Quick answerMosul is a city in Iraq, with 1,792,000 people inside the city limits in 2023. It is best known for the Ruins of Nineveh, the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and the Al-Hadba minaret. Its official languages are Arabic and Kurdish, and its currency is the Iraqi dinar.
Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq, with about 1.8 million people (1,792,000 in 2023). It stands on the Tigris opposite the ruins of ancient Nineveh and is Iraq's second-largest city, known for the Great Mosque of al-Nuri.
Key facts
| Country | Iraq |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,792,000 (2023) |
| Elevation | 223 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Baghdad |
| Language | Arabic, Kurdish |
| Currency | Iraqi dinar (IQD, د.ع) |
| Coordinates | 36.3417° N, 43.1292° E |
Overview
Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq and the capital of Nineveh Governorate. The city had 1,792,000 residents in 2023, making it the second-largest city in Iraq, after Baghdad, and it sits 223 metres above sea level on the banks of the Tigris, about 400 kilometres north of Baghdad.
Mosul stands opposite the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, once the largest city in the world, on the east bank of the Tigris. The city has traditionally served as a hub of international commerce and travel, and together with the Nineveh Plains it is a historical centre of the Assyrians. Its most famous landmark is the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, built in the 12th century, whose leaning minaret, al-Hadba, was the symbol of the city.
Today Mosul is rebuilding after the war against the Islamic State, which occupied the city from 2014 to 2017 and destroyed the al-Nuri Mosque and its minaret; both have since been rebuilt. The city is ethnically and religiously diverse, with Arabs the majority alongside Kurds, Assyrians, Turkmens and Shabaks, and Sunni Islam the largest religion with sizeable Christian and Yazidi communities.
What Mosul is known for
- Ruins of Nineveh
- Great Mosque of al-Nuri
- Al-Hadba minaret
- Assyrian heritage
- Mosul Museum
- Tigris Corniche
Landmarks
- Great Mosque of al-Nuri
- Ruins of Nineveh
- Mosul Citadel
- Mar Mattai Monastery
- Mosul Museum
- Bash Tapia Castle
- Tigris Corniche
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Mosul?
About 1.8 million people live in Mosul (1,792,000 in 2023). That makes Mosul the second-largest city in Iraq, after Baghdad. The CIA World Factbook gave the same figure, 1.792 million, for 2023.
What is Mosul famous for?
Mosul is famous as the city on the ruins of Nineveh, once the largest city in the ancient world, and for the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, whose leaning minaret, al-Hadba, was the city's symbol before it was destroyed in 2017 and rebuilt. It is also known as the historical centre of Iraq's Assyrian Christians and as the Pearl of the North.
Where is Mosul located?
Mosul is in northern Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris River, about 400 kilometres north of Baghdad. It is the capital of Nineveh Governorate and sits 223 metres above sea level. Its coordinates are 36.34° N, 43.13° E, and its time zone is Arabia Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Iraq — the country Mosul is in
- Baghdad — 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
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.