Population Census in Iraq: A Development Compass and a Guide to the Future

Abstract

This in-depth analytical study reviews the results and outcomes of the tenth general population and housing census conducted in Iraq in November 2024, tracing its geopolitical, economic, and service-related repercussions up to the beginning of 2026 The article aims to deconstruct the demographic and social data provided by the Ministry of Planning and compare it historically and structurally to determine the efficiency of public resource allocation and guide spatial investment The study analyzes Iraq's entry into the demographic dividend phase, with the working-age population reaching 6044%, contrasted with declining rates of actual economic participation and an inflated public sector The study also examines the constitutional and political dimensions of the census in disputed territories subject to Article 140 of the Constitution, reviewing the Migration Matrix as a technical tool that resolved demographic disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region The paper discusses environmental, service, and educational gaps, and the impact of climate change on accelerating urbanization It concludes by presenting practical, three-dimensional strategies (institutional, technical, and environmental) for integrating the digital census into the 2026 budget and beyond to ensure sustainable development for Iraq 2030