Iraq Census: Difference between revisions

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__TOC__
==Resources==
==Census Records==
===Online Resources===
There were national censuses completed between 1957-2009. The 1957 census includes:
* [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Iraq+census Iraq census] at National Archives United Kingdom - request images
*district/area
*"Growth and Structure of Iraq's Population, 1867-1947," by M.S. Hasan. ''Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics'' 20, no. 4 (1958): 339-352. '''''Online at:''''' [https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.1958.mp20004002.x Wiley Online Library]
*gender
 
*religion
===Offices to Contact===
 
دار الكتب والوثائق الوطنية<br>
'''(Iraq National Library and Archive)'''<br>
Al Rasheed Street<br>
Baghdad, Iraq<br>
Telephone: +9647707405599<br>
Email: [mailto:iraqnla@googlemail.com iraqnla@googlemail.com]<br>
[https://www.iraqnla.gov.iq/call%20us.html Website]<br>
Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_National_Library_and_Archive Iraq National Library and Archive]
 
<br>
 
'''T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı'''<br>
'''(Presidency of the Republic of Turkey State Archives Directorate)'''<br>
Gayret Mahallesi 95. Sokak No:3 06170<br>
Yenimahalle/ANKARA<br>
Telephone: (0312) 307 90 00 - (0312) 307 86 40<br>
Email: [mailto:dab@devletarsivleri.gov.tr dab@devletarsivleri.gov.tr]<br>
[https://www.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Sayfa.aspx?icerik=12&h=AA54A70923B86C8AD74249E0E555F5948A9923AE2A51E06E2DFE30B4D635A1E2 Website] - Information for Researchers
 
== Background==
Within the past few centuries, Iraq has been ruled by the Ottoman Empire (1534-1920), the British (1920-1932), the Kingdom of Iraq (ruled from 1932-1958 by King Faisal and his descendants) and is now governed by the Republic of Iraq since 1958. Information about censuses that were attempted during each of these periods can be found below.<ref>"Iraq," ''Wikipedia'', updated 23 December 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq.</ref>
===Types of Censuses===
====Iraq Census====
[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Iraq+census Iraq census]: Search results at the National Archives (UK) includes correspondence about the census and may include an actual copy of the census. These records have not been digitized but can be viewed in person at the National Archives. A copy can be requested on the item page for a fee, or you can use the [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/paying-for-research/our-paid-search-service/ research service] for a cost or hire an [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/paying-for-research/independent-researchers/ independent researcher]. This [https://youtu.be/3WGgt9kHVFs video] explains the process of requesting a copy from the archive.
 
====Ottoman Census====
The earliest census in 1831 primarily focused on males for military conscription and tax purposes. Subsequent censuses in 1844 and 1881-1882 aimed to provide more comprehensive demographic data, including information on all household members. The last major Ottoman census took place in 1905-1906, covering regions like Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula. Some of these census records may be available in the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul (see contact information above).<ref>Şaşmaz, Musa, "The Ottoman censuses and the registration systems in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries," ''OTAM Ankara Üniversitesi Osmanlı Tarihi Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi Dergisi'' 6, no. 6 (1995): 289-305, https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/114326.</ref>
====British Census====
The censuses aimed to collect detailed information on the population's size, distribution, and composition, including ethnicity, religion, and language. This data was crucial for understanding the demographic landscape of Iraq and for administrative purposes. Correspondence about this census can be found at the [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Iraq+census National Archives (UK)].<ref>"Mandatory Iraq," ''Wikipedia'', updated 22 October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Iraq.</ref><ref>Dündar, Fuat, ''Statisquo: British Use of Statistics in the Iraqi Kurdish Question (1919-1932)'', Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, 2012, https://www.brandeis.edu/crown/publications/papers/pdfs/cp7.pdf.</ref>
====Iraqi Census====
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, The first comprehensive national census was conducted in 1927, shortly after the establishment of the Hashemite Kingdom. This was followed by several other censuses, including those in 1934 and 1947. These censuses aimed to gather demographic data to inform policy and development strategies. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1958 and the Republic of Iraq was established, the [https://cosit.gov.iq/ar/pop-main Central Statistical Organization] of Iraq continued to conduct [https://cosit.gov.iq/AAS/section_2.php censuses], with notable ones in 1957, 1965, 1977, and 1987. The most recent census was launched in 2024, marking the first national population and household census in over three decades.
==Information Recorded in the Records==
*'''Ottoman census:''' (1844) includes all males in a household (1885 - published in 1908) 80% coverage. Men, women, names, and relationship to head of household.
*'''British census:''' Likely contains the area, density, number of occupied dwellings, sex, religion, civil status, and disabilities of the population (based on other British mandatory censuses).
*'''Iraqi census:''' Includes total population counts, age groups, gender distribution, social origin, households, and their distribution by governorate.
 
