What is the capital of Iraq?
Baghdad sits on the banks of the Tigris on a flat alluvial plain in central Iraq.
Baghdad is the capital and seat of government of Iraq, a role it has held since 1921. Iraq itself has an estimated population of 47,020,774 (2025).
Baghdad is also the largest city in Iraq, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Baghdad at a glance
| City population | 7,837,463 (2024 census) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇮🇶 Iraq |
| Founded | 762 |
| Capital since | 1921 |
| Largest city in Iraq | Baghdad |
| Time zone | UTC+03:00 (AST) |
| Currency | Iraqi dinar (IQD) |
About Baghdad
Baghdad was founded on 30 July 762 by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur as a planned round city.
Baghdad has been the capital of Iraq since 1921, when Baghdad became the capital of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia, a role it kept when Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932.
Baghdad was founded in 762 as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and grew into a great centre of learning during the Islamic Golden Age, but the Mongol sack of 1258 ended that role and the city spent the following centuries as a provincial capital under Safavid and Ottoman rule.
Baghdad is Iraq's largest city and its political and economic centre.
During the Islamic Golden Age it was one of the largest cities in the world and home to the famed House of Wisdom.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Baghdad.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Iraq?
Is Baghdad the largest city in Iraq?
What is the population of Baghdad?
Where is Baghdad located?
When did Baghdad become the capital of Iraq?
What time zone is Baghdad in?
What currency is used in Baghdad?
Capitals of neighbouring countries
See the full profile of Iraq on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.