Baghdad, Iraq

Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, is a city with a rich history, having been inhabited since prehistoric times and officially founded in the 8th century CE. Once the cultural and intellectual center of the Islamic world, it has faced significant challenges, especially following the invasions and conflicts that have marked its history. Today, Baghdad is the second-largest city in the Arab world, after Cairo, and serves as the political, economic, and cultural heart of modern Iraq. Situated on the banks of the Tigris River, the city features a blend of ancient and modern architecture, with neighborhoods that range from bustling business districts to residential areas.

The population of Baghdad is approximately 7.5 million, predominantly composed of Arab Muslims, with smaller communities of Christians and other ethnic groups. The city grapples with economic challenges stemming from the aftermath of the 2003 invasion, which disrupted its infrastructure and led to high rates of poverty and unemployment. Despite these difficulties, Baghdad remains a vital economic hub, hosting many of Iraq's major industries and businesses. The city's climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cooler, moist winters, with recent climate change impacts exacerbating water scarcity issues. Cultural landmarks, including the National Museum of Iraq and historic mosques, reflect Baghdad's storied past, even as the city continues to navigate the complexities of modern life amidst ongoing challenges.

Full Article

The area surrounding Baghdad has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The city itself was built during the eighth century CE and became the capital of modern-day Iraq in 1920. Baghdad is the seat of the country's government and the economic and cultural center of the nation. It is the second-largest city in the Arab world, ranking just behind Cairo, Egypt.

Baghdad is the largest transportation hub in Iraq and is connected to both the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Its location led to its development as a rich cultural and educational center before the city was conquered by foreign invasion in the thirteenth century.

Landscape

Baghdad lies on a vast alluvial plain between Iraq’s western deserts and eastern mountains. The Tigris River bisects the city, shaping its geography with sediment deposits left by seasonal flooding.

In recent years, Baghdad has faced mounting challenges from climate change. Heatwaves have become more frequent, while episodes of intense rainfall, prolonged drought, and sand and dust storms have grown increasingly common. These shifts have exacerbated water scarcity across the region, culminating in 2021 with Iraq’s driest season in four decades. Despite these emerging threats, Baghdad traditionally experiences an arid subtropical climate. Summers are intensely hot and dry, with average temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit) and highs sometimes reaching 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Humidity levels typically remain low, ranging from 10 to 50 percent, though temperatures can fall sharply at night.

Baghdad has a vast urban area. Most buildings are relatively short, compared to major urban areas in other cities. Baghdad spans a total area of 596 square kilometers (230 square miles). This extensive coverage contributes to its status as one of the largest cities in the region.

The city's design is unique, as modern elements are intermingled with surviving ancient structures. The business districts contain modern architecture, but many of the streets are still lined with mosques and other buildings that have been part of the city since ancient times. Baghdad is divided into nine districts with more than eighty distinct neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods contain restaurants, cafés, and entertainment venues, while others are purely residential.

People

Baghdad, Iraq’s capital and largest city, had a population of around 8,141,000 as of 2025 according to Macrotrends. The city’s urban population has expanded significantly since the early 20th century, growing from an estimated 350,000 in 1932 due to new housing developments and high birth rates. This trend was interrupted after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, which sparked prolonged conflict and internal displacement, causing a temporary population decline.

The majority of Baghdad’s residents are Arab Muslims. Historically, the city was home to vibrant Christian and Jewish communities. Today, the number of Jews in Baghdad has diminished to a handful, though some historically significant synagogues and churches still remain. Christianity continues to be practiced, with notable churches scattered throughout the capital.

Iraq’s population is predominantly Muslim, with approximately 97 percent of the population identifying as followers of Islam. Among Muslims, around 60 percent are Shiite and 37 percent are Sunni, according to The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA). Christians make up about 1 percent of the national population, while other religious minorities, such as Yazidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, and Baha’is, account for the remaining 2 percent. Ethnically, Arabs represent about 75 percent of the population, followed by Kurds at 20 percent. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), other ethnic groups include Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians, Shabaks, and Yazidis. Arabic and Kurdish are the official languages, with Turkmen, Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), and Armenian spoken in certain communities.

Economy

Baghdad's economy was significantly disrupted after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, which led to instability, violence, and a sharp decline in job opportunities. The ongoing conflict between various militant groups worsened conditions, resulting in high poverty levels across the city.

