Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Iraq?
Baghdad
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad. About 7.7 million people live in the Baghdad urban area — 16.4% of the country's population.
7.7 million
Urban area population
UTC+3
Time zone
33.33°N
Latitude · 44.40°E
Yes
Largest city
Baghdad at a glance
Name origin
The origin of the name is unclear; it may mean "gift of God," from the pre-Islamic words bagh (god) and dad (given).
Time zone
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
33 20 N, 44 24 E · IANA time zone Asia/Baghdad
Location of Iraq
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Largest cities in Iraq
1
Baghdad Capital
7.7 million2
Mosul
1.8 million3
Basra
1.4 million4
Kirkuk
1.1 million5
Najaf
958,0006
Erbil
897,000Urban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — 991 km
Ankara, Türkiye — 1,262 kmCapitals closest to Baghdad
Kuwait City, Kuwait — 556 km
Tehran, Iran — 694 km
Damascus, Syria — 752 km
Yerevan, Armenia — 760 km
Amman, Jordan — 807 km
Beirut, Lebanon — 826 km
Jerusalem, Israel — 876 km
Baku, Azerbaijan — 922 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Baghdad
What is the capital of Iraq?
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad. About 7.7 million people live in the Baghdad urban area — 16.4% of the country's population.
Is Baghdad the largest city in Iraq?
Yes — Baghdad is also the largest urban area of Iraq (7.7 million).
What time zone is Baghdad in?
Baghdad is on UTC+3 — UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Baghdad come from?
The origin of the name is unclear; it may mean "gift of God," from the pre-Islamic words bagh (god) and dad (given).
Which capital is closest to Baghdad?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Kuwait City (Kuwait) is the closest, 556 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).