Stylised relief, not survey data
KCO · Middle East
Kurds in Iraq
Başûr, as Kurdish usage names the Kurdish areas of Iraq, includes the Kurdistan Region, a federal region under the 2005 constitution. Feyli Kurds live in Baghdad. Kirkuk and other territories are disputed between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region (Constitution of Iraq, Article 140). Yazidis of Shingal live in their homeland and in camps.
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8 to 8.5 million (25 to 27 percent)
institute estimate, 2016
Institut kurde de Paris, The Kurdish population Secondary source
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about 6.37 to 6.52 million residents of the Kurdistan Region; 3.95 million in disputed areas
census residents (not ethnicity), 2024
Iraq census, 20 to 22 Nov 2024, via PUKmedia and Kurdistan24 Secondary source
At a glance
- 2Figures
- 7City pages
- 3Languages
- 8Areas
01The programme
This programme brings together Kurds living in Iraq, city by city. Its charter form is a Regional Chapter, fitted to local law and to the risks members face.
Forming Regional Chapter: not yet chartered.
02Cities
The map needs JavaScript. The places it shows are listed beside it.
Layers
Places on this map (7)
Map: OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Boundaries: Natural Earth. Places: the platform’s own pages.
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Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî)
Cultural and literary centre of Sorani
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Halabja
1988 chemical attack memorial
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Baghdad
Feyli Kurds
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Duhok
Badinan; camps for Yazidi survivors
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Erbil (Hewlêr)
Capital of the Kurdistan Region; the citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Kirkuk
Disputed, multi-ethnic city
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Shingal (Sinjar)
Yazidi homeland; 2014 genocide
Subdivisions of Iraq
Each first-level subdivision has a local page. It gathers official services, learning, safety and civic life.
- Al-AnbarIQ-AN
- Al-BasrahIQ-BA
- Al-MuthannaIQ-MU
- Al-NajafIQ-NA
- Al-QadissiyaIQ-QA
- Al-SulaymaniyahIQ-SUCities: 2
- BabilIQ-BB
- BaghdadIQ-BGCities: 1
- DiyalaIQ-DI
- DuhokIQ-DACities: 1
- ErbilIQ-ARCities: 1
- KerbalaIQ-KA
- KirkukIQ-KICities: 1
- MaysanIQ-MA
- NinewaIQ-NICities: 1
- Salah Al-DinIQ-SD
- Thi QarIQ-DQ
- WassitIQ-WA
The list follows UN sources first: OCHA COD-AB, then UN SALB, then ISO 3166-2. It takes no position on any status or boundary.
03How statistics see the community
The 2024 census counts residents by region, so the picture is partial.
Counts of Kurds differ by what they measure: birthplace, citizenship, language or self-identification. Each figure names its measure, year and source, and none are summed.
Sources Institut kurde de Paris, The Kurdish population Secondary source
04Areas
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Academy
Every field of knowledge, courses in all Kurdish varieties, and communities of practice.
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Heritage
History from the Zagros to today, memory, faiths, arts, literature and food.
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Language
Kurmanji, Sorani, Zazaki, Southern Kurdish and Gorani, in every script.
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Research
Kurdish studies: the observatory, reading lists and new research.
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Opportunities
Livelihoods, skills, jobs, mentoring and diaspora-to-region bridges.
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Civic
Civic education, rights literacy, statelessness help and dialogue.
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Development
Social programmes, livelihoods and disaster preparedness for Kurdish communities.
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News and events
Kurdish and regional news with every outlet labelled, and the calendar of Kurdish days.
05Learn in the Academy
Courses and disciplines of the Academy on the subject of this page.
Courses
- Career transition for skilled migrantsOutlined
- Civic participation in GermanyOutlined
- Civic participation in SwedenOutlined
- Digital safety for familiesOutlined
Disciplines
A completion record shows what was studied and assessed. It is not a certificate or a qualification.

