Quick answerBaghdad is the capital and largest city of Iraq, with 7,837,463 people inside the city limits in 2024. The wider metropolitan area had about 9.8 million people in 2024. It is best known for the House of Wisdom, the Al-Shaheed Monument and the Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa. Its official languages are Arabic and Kurdish, and its currency is the Iraqi dinar.
Baghdad is the capital and largest city of Iraq, with about 7.8 million people (7,837,463 in the 2024 census). It stands on the Tigris in central Iraq and was one of the great cities of the Islamic Golden Age, home to the House of Wisdom.
Key facts
| Country | Iraq |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 7,837,463 (2024) |
| Population (metro) | 9,780,429 (2024) · Baghdad governorate, 2024 census |
| Elevation | 34 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Baghdad |
| Language | Arabic, Kurdish |
| Currency | Iraqi dinar (IQD, د.ع) |
| Coordinates | 33.3153° N, 44.3661° E |
Overview
Baghdad is the capital and the largest city of Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris in central Iraq. The city had 7,837,463 residents in the 2024 census, while the Baghdad governorate held 9,780,429 people, and the city sits 34 metres above sea level. About 22 per cent of Iraq's population lives in Baghdad.
Baghdad was founded in 762 CE by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur, on a site with settlement dating back to the Neo-Babylonian period. It became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and, during the Islamic Golden Age, one of the largest cities in the world, home to the House of Wisdom and to scholars, poets and traders from across the known world. It was largely destroyed by the Mongols in 1258.
Today Baghdad is Iraq's primary financial and commercial centre, and its landmarks include the Al-Shaheed Monument, the 13th-century Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa, the Abbasid Palace, the National Museum of Iraq and the booksellers' street of Mutanabbi Street. The city has been rebuilding since the end of the war against the Islamic State, and its Tigris riverfront is again a centre of city life.
What Baghdad is known for
- House of Wisdom
- Al-Shaheed Monument
- Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa
- Mutanabbi Street
- National Museum of Iraq
- Tigris River
Landmarks
- Al-Shaheed Monument
- Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa
- Abbasid Palace
- National Museum of Iraq
- Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
- Mutanabbi Street
- Baghdad Tower
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Baghdad?
About 7.8 million people live in Baghdad (7,837,463 in the 2024 census). The wider Baghdad governorate had about 9.8 million people. That makes Baghdad the largest city in Iraq and one of the largest cities in the Middle East.
What is Baghdad famous for?
Baghdad is famous as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and the home of the House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden Age, when it was one of the largest cities in the world. It is also known for the Al-Shaheed Monument, the Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa, Mutanabbi Street and the National Museum of Iraq.
Where is Baghdad located?
Baghdad is in central Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris River. It is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, and sits 34 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 33.32° N, 44.37° E, and its time zone is Arabia Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Iraq — the country Baghdad is in
- Mosul — another city in Iraq
- Basra — another city in Iraq
- Erbil — another city in Iraq
- All cities in Iraq
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Baghdad
- Iraq Commission of Statistics and GIS, Ministry of Planning, 2024 Census results (March 2025)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.