Erbil Population 2026

Erbil has a population of 1,612,700, making it the #3 biggest city in 🇮🇶 Iraq, located in Erbil. Roughly 3.4% of Iraq's population lives here. It is about 4.5× smaller than Baghdad, the country's biggest city.

Location of Erbil (capital Baghdad shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

1,612,700

Rank in Iraq

Coordinates

36.19°N, 44.01°E

~429 m elevation · Asia/Baghdad

Distance to capital (Baghdad)

319 km

198 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Erbil

City	Population	Rank in Iraq
Khasnahzān	146,639	#33
Baḥarkah	130,518	#37
Soran	91,589	#52
Koysinceq	44,987	#62
Pīrmām	38,686	#68
Shaqlāwah	32,599	#72
Ḩarir	32,171	#73
Ṟuwandiz	22,943	#89

Cities near Erbil

Khasnahzān146,639 people · ~12 km away
Baḥarkah130,518 people · ~14 km away
Pīrmām38,686 people · ~27 km away
Shaqlāwah32,599 people · ~37 km away
Ḩarir32,171 people · ~50 km away
Koysinceq44,987 people · ~57 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Erbil?

Erbil has a population of 1,612,700 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #3 biggest city in Iraq.

What region is Erbil in?

Erbil is located in Erbil, Iraq.

Is Erbil the capital of Iraq?

No, the capital of Iraq is Baghdad, about 319 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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