==Strategy==
*For census records previous to WWI, contact the [https://www.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/Sayfalar/Sayfa.aspx?icerik=12&h=AA54A70923B86C8AD74249E0E555F5948A9923AE2A51E06E2DFE30B4D635A1E2 Presidency of the Republic of Turkey State Archives Directorate] in Istanbul for Ottoman records
*British mandate census records (1920-1932) are held at the [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Iraq+census UK National Archives] (a copy) or the original census may be at the [https://www.iraqnla.gov.iq/ Iraq National Library and Archive].
*Census records since 1958 are held at either the [https://www.iraqnla.gov.iq/mn%20nahn.html Iraq National Library and Archive] or the [https://cosit.gov.iq/ar/pop-main Central Statistical Organization] of Iraq.
 
==References==
{{reflist}}


British Census in 1932: possibly contains males only


Ottoman Censuses: Available in the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul.
1844: includes all males in a household
1885: (published in 1908) 80% coverage. Men, women, names, and relationship to head of household.


The 1957 census includes:
*district/area
*gender
*religion


[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraq]]

Latest revision as of 21:05, 11 August 2025

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Resources

Online Resources

  • Iraq census at National Archives United Kingdom - request images
  • "Growth and Structure of Iraq's Population, 1867-1947," by M.S. Hasan. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics 20, no. 4 (1958): 339-352. Online at: Wiley Online Library

Offices to Contact

دار الكتب والوثائق الوطنية
(Iraq National Library and Archive)
Al Rasheed Street
Baghdad, Iraq
Telephone: +9647707405599
Email: iraqnla@googlemail.com
Website
Wikipedia: Iraq National Library and Archive


T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı
(Presidency of the Republic of Turkey State Archives Directorate)
Gayret Mahallesi 95. Sokak No:3 06170
Yenimahalle/ANKARA
Telephone: (0312) 307 90 00 - (0312) 307 86 40
Email: dab@devletarsivleri.gov.tr
Website - Information for Researchers

Background

Within the past few centuries, Iraq has been ruled by the Ottoman Empire (1534-1920), the British (1920-1932), the Kingdom of Iraq (ruled from 1932-1958 by King Faisal and his descendants) and is now governed by the Republic of Iraq since 1958. Information about censuses that were attempted during each of these periods can be found below.[1]

Types of Censuses

Iraq Census

Iraq census: Search results at the National Archives (UK) includes correspondence about the census and may include an actual copy of the census. These records have not been digitized but can be viewed in person at the National Archives. A copy can be requested on the item page for a fee, or you can use the research service for a cost or hire an independent researcher. This video explains the process of requesting a copy from the archive.

Ottoman Census

The earliest census in 1831 primarily focused on males for military conscription and tax purposes. Subsequent censuses in 1844 and 1881-1882 aimed to provide more comprehensive demographic data, including information on all household members. The last major Ottoman census took place in 1905-1906, covering regions like Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula. Some of these census records may be available in the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul (see contact information above).[2]

British Census

The censuses aimed to collect detailed information on the population's size, distribution, and composition, including ethnicity, religion, and language. This data was crucial for understanding the demographic landscape of Iraq and for administrative purposes. Correspondence about this census can be found at the National Archives (UK).[3][4]

Iraqi Census

After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, The first comprehensive national census was conducted in 1927, shortly after the establishment of the Hashemite Kingdom. This was followed by several other censuses, including those in 1934 and 1947. These censuses aimed to gather demographic data to inform policy and development strategies. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1958 and the Republic of Iraq was established, the Central Statistical Organization of Iraq continued to conduct censuses, with notable ones in 1957, 1965, 1977, and 1987. The most recent census was launched in 2024, marking the first national population and household census in over three decades.

Information Recorded in the Records

  • Ottoman census: (1844) includes all males in a household (1885 - published in 1908) 80% coverage. Men, women, names, and relationship to head of household.
  • British census: Likely contains the area, density, number of occupied dwellings, sex, religion, civil status, and disabilities of the population (based on other British mandatory censuses).
  • Iraqi census: Includes total population counts, age groups, gender distribution, social origin, households, and their distribution by governorate.

Strategy

References

  1. "Iraq," Wikipedia, updated 23 December 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq.
  2. Şaşmaz, Musa, "The Ottoman censuses and the registration systems in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries," OTAM Ankara Üniversitesi Osmanlı Tarihi Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi Dergisi 6, no. 6 (1995): 289-305, https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/114326.
  3. "Mandatory Iraq," Wikipedia, updated 22 October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Iraq.
  4. Dündar, Fuat, Statisquo: British Use of Statistics in the Iraqi Kurdish Question (1919-1932), Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, 2012, https://www.brandeis.edu/crown/publications/papers/pdfs/cp7.pdf.