While setbacks from past conflict continue to affect development, Baghdad remains Iraq’s primary financial center. The city is home to the Central Bank of Iraq, which is currently building a new 37-story headquarters in the Al-Jadiriya area. Baghdad also hosts many of the country's key industries, including manufacturing of textiles, leather, tobacco, and construction materials.

Although Baghdad remains Iraq's main financial hub, the country's GDP, which stood at approximately US$572.94 billion in 2023, and the oil revenues, which made up over 85 percent of the national income in 2022, reflect national-level economic statistics according to CIA World Factbook. However, unemployment remains a concern, with a national rate of around 15.6 percent.

Landmarks

Baghdad has a long and rich cultural tradition. The National Museum of Iraq once contained a wealth of art and artifacts related to the country's political and social history. However, the museum was looted heavily following the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, and very little remains of its collection. The museum's collections of Mesopotamian artifacts were considered a globally important historical resource. Humanities experts worldwide criticized the lack of protection given to the artifacts by US and coalition forces.

Baghdad's Abbasid Palace is an example of traditional Iraqi architecture. The palace was constructed in the twelfth century and overlooks the Tigris River. Some historians believe that the palace was built as an Islamic school, as it resembles known religious institutions from the same period.

Baghdad has a number of mosques that are important to both Islamic and architectural history. Intricate decorative elements and engravings characterize the buildings. The al-Kadhimiya mosque, believed to have been built in the sixteenth century, is one of the most important in the Muslim world, as it is integrated with the shrines of two important Muslim imams. Many of the city's mosques were damaged or destroyed during the civil war that occurred in Iraq beginning in 2007. Most notably, the dome and two minarets of the widely known al-Askari mosque were destroyed by two separate bombings in 2006 and 2007; they were subsequently restored, and the mosque reopened in 2009.

History

The Baghdad area was occupied as early as 1800 BCE as part of the ancient empire of Babylonia. In 634 CE, the newly formed Islamic empire expanded into Iraq, which at the time was part of the Persian Sassanid Empire. Historians have established 762 CE as the date when Baghdad was founded. The caliph Abu Jafar al-Mansur is credited as the founder of Baghdad. The city was originally located on the west side of the Tigris River and later expanded to the east.

During the eighth and ninth centuries, Baghdad became the center of the Islamic world. Christians and Jewish residents were required to pay a tax for living in the empire. The economy of the entire region was centered in Baghdad. It was the cultural and artistic capital of the region and the second largest city in the world, after Constantinople. Some historians believe that Baghdad was the most advanced city in the world until the Mongol Empire invaded in 1258 CE. Much of the city's infrastructure was destroyed during the extended conflict that ensued.

In 1534, Baghdad became part of the Ottoman Empire. The city's condition continued to decline. Cultural institutions and artifacts were destroyed during several decades of internal strife. In 1624, Persian forces recaptured the dilapidated city. The Ottomans managed to retake the city in 1638.

In 1798, the British government established a permanent presence in the city to assist in trade with Europe. European trade partially revitalized the system. By the 1800s, steamships on the Tigris River continued to increase commercial prosperity.

By 1870, serious modernization had taken place with the establishment of the first modern financial and governmental institutions. The first newspapers and telephone services were also installed during this period. In 1917, British troops occupied Iraq and took control of Baghdad from the Ottomans. Baghdad was named the capital of Iraq in 1920. New administrative offices and financial institutions were constructed under the British government.

Iraq received its independence from Britain in 1932. From the 1930s to the 1990s, Baghdad experienced moderate growth, and the country's economy became more focused on petroleum production. The 1970s were a major building phase for Baghdad, and the city modernized many urban areas.

In 2003, a US-led international coalition invaded Iraq and occupied Baghdad. The government of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was removed from power. Many of the city's buildings were destroyed, and its infrastructure was severely damaged.

The fall of the Hussein regime created a power vacuum throughout Iraq that was felt with great severity in Baghdad. Shiite militants claimed they represented Iraq's Shiite majority, which had been long repressed during Hussein's rule, while Sunni militants criticized Iraq's newly formed parliamentary government, claiming they lacked proper representation. Both groups were reported to have committed atrocities against the country's civilian population, regardless of religious affiliation. In addition to this conflict, various militant sects claiming allegiance with the terrorist group al-Qaeda continued to attack US and coalition forces in Iraq with various guerilla tactics, such as concealed roadside bombs and sniper fire. Over time, however, the violence began to die down, and the United States began ceding control to Iraqi forces.

