Iraq’s Ministry of Planning on September 21 launched a report prepared with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), titled “Population Distribution in Iraq: Migration Challenges and Inequality, Towards a Balanced Map for Development and Stability.” The ministry said the report examines how population distribution across governorates relates to the spatial distribution of development, public services and economic opportunities.

The ministry said the report draws on the 2024 population and housing census and that key findings and recommendations were presented at the launch. IOM’s Iraq mission chief said more than 60% of Iraqis are of working age, describing this as a demographic opportunity that depends on investment in skills and balanced access to services and opportunities across regions. The announcement supplied no governorate-level rates or rankings, so the story does not infer them.