Largest Cities in Iraq

Facts about Iraq

Official languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian
Capital: Baghdad
Area: 437,072 km²
Population: 29.7 million residents
Population density: 67.89 residents per km²
Currency: IQD
Internet TLD: .iq
ISO codes: IQ, IRQ , 368
The dialing code for Iraq is +964

Flag of Iraq

The Iraqi flag has three horizontal stripes – red, white and black – modeled on the Egyptian flag. As early as 1963, the connection of these two countries with Syria was planned. Therefore, there were originally three green stars in the white stripe, which symbolized this future union. In 1991, the inscription “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is great) was placed between the stars and the stars were released. The Pan-Arab tricolor dates back to the early 20th century, when Arab nations gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, and expresses the unity of those nations. The symbolism of the colors is as follows: red stands for bravery, white for nobility, black for victory and green is the traditional color of Islam.

Iraq is located in western Asia on the territory of ancient Mesopotamia. Here are from the 4th millennium BC Some of the earliest advanced civilizations of mankind emerged (Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Mittani, Assyria), which is why the region is now seen by many as the cradle of civilization.

Today’s Iraq emerged from the three Ottoman provinces of Baghdad, Mosul and Basra in 1920. The Kingdom of Iraq existed from 1921 to 1958, in 1958 the king was ousted by a military coup and the republic was proclaimed. From 1979 to 2003 the country became dictatorial by Saddam Hussein. ruled. A multinational invasion force (“Coalition of the Willing”) led by the United StatesIn 2003 he overthrew the regime of the dictator Saddam Hussein, in violation of international law, without a UN mandate and for invented reasons for war. The country’s infrastructure was largely destroyed, and the establishment of stable structures for the post-war era failed. By the time the American troops withdrew in 2011, well over 100,000 Iraqis had died in fighting within Iraq and against the occupation forces, and hundreds of thousands fled abroad. Today Iraq is de facto divided into ethnic zones. The Kurds in the north were largely independent.

While the Kurdish north is relatively stable, the rest of the country is sinking into chaos. Iraq is well on the way to becoming one of the next failed states.

Biggest Cities of Iraq by Population

Iraq is a country located in the Middle East, with a population of over 37 million people. Its capital city is Baghdad which is the largest city in Iraq and home to more than 6 million people. The city has a vibrant atmosphere with its many mosques, museums and markets.

Other major cities in Iraq include Basra located near Kuwait and known as ‘the City of Sun’; Mosul located near Syria and known for its ancient ruins; or Erbil located near the border of Turkey and known as ‘the Capital of Kurdistan’.

Iraq also contains some smaller cities such as Kirkuk located on the north-east side of Iraq and home to many Assyrian churches; Najaf located near Baghdad and home to the shrine of Imam Ali; or Karbala located on the south-west side of Iraq and known for its holy shrines.

Throughout Iraq there are plenty of attractions to explore including ruins, mosques, palaces, gardens and deserts. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as climbing or trekking through mountains or take part in water sports on Lake Tharthar.

Iraq: Baghdad

The capital of Iraq is called Baghdad. Translated from Persian, this means “gift from the Lord”. It is one of the largest cities in the Middle East. A large part of the Iraqi population lives here. If you look at a map, Baghdad is actually quite central, almost in the middle of the country. Baghdad is the most important center of Iraq. This is also where the Iraqi parliament and all important state authorities sit. But Baghdad is also an important religious center. There are also many museums and theaters, historical sites and monuments here.

The consequences of the third Iraq war, which ended in 2003, are still visible in Baghdad. There are still bomb attacks in the city, which often result in injuries and deaths.

Neighboring countries of Iraq

• Iran
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• Turkey