Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Syria
Syria: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled was 5.95 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Syria, 1968–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Syria stood at 5.95 million.
That represents a change of down 6.4% on the previous year and up 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Syria peaked at 6.85 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 20, 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.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 5.95 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 150,081, 39.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 5.95 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 8,800, 676.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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 | 6.48 million | 5.95 million | 6.85 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 2 Afghanistan 5.77 million compare
- 3 Ukraine 5.12 million compare
- 4 South Sudan 2.29 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)
- 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 refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Syria?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled in Syria was 5.95 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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, gaps filled recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20 in 1987.
- How does Syria rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled?
- Syria ranks 1st out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Refugees by country of origin UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Refugee population by country or territory of origin with 133 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.