Baghdad is the capital of the Republic of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Province. The population of Baghdad, as of 2011, is approximately 7,216,040, making it the largest city in Iraq, the second largest city in the Arab world, and the second largest city in Western Asia. According to the government, which is preparing for a census, the population of the country has reached 35 million, with 9 million in the capital.