Good point Wolfgang, I must admit that something similar crossed my mind when I read the posts referred to.

Iraq's population, as pointed out by yourself has grown:
1989 - 18.1 million
1997 - 21.2 million
2003 - 23.3 million

From 1991 to 31.12.1999 - 1,200,000 deaths
2,300 civilian deaths directly attributable to Desert Storm Operations
20,000 deaths in Iraqi military attributable to Desert Storm Operations.
480,000 children dead due to effects of UN Sanctions (5000 per month since sanctions were introduced - 1991 to end 1999. Note, this figure is not verified)
717,700 Adult deaths in Iraq since 1991 to end of 1999, not directly attributable to Desert Storm. The cause of these deaths will range from:
Natural causes;
Shia fatalities relating to the time that Saddam put down their revolt after Desert Storm;
Kurdish fatalities in conflicts with Saddam and other Kurds;
Executions of criminal and political prisoners;
Female relatives killed by male relatives in the name of honour (perfectly allowable under a 1990 decree issued by Saddam and the boys);
Road traffic accidents & other accidental deaths;
Suicides;
Women accused of prostitution;
US & UK bombing related to No-Fly zone incidents and Desert Fox.

So in the time frame being discussed (1991 to 1999) the Iraqi population grew from 18.88 million to 21.9 million - or by 3.02 million, around 17%, despite 5.48% of the population dying during the same period.

Wolfgang quoted a figure (statistics?) relating to Germany since 1998.

These are ones I found
Population of Germany 31.12.01 - 82,440,300
Population of Germany 31.12.99 - 82,163,500
Population expansion in two years   276,800

Deaths in Germany between 1997 & 2000 - 3,905,462 not counting Abortion.
Deaths in Germany between 1997 & 2000 - 4,433,227 including Abortions.

Now not a lot of people know that.