Erbil: population, jobs, health, schools, poverty and governorate budgets
Erbil is a governorate of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, number 7 of 18 by population. Erbil had an estimated 2,107,755 people in 2023, 4.9% of Iraq's 43,324,018, which makes it 7th largest of 18 governorates by population. This is an official projection, not a census count.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Erbil: In 2024 the unemployment rate for people aged 15 and over in Erbil was 14.7%, 7th highest of 18 governorates and against 13.5% for Iraq.
- Health in Erbil: The Ministry of Health counted 59 hospitals in Erbil in 2023: 28 government hospitals (including specialised centres with beds) and 31 private. That is 2.80 hospitals per 100,000 people, 3rd highest of 18 governorates.
- Poverty and living standards in Erbil: 5.9% of people in Erbil lived below the national poverty line in 2024, the lowest of 18 governorates and against 17.5% for Iraq.
Is the population of Erbil growing?
The official estimate for Erbil rose from 2,055,448 in 2022 to 2,107,755 in 2023, a rise of 2.5%, and by 7.9% since 2020 (1,953,341). The estimate for all of Iraq grew by 2.5% in 2023.
Source: Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning) · saved copyHow many people in Erbil live in rural areas?
The Ministry of Health projects that 16.8% of people in Erbil lived in rural areas in 2023 and 83.2% in urban areas, against 30.1% rural across Iraq. It ranks 3rd lowest of 18 governorates for rural share.
Source: Ministry of Health, Iraq (Planning and Resources Development Department) · saved copyWhat is the dependency ratio in Erbil?
In 2024 Erbil had 58 dependants (children under 15 and people over 64) for every 100 people aged 15 to 64, against 65 for Iraq. That is the lowest of 17 governorates with a published figure.
Source: Ministry of Planning and Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems, with UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · saved copyHow many children are out of school in Erbil?
16.9% of people in Erbil were deprived on school attendance in 2024, meaning they live in a household with a school-age child out of school, against 26.1% across Iraq (3rd lowest of 18 governorates).
Source: Ministry of Planning and Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems, with UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · saved copyHow many years of schooling do people in Erbil have?
23.5% of people in Erbil were deprived on years of schooling in 2024, an indicator of the national multidimensional poverty index, against 31.5% across Iraq (2nd lowest of 18 governorates).
Source: Ministry of Planning and Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems, with UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · saved copyHow governorate of the Kurdistan Regions are governed in Iraq
Kurdistan Region (federal region with 4 governorates). Kurdistan Parliament directly elected; it forms the Kurdistan Regional Government. Own security forces, laws and budget within the federal Constitution.
Every tier of government in Iraq
Other governorate of the Kurdistan Regions of Iraq
- Baghdad 9,265,213
- Nineveh 4,238,733
- Basra 3,305,189
- Sulaymaniyah 2,457,189
- Dhi Qar 2,380,943
- Babil 2,346,696
- Anbar 2,013,300
- Diyala 1,830,503
- Kirkuk 1,815,834
- Salah al-Din 1,812,822
- Najaf 1,672,312
- Wasit 1,566,789
- Duhok 1,468,805
- Al-Qadisiyah 1,467,127
- Karbala 1,384,941
- Maysan 1,264,427
- Al-Muthanna 925,440
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Sources
- Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning): Employment and unemployment indicators: rates by governorate 2014, 2016 and 2024 (household socio-economic surveys), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7895d40228d9…)
- Ministry of Health, Iraq (Planning and Resources Development Department): Annual Statistical Report 2023 (tables 1-1, 3-4, 3-43, 4-1, 4-11, 4-15, 5-1, 5-3, 5-2, 6-3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b0bd2930683c…)
- Ministry of Planning and Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems, with UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI): Multidimensional Poverty in Iraq 2024: Analytical Report (Table 4, Table 16, Annex 2, Annex 3), based on the Iraq Household Socio-Economic Survey 2023-24, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2918b603f085…)
- Commission of Statistics and Geographic Information Systems (Ministry of Planning): Demographic and population indicators: population estimates by governorate 2020-2023, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 adcd57959fa5…)
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