A popular nickname for Baghdad is “City of Peace” while the “Cradle of Civilization” for Iraq is a common moniker reflecting the country’s deep history.
Research website numbeo ranks Baghdad among the bottom three compared to the 250 cities evaluated on its overall quality of life index at June 2020. Baghdad scored poorly on index factors such as health care (off-the-charts lowest), traffic commute time (4th-slowest), pollution (7th-worst), safety (most dangerous 8%) and purchasing power (weakest 24%). On the positive side, Baghdad’s cost of living rates among the least costly 31%.
Baghdad was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the site where 5 goals were scored by Majed Ahmed Abdullah, the most goals by an individual during a single Gulf Cup of Nations match.
Another fun Guinness World Record was set in Baghdad on August 6, 2019 when Imad Hardan Al Delaimi rode standing on a motorcycle seat continuously for 25.97 miles (41.8 kilometers). The record stunt lasted 30 minutes and at a speed of 54.7 miles per hour (88 kilometers per hour).
From an international trade perspective, Iraq exported an estimated US$90.7 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2019. Its most valuable exports include crude oil (92.6% of Iraq’s global total), refined petroleum oils (4.3%), gold (2.6%), petroleum coke and other residues (0.2%), fresh or dried dates (0.1%), and petroleum gases (0.05%) according to the International Trade Centre.
Capital Facts for Baghdad, Iraq: Quick Reference
Geography
Capital landmarks: Abu Hanifa Mosque, Al-Shaab Stadium (The People’s Stadium) and the Al-Aaimmah bridge
Famous People
Below, you will find 10 of the most famous people born in Baghdad, Iraq.
- Omar Borkan Al Gala, model, actor & photographer (born Sep. 23, 1989)
- Bassim Abbas, soccer player/footballer (born Jul. 1, 1982)
- Princess Wijdan Ali, artist, educator & diplomat (born Aug. 29, 1939)
- Mohamed Al-Daradji, film director (born Aug. 6, 1978)
- Nazik Al-Malaika, poet (born Aug. 23, 1923)
- Majid Al Muhandis, singer (born Oct. 25, 1971)
- Sasson Gabai, actor (born Nov. 24, 1947)
- Adil E. Shamoo, biochemist (born Aug. 1, 1941)
- Omar Fakhri, medical scientist (born Oct. 18, 1934)
- Wijdan Ali, artist & educator (born Aug. 29, 1939)
Note: Data for our Famous People tab was sourced from Google searches mostly targeting published Wikipedia articles specific to each person’s name.
Population
Demonym for a Baghdad resident: Baghdadi
Population: 7,144,260 (Baghdad) at August 11, 2020
Density: 27,478 people per square mile (10,616 per square kilometer)
Population: 40,329,629 (Iraq) at August 11, 2020
Density: 240 people per square mile (93 per square kilometer)
Median age for all Iraq: 21 years old
Financial
GDP: US$705.1 billion for 2019 (Iraq)
GDP per person: $18,025
Note: The above country-level GDP metrics are on a Purchasing Power Parity basis and are in U.S. dollars. Credible city GDP statistics for Baghdad were unavailable.
Official currency used in Baghdad: Iraqi dinar
Research
Research Sources:
Brookings Institution, Global Metro Monitor Report (includes GDP data).
Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook, Field Listing: Major Urban Areas.
Central Intelligence Agency, World Factbook, Middle East: Iraq.
CityMetric, Where are largest cities in the world? 2015 edition.
Demographia, World Urban Area, 12th Annual Edition.
Guinness World Records, Longest continuous ride standing on the seat of a motorcycle.
Guinness World Records, Most goals scored in a football (soccer) Gulf Cup of Nations match.
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases.
International Trade Centre, Trade Map.
Numbeo, Quality of Life Index by City.
Official Government Website, Mayoralty of Baghdad.
Wikimedia Commons, City Flags.
Note: Some city flags were unavailable. If so, attribution belongs to Wikimedia Commons for pertinent country flags.
Wikipedia, Baghdad.
Wikipedia, Baghdad Governorate.
Wikipedia, Capital Districts and Territories.
Wikipedia, Iraq.
WorldOMeter, Iraq Population.
World Population Review, Baghdad Population.
Iraq’s Republic Day is a national holiday celebrated each July 14. Baghdad Liberation Day is a regional holiday recognized in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region on April 9.
Home to 7.1 million people living within a land area measuring 260 square miles (673 square kilometers), Baghdad is Iraq’s largest city.
At the country level, Iraq’s land area extends over 167,692 square miles (434,320 square kilometers). The nation’s population count was 40.3 million inhabitants as of August 11, 2020.
Population density is more concentrated within Iraq’s capital city, averaging 27,478 Baghdadis per square mile (10,616 per square kilometer).
Zooming out to Iraq’s overall land boundaries, population density drops to an average 240 inhabitants per square mile (93 per square kilometer).
