Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria
Syria: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 4.87 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.87 million
Change on year
down 18.3%
World rank
2nd
of 205 countries
All-time high
6.85 million
in 2021
All-time low
20
in 1987
Years of data
49
1968–2025
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria, 1968–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria stood at 4.87 million.
That represents a change of down 18.3% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria peaked at 6.85 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 20, in 1987.
Syria ranks 2nd of 205 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1,200 | — |
| 1969 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 500 | -58.3% |
| 1980 | 500 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 505 | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 505 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 526 | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 529 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 2,599 | +391.3% |
| 1986 | 534 | -79.5% |
| 1987 | 20 | -96.3% |
| 1988 | 881 | +4305.0% |
| 1989 | 397 | -54.9% |
| 1990 | 2,148 | +441.1% |
| 1991 | 3,037 | +41.4% |
| 1992 | 4,408 | +45.1% |
| 1993 | 5,412 | +22.8% |
| 1994 | 7,087 | +30.9% |
| 1995 | 7,995 | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 8,611 | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 8,653 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 8,132 | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 6,693 | -17.7% |
| 2000 | 5,868 | -12.3% |
| 2001 | 4,861 | -17.2% |
| 2002 | 18,908 | +289.0% |
| 2003 | 20,816 | +10.1% |
| 2004 | 21,430 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 16,395 | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 12,327 | -24.8% |
| 2007 | 13,684 | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 15,206 | +11.1% |
| 2009 | 17,915 | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 18,451 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 19,931 | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 729,011 | +3557.7% |
| 2013 | 2.47 million | +238.6% |
| 2014 | 3.89 million | +57.5% |
| 2015 | 4.87 million | +25.4% |
| 2016 | 5.52 million | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 6.31 million | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 6.65 million | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 6.62 million | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 6.70 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 6.85 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 6.56 million | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 6.36 million | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 5.95 million | -6.4% |
| 2025 | 4.87 million | -18.3% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 4.87 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 164,215, 29.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 4.87 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9,174, 530.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +4305.0% | 20 | 881 |
| 2012 | +3557.7% | 19,931 | 729,011 |
| 1990 | +441.1% | 397 | 2,148 |
| 1985 | +391.3% | 529 | 2,599 |
| 2002 | +289.0% | 4,861 | 18,908 |
| 2013 | +238.6% | 729,011 | 2.47 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 2 |
| 1970s | 500 | 500 | 500 | 1 |
| 1980s | 699.6 | 20 | 2,599 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,218 | 2,148 | 8,653 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,741 | 4,861 | 21,430 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.71 million | 18,451 | 6.65 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.21 million | 4.87 million | 6.85 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 1 Ukraine 5.22 million compare
- 3 Sudan 2.82 million compare
- 4 Afghanistan 2.67 million compare
- 5 South Sudan 2.39 million 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 refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Syria was 4.87 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.85 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20 in 1987.
- How does Syria rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Syria ranks 2nd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).