In October 2011, US president Barack Obama announced that US forces would withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year. The end of the Iraq War was officially declared on December 15, and all remaining US troops withdrew by December 18. Sectarian violence resurged following the withdrawal, with over fourteen thousand civilian deaths estimated to have occurred in 2012 and 2013 alone. Beginning in 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took al-Qaeda's place as the greatest terrorist threat in the region, occupying large swaths of Iraq to the north and east until the group was beaten back in 2017 and 2018; the tragic episode was further evidence that the Iraqi government had limited control of the country outside the capital, which itself remained a difficult environment. Since the Iraq War, Baghdad has ranked at the bottom of global rankings of cities by quality of life.


Bibliography

Ali, Zaid al. The Struggle for Iraq's Future: How Corruption, Incompetence and Sectarianism Have Undermined Democracy. New Haven: Yale UP, 2014. Print.

"Baghdad, Iraq Metro Area Population 1950-2025." Macrotrends, 31 Mar. 2025, www.macrotrends.net/cities/21529/baghdad/population.​ Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

"Climate Change Is the Biggest Threat Iraq Has Ever Faced, But There Is Hope to Turn Things Around." United Nations Sustainable Development, 15 Nov. 2022, unsdg.un.org/latest/blog/climate-change-biggest-threat-iraq-has-ever-faced-there-hope-turn-things-around. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.

Dodge, Toby. Iraq: From War to a New Authoritarianism. London: Intl. Inst. for Strategic Studies, 2012. Print.

"Iraq." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 17 Apr. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iraq/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

"Iraqis Rebuild al-Askari Mosque." Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera, 12 Aug. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

"Iraq Unemployment Rate." Trading Economics, 31 Dec. 2023, www.tradingeconomics.com/iraq/unemployment-rate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

"Iraq Overview." U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2023, www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/irq. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Jamil, Tariq al. Power and Knowledge in Medieval Islam: Shi'i and Sunni Encounters in Baghdad. London: Tauris, 2014. Print.

Kennedy, Hugh. When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2004. Print.

Knolle, Kristi. "Vienna Unbeatable as World's Most Liveable City, Baghdad Still Worst." Reuters, 19 Mar. 2018, www.reuters.com/article/us-mercer-ranking/vienna-unbeatable-as-worlds-most-liveable-city-baghdad-still-worst-idUSKBN1GW00T. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.

Marr, Phebe, and Ibrahim al-Marashi. The Modern History of Iraq. 4th ed. Westview, 2017.

Full Article

The area surrounding Baghdad has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The city itself was built during the eighth century CE and became the capital of modern-day Iraq in 1920. Baghdad is the seat of the country's government and the economic and cultural center of the nation. It is the second-largest city in the Arab world, ranking just behind Cairo, Egypt.

Baghdad is the largest transportation hub in Iraq and is connected to both the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Its location led to its development as a rich cultural and educational center before the city was conquered by foreign invasion in the thirteenth century.

Landscape

Baghdad lies on a vast alluvial plain between Iraq’s western deserts and eastern mountains. The Tigris River bisects the city, shaping its geography with sediment deposits left by seasonal flooding.

In recent years, Baghdad has faced mounting challenges from climate change. Heatwaves have become more frequent, while episodes of intense rainfall, prolonged drought, and sand and dust storms have grown increasingly common. These shifts have exacerbated water scarcity across the region, culminating in 2021 with Iraq’s driest season in four decades. Despite these emerging threats, Baghdad traditionally experiences an arid subtropical climate. Summers are intensely hot and dry, with average temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit) and highs sometimes reaching 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Humidity levels typically remain low, ranging from 10 to 50 percent, though temperatures can fall sharply at night.

Baghdad has a vast urban area. Most buildings are relatively short, compared to major urban areas in other cities. Baghdad spans a total area of 596 square kilometers (230 square miles). This extensive coverage contributes to its status as one of the largest cities in the region.

The city's design is unique, as modern elements are intermingled with surviving ancient structures. The business districts contain modern architecture, but many of the streets are still lined with mosques and other buildings that have been part of the city since ancient times. Baghdad is divided into nine districts with more than eighty distinct neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods contain restaurants, cafés, and entertainment venues, while others are purely residential.

