Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Syria
Syria: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 4.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Syria, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in Syria stood at 4.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.2% on the previous year and up 167.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Syria peaked at 6.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -6.6%, in 2014.
Syria ranks 5th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Syria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.3% | — |
| 1971 | 3.4% | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 3.4% | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 3.4% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 3.4% | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 3.4% | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 3.4% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 3.4% | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 3.4% | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 3.4% | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 3.3% | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 3.3% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 3.4% | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 3.5% | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 3.4% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 3.3% | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 3.1% | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 3.1% | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 2.7% | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | +66.6% |
| 2007 | 6.2% | +43.8% |
| 2008 | 3.5% | -42.5% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -55.9% |
| 2010 | 2.3% | +45.7% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | -23.3% |
| 2012 | -0.5% | -129.7% |
| 2013 | -4.9% | +848.9% |
| 2014 | -6.6% | +35.1% |
| 2015 | -4.3% | -35.6% |
| 2016 | -1.2% | -72.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -113.4% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | +1034.1% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | +113.4% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -13.5% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -19.2% |
| 2022 | 3.8% | +39.2% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +30.1% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | -9.2% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 4.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 4.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 2.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Syria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +1034.1% | 0.2% | 1.8% |
| 2013 | -848.9% | -0.5% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | -129.7% | 1.7% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | +113.4% | -1.2% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | +113.4% | 1.8% | 3.9% |
| 2016 | +72.1% | -4.3% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.5% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 1.6% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.8% | -6.6% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 2.7% | 4.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 2 Chad 4.9% compare
- 3 Saudi Arabia 4.6% compare
- 4 Oman 4.5% compare
- 6 South Sudan 3.9% compare
- 7 Malta 3.8% compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 3.7% compare
More population data for Syria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.149 (2100)
- Population density 237.91 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.22 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.149 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.0104 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Syria?
- Population growth in Syria was 4.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.6% in 2014.
- How does Syria rank for population growth?
- Syria ranks 5th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 167.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release