Refugees by country of origin in Syria
Syria: Refugees by country of origin was 5.95 million people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of origin in Syria, 1968–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2024, refugees by country of origin in Syria stood at 5.95 million people.
That represents a change of down 6.4% on the previous year and up 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Syria peaked at 6.85 million people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 20 people, in 1987.
Syria ranks 1st of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of origin in Syria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1,200 people | — |
| 1969 | 1,200 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 500 people | -58.3% |
| 1980 | 500 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 505 people | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 505 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 526 people | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 529 people | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 2,599 people | +391.3% |
| 1986 | 534 people | -79.5% |
| 1987 | 20 people | -96.3% |
| 1988 | 881 people | +4305.0% |
| 1989 | 397 people | -54.9% |
| 1990 | 2,148 people | +441.1% |
| 1991 | 3,037 people | +41.4% |
| 1992 | 4,408 people | +45.1% |
| 1993 | 5,412 people | +22.8% |
| 1994 | 7,087 people | +30.9% |
| 1995 | 7,995 people | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 8,611 people | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 8,653 people | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 8,132 people | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 6,693 people | -17.7% |
| 2000 | 5,868 people | -12.3% |
| 2001 | 4,861 people | -17.2% |
| 2002 | 18,908 people | +289.0% |
| 2003 | 20,816 people | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 21,430 people | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 16,395 people | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 12,327 people | -24.8% |
| 2007 | 13,684 people | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 15,206 people | +11.1% |
| 2009 | 17,915 people | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 18,451 people | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 19,931 people | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 729,011 people | +3557.7% |
| 2013 | 2.47 million people | +238.6% |
| 2014 | 3.89 million people | +57.5% |
| 2015 | 4.87 million people | +25.4% |
| 2016 | 5.52 million people | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 6.31 million people | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 6.65 million people | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 6.62 million people | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 6.70 million people | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 6.85 million people | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 6.56 million people | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 6.36 million people | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 5.95 million people | -6.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,200 people | 1,200 people | 1,200 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 500 people | 500 people | 500 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 699.6 people | 20 people | 2,599 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,218 people | 2,148 people | 8,653 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,741 people | 4,861 people | 21,430 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.71 million people | 18,451 people | 6.65 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.48 million people | 5.95 million people | 6.85 million people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 2 Afghanistan 5.77 million people compare
- 3 Ukraine 5.12 million people compare
- 4 South Sudan 2.29 million people 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)
- World population growth -0.1% (2100)
- Population density 237.91 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.22 million people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.1% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate 3.85 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Syria?
- Refugees by country of origin in Syria was 5.95 million people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.85 million people in 2021.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20 people in 1987.
- How does Syria rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Syria ranks 1st out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees, not just those who fled that year.