)
  • Urban-Rural Distribution:
    • Urban residents: 84%
    • Rural residents: 16%
  • Age Distribution:
    • Under 15 years: 31.9%
    • Ages 15–64 years: 63.7%
    • 65 years and above: 4.4%

Housing and Families

  • Total Families: 1,379,163
  • Housing Units: 2,028,937
  • Average Family Size: 4.6 persons
  • Population Growth Rate: 2.48%

Key Iraq vs. Kurdistan Comparative Points from Preliminary Census Data

Household Composition

  • Kurdistan: Average household size is 4.6 persons.
  • Iraq: Average household size is 5.3 persons.

Urban vs. Rural Settlement

  • Kurdistan: 84% urban, 16% rural.
  • Iraq: 70.3% urban, 29.7% rural.

Age Structure

  • Working-age population (15–64 years):
    • Kurdistan: 63.7%
    • Iraq: 60.2%
  • Youth population (under 15 years):
    • Kurdistan: 31.9%
    • Iraq: 36.1%

Demographic Indicators

  • Population Growth Rate:
    • Kurdistan: 2.48%
    • Iraq: 2.3%

Notable Observation: Methodological Differences in Growth Rate Calculation

  • Kurdistan: The growth rate reflects absolute growth, providing a localized snapshot.
  • Iraq: The growth rate is calculated relative to 2009 data.
    This methodological inconsistency might explain why Kurdistan shows a higher growth rate despite Iraq’s larger household size (5.3 vs. 4.6) and higher percentage of youth under 15 (36.1% vs. 31.9%). A unified methodology is required to accurately compare growth rates between Iraq and Kurdistan.

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