People

Baghdad, Iraq’s capital and largest city, had a population of around 8,141,000 as of 2025 according to Macrotrends. The city’s urban population has expanded significantly since the early 20th century, growing from an estimated 350,000 in 1932 due to new housing developments and high birth rates. This trend was interrupted after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, which sparked prolonged conflict and internal displacement, causing a temporary population decline.

The majority of Baghdad’s residents are Arab Muslims. Historically, the city was home to vibrant Christian and Jewish communities. Today, the number of Jews in Baghdad has diminished to a handful, though some historically significant synagogues and churches still remain. Christianity continues to be practiced, with notable churches scattered throughout the capital.

Iraq’s population is predominantly Muslim, with approximately 97 percent of the population identifying as followers of Islam. Among Muslims, around 60 percent are Shiite and 37 percent are Sunni, according to The Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA). Christians make up about 1 percent of the national population, while other religious minorities, such as Yazidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, and Baha’is, account for the remaining 2 percent. Ethnically, Arabs represent about 75 percent of the population, followed by Kurds at 20 percent. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), other ethnic groups include Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians, Shabaks, and Yazidis. Arabic and Kurdish are the official languages, with Turkmen, Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), and Armenian spoken in certain communities.

Economy

Baghdad's economy was significantly disrupted after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, which led to instability, violence, and a sharp decline in job opportunities. The ongoing conflict between various militant groups worsened conditions, resulting in high poverty levels across the city.

While setbacks from past conflict continue to affect development, Baghdad remains Iraq’s primary financial center. The city is home to the Central Bank of Iraq, which is currently building a new 37-story headquarters in the Al-Jadiriya area. Baghdad also hosts many of the country's key industries, including manufacturing of textiles, leather, tobacco, and construction materials.

Although Baghdad remains Iraq's main financial hub, the country's GDP, which stood at approximately US$572.94 billion in 2023, and the oil revenues, which made up over 85 percent of the national income in 2022, reflect national-level economic statistics according to CIA World Factbook. However, unemployment remains a concern, with a national rate of around 15.6 percent.

Landmarks

Baghdad has a long and rich cultural tradition. The National Museum of Iraq once contained a wealth of art and artifacts related to the country's political and social history. However, the museum was looted heavily following the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, and very little remains of its collection. The museum's collections of Mesopotamian artifacts were considered a globally important historical resource. Humanities experts worldwide criticized the lack of protection given to the artifacts by US and coalition forces.

Baghdad's Abbasid Palace is an example of traditional Iraqi architecture. The palace was constructed in the twelfth century and overlooks the Tigris River. Some historians believe that the palace was built as an Islamic school, as it resembles known religious institutions from the same period.

Baghdad has a number of mosques that are important to both Islamic and architectural history. Intricate decorative elements and engravings characterize the buildings. The al-Kadhimiya mosque, believed to have been built in the sixteenth century, is one of the most important in the Muslim world, as it is integrated with the shrines of two important Muslim imams. Many of the city's mosques were damaged or destroyed during the civil war that occurred in Iraq beginning in 2007. Most notably, the dome and two minarets of the widely known al-Askari mosque were destroyed by two separate bombings in 2006 and 2007; they were subsequently restored, and the mosque reopened in 2009.

History

The Baghdad area was occupied as early as 1800 BCE as part of the ancient empire of Babylonia. In 634 CE, the newly formed Islamic empire expanded into Iraq, which at the time was part of the Persian Sassanid Empire. Historians have established 762 CE as the date when Baghdad was founded. The caliph Abu Jafar al-Mansur is credited as the founder of Baghdad. The city was originally located on the west side of the Tigris River and later expanded to the east.

During the eighth and ninth centuries, Baghdad became the center of the Islamic world. Christians and Jewish residents were required to pay a tax for living in the empire. The economy of the entire region was centered in Baghdad. It was the cultural and artistic capital of the region and the second largest city in the world, after Constantinople. Some historians believe that Baghdad was the most advanced city in the world until the Mongol Empire invaded in 1258 CE. Much of the city's infrastructure was destroyed during the extended conflict that ensued.

