Capital of Iraq: Baghdad — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad. Iraq sits in Asia, has a population of 44,496,122, and uses the IQD. Official languages include Arabic, Kurdish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Baghdad
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~44,496,122
- Area: 438,317 km²
- Population density: 102 people per km²
- Official languages: Arabic, Kurdish
- Currency: IQD
- ISO code: IQ
How big is Iraq?
By population, Iraq ranks 35th in the world, holding roughly 0.56% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 58th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Iraq has 102 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Iraq is the 14th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Iraq in population are Algeria (44,903,225) and Argentina (46,234,830).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Morocco (446,550 km²) and Uzbekistan (447,400 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros and Djibouti, and 19 others.
Iraq uses the IQD, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Iraq
Mesopotamia means 'land between the rivers', the Tigris and the Euphrates, and Baghdad sits on the Tigris. B for Baghdad, B for 'Between the rivers'.
The flag of Iraq: red, white and black, with green writing
🇮🇶 The flag is three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, with the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is great') written in green Arabic script on the white stripe. Red, white and black, with green, are Pan-Arab colours. The current version of the flag was adopted in 2008.
Region and neighbours
Iraq is a country in Western Asia, at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, covering most of ancient Mesopotamia. It shares land borders with 6 countries: Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria.
Three facts about Iraq
- Ancient Mesopotamia, most of which lies in modern Iraq, is where some of the earliest known writing, called cuneiform, was developed.
- The ruins of Babylon, south of Baghdad, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Iraq has only a very short coastline, on the Persian Gulf near the city of Basra.
Sources: Wikipedia: Iraq, Wikipedia: Flag of Iraq, Wikipedia: Mesopotamia, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Iraq
- Asian capitals quiz — match Iraq to Baghdad
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Iraq flag among its neighbours
Iraq capital quiz
What is the capital of Iraq 🇮🇶?
- Naypyidaw
- Baghdad
- Ashgabat
- Tehran
Show answer
Baghdad
What is the capital of Afghanistan 🇦🇫?
- Kuwait City
- Riyadh
- Singapore
- Kabul
Show answer
Kabul
What is the capital of South Korea 🇰🇷?
- Singapore
- Tehran
- Astana
- Seoul
Show answer
Seoul
What is the capital of Myanmar 🇲🇲?
- Doha
- Naypyidaw
- Dushanbe
- Baku
Show answer
Naypyidaw
What is the capital of Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦?
- Riyadh
- Kathmandu
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Tokyo
Show answer
Riyadh
Iraq is also in the Middle East capitals quiz.
Iraq in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Iraq belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Iraq.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Iraq?
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad.
What is the population of Iraq?
About 44,496,122, making it the 35th most populous country in the world.
How big is Iraq?
438,317 square kilometres, ranking 58th by land area, at a density of 102 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Iraq use?
The IQD, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Iraq flag?
The flag of Iraq is three horizontal stripes of red, white and black, with the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' ('God is great') written in green Arabic script on the white stripe. Red, white and black, with green, are Pan-Arab colours. The current version of the flag was adopted in 2008.
Which countries border Iraq?
Iraq shares land borders with Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria.
How can I remember the capital of Iraq?
Mesopotamia means 'land between the rivers', the Tigris and the Euphrates, and Baghdad sits on the Tigris. B for Baghdad, B for 'Between the rivers'.
More capitals to learn
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