Population in Syria
Syria: Population was 23.59 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
23.59 million people
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
58th
of 236 countries
All-time high
23.59 million people
in 2023
All-time low
3.61 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Syria, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Syria stood at 23.59 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Syria peaked at 23.59 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.61 million people, in 1950.
Syria ranks 58th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Syria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.61 million people | — |
| 1951 | 3.68 million people | +2.0% |
| 1952 | 3.77 million people | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 3.85 million people | +2.3% |
| 1954 | 3.95 million people | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 4.05 million people | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 4.16 million people | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 4.28 million people | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 4.40 million people | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 4.53 million people | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 4.67 million people | +3.1% |
| 1961 | 4.82 million people | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 4.96 million people | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 5.11 million people | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 5.27 million people | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 5.44 million people | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 5.61 million people | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 5.79 million people | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 5.98 million people | +3.3% |
| 1969 | 6.18 million people | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 6.38 million people | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 6.60 million people | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 6.83 million people | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 7.06 million people | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 7.30 million people | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 7.55 million people | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 7.82 million people | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 8.09 million people | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 8.37 million people | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 8.66 million people | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 8.96 million people | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 9.26 million people | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 9.57 million people | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 9.90 million people | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 10.26 million people | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 10.63 million people | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 11.00 million people | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 11.39 million people | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 11.78 million people | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 12.18 million people | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 12.58 million people | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 12.98 million people | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 13.39 million people | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 13.80 million people | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 14.21 million people | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 14.62 million people | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 15.02 million people | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 15.42 million people | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 15.82 million people | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 16.23 million people | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 16.64 million people | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 17.05 million people | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 17.47 million people | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 17.89 million people | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 18.34 million people | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 18.81 million people | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 19.64 million people | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 20.88 million people | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 21.64 million people | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 21.98 million people | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 22.48 million people | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 22.88 million people | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 22.76 million people | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 21.67 million people | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 20.27 million people | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 19.42 million people | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 19.19 million people | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 19.22 million people | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 19.58 million people | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 20.35 million people | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 21.05 million people | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 21.63 million people | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 22.46 million people | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 23.59 million people | +5.0% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 23.59 million people is above the median for low income countries, which is 23.03 million people, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 23.59 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11.44 million people, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.03 million people | 3.61 million people | 4.53 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.38 million people | 4.67 million people | 6.18 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.47 million people | 6.38 million people | 8.66 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.49 million people | 8.96 million people | 12.18 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.41 million people | 12.58 million people | 16.23 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.03 million people | 16.64 million people | 21.98 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.78 million people | 19.19 million people | 22.88 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.18 million people | 21.05 million people | 23.59 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More population data for Syria
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1293 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1531 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.22 million people (2100)
- Population density 237.91 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.1 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.2792 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Syria?
- Population in Syria was 23.59 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 23.59 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.61 million people in 1950.
- How does Syria rank for population?
- Syria ranks 58th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.