BAGHDAD — On Monday, the Iraqi Prime Minister announced preliminary findings from the country’s first national census in nearly four decades, revealing that the population has reached approximately 45.4 million. The census was conducted earlier this month and reflects Iraq’s efforts to modernize its data collection and enhance planning in a nation that has faced ongoing conflict and political strife.

During the announcement, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani highlighted that the initial data indicates a population increase from an estimated 31.6 million in a 2009 unofficial count. The gender ratio from the preliminary results shows a near-equal distribution, with males comprising 50.1% of the population and females at 49.8%.

This monumental count, the first in 37 years, is a sensitive subject within Iraq, as it significantly influences resource allocation, budget distribution, and development initiatives. Many minority groups have expressed apprehension that a decrease in their officially recorded numbers may result in diminished political power and fewer economic advantages within the country’s sectarian governance framework.

Following a ruling from Iraq’s federal court, the census did not include inquiries regarding ethnicity or sect affiliation, opting instead for broader categorizations of religious identification, such as Muslim and Christian.

The last comprehensive census took place in 1987, with another attempt in 1997 that notably excluded the Kurdish region. Looking forward, the next stage of the census is set to occur in the coming weeks, after which final results will include detailed information on religious demographics, as stated by Ali Arian Saleh, the executive director overseeing the census at the Ministry of Planning.

Officials reported that this census employed cutting-edge technology for collecting and analyzing information, aimed at providing a detailed overview of Iraq’s demographic, social, and economic conditions. A workforce of about 120,000 census takers was deployed to collect data from households across the nation, with each covering around 160 housing units in just two days.