In 1534, Baghdad became part of the Ottoman Empire. The city's condition continued to decline. Cultural institutions and artifacts were destroyed during several decades of internal strife. In 1624, Persian forces recaptured the dilapidated city. The Ottomans managed to retake the city in 1638.

In 1798, the British government established a permanent presence in the city to assist in trade with Europe. European trade partially revitalized the system. By the 1800s, steamships on the Tigris River continued to increase commercial prosperity.

By 1870, serious modernization had taken place with the establishment of the first modern financial and governmental institutions. The first newspapers and telephone services were also installed during this period. In 1917, British troops occupied Iraq and took control of Baghdad from the Ottomans. Baghdad was named the capital of Iraq in 1920. New administrative offices and financial institutions were constructed under the British government.

Iraq received its independence from Britain in 1932. From the 1930s to the 1990s, Baghdad experienced moderate growth, and the country's economy became more focused on petroleum production. The 1970s were a major building phase for Baghdad, and the city modernized many urban areas.

In 2003, a US-led international coalition invaded Iraq and occupied Baghdad. The government of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was removed from power. Many of the city's buildings were destroyed, and its infrastructure was severely damaged.

The fall of the Hussein regime created a power vacuum throughout Iraq that was felt with great severity in Baghdad. Shiite militants claimed they represented Iraq's Shiite majority, which had been long repressed during Hussein's rule, while Sunni militants criticized Iraq's newly formed parliamentary government, claiming they lacked proper representation. Both groups were reported to have committed atrocities against the country's civilian population, regardless of religious affiliation. In addition to this conflict, various militant sects claiming allegiance with the terrorist group al-Qaeda continued to attack US and coalition forces in Iraq with various guerilla tactics, such as concealed roadside bombs and sniper fire. Over time, however, the violence began to die down, and the United States began ceding control to Iraqi forces.

In October 2011, US president Barack Obama announced that US forces would withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year. The end of the Iraq War was officially declared on December 15, and all remaining US troops withdrew by December 18. Sectarian violence resurged following the withdrawal, with over fourteen thousand civilian deaths estimated to have occurred in 2012 and 2013 alone. Beginning in 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took al-Qaeda's place as the greatest terrorist threat in the region, occupying large swaths of Iraq to the north and east until the group was beaten back in 2017 and 2018; the tragic episode was further evidence that the Iraqi government had limited control of the country outside the capital, which itself remained a difficult environment. Since the Iraq War, Baghdad has ranked at the bottom of global rankings of cities by quality of life.


Bibliography

Ali, Zaid al. The Struggle for Iraq's Future: How Corruption, Incompetence and Sectarianism Have Undermined Democracy. New Haven: Yale UP, 2014. Print.

"Baghdad, Iraq Metro Area Population 1950-2025." Macrotrends, 31 Mar. 2025, www.macrotrends.net/cities/21529/baghdad/population.​ Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

"Climate Change Is the Biggest Threat Iraq Has Ever Faced, But There Is Hope to Turn Things Around." United Nations Sustainable Development, 15 Nov. 2022, unsdg.un.org/latest/blog/climate-change-biggest-threat-iraq-has-ever-faced-there-hope-turn-things-around. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.

Dodge, Toby. Iraq: From War to a New Authoritarianism. London: Intl. Inst. for Strategic Studies, 2012. Print.

"Iraq." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 17 Apr. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iraq/. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

"Iraqis Rebuild al-Askari Mosque." Al Jazeera English. Al Jazeera, 12 Aug. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.

"Iraq Unemployment Rate." Trading Economics, 31 Dec. 2023, www.tradingeconomics.com/iraq/unemployment-rate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

"Iraq Overview." U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2023, www.eia.gov/international/overview/country/irq. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Jamil, Tariq al. Power and Knowledge in Medieval Islam: Shi'i and Sunni Encounters in Baghdad. London: Tauris, 2014. Print.

Kennedy, Hugh. When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2004. Print.

Knolle, Kristi. "Vienna Unbeatable as World's Most Liveable City, Baghdad Still Worst." Reuters, 19 Mar. 2018, www.reuters.com/article/us-mercer-ranking/vienna-unbeatable-as-worlds-most-liveable-city-baghdad-still-worst-idUSKBN1GW00T. Accessed 9 Apr. 2019.

Marr, Phebe, and Ibrahim al-Marashi. The Modern History of Iraq. 4th ed. Westview, 2017.

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