Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in Syria
Syria: Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square was 34.61 units per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in Syria, 1968–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in Syria is 34.61 units per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and up 157.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in Syria peaked at 37.3 units per square kilometre in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 units per square kilometre, in 1987.
That places Syria 1st out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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, per square in Syria, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 0.0065 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1969 | 0.0065 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | -58.3% |
| 1980 | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.0029 units per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 0.0029 units per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 0.0141 units per square kilometre | +391.3% |
| 1986 | 0.0029 units per square kilometre | -79.5% |
| 1987 | 0.0001 units per square kilometre | -96.3% |
| 1988 | 0.0048 units per square kilometre | +4305.0% |
| 1989 | 0.0022 units per square kilometre | -54.9% |
| 1990 | 0.0117 units per square kilometre | +441.1% |
| 1991 | 0.0165 units per square kilometre | +41.4% |
| 1992 | 0.024 units per square kilometre | +45.1% |
| 1993 | 0.0294 units per square kilometre | +22.8% |
| 1994 | 0.0386 units per square kilometre | +30.9% |
| 1995 | 0.0435 units per square kilometre | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 0.0469 units per square kilometre | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 0.0471 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 0.0442 units per square kilometre | -6.0% |
| 1999 | 0.0364 units per square kilometre | -17.7% |
| 2000 | 0.0319 units per square kilometre | -12.3% |
| 2001 | 0.0265 units per square kilometre | -17.2% |
| 2002 | 0.1029 units per square kilometre | +289.0% |
| 2003 | 0.1134 units per square kilometre | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 0.1167 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 0.0893 units per square kilometre | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 0.0671 units per square kilometre | -24.8% |
| 2007 | 0.0745 units per square kilometre | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0828 units per square kilometre | +11.1% |
| 2009 | 0.0976 units per square kilometre | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 0.1005 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 0.1085 units per square kilometre | +8.0% |
| 2012 | 3.97 units per square kilometre | +3557.7% |
| 2013 | 13.44 units per square kilometre | +238.6% |
| 2014 | 21.17 units per square kilometre | +57.5% |
| 2015 | 26.54 units per square kilometre | +25.4% |
| 2016 | 30.09 units per square kilometre | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 34.37 units per square kilometre | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 36.24 units per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 36.02 units per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 36.5 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 37.3 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 35.72 units per square kilometre | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 34.61 units per square kilometre | -3.1% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 34.61 units per square kilometre is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.2005 units per square kilometre, 172.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 34.61 units per square kilometre is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.0448 units per square kilometre, 772.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square 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% | 0.0001 units per square kilometre | 0.0048 units per square kilometre |
| 2012 | +3557.7% | 0.1085 units per square kilometre | 3.97 units per square kilometre |
| 1990 | +441.1% | 0.0022 units per square kilometre | 0.0117 units per square kilometre |
| 1985 | +391.3% | 0.0029 units per square kilometre | 0.0141 units per square kilometre |
| 2002 | +289.0% | 0.0265 units per square kilometre | 0.1029 units per square kilometre |
| 2013 | +238.6% | 3.97 units per square kilometre | 13.44 units per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0065 units per square kilometre | 0.0065 units per square kilometre | 0.0065 units per square kilometre | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | 0.0027 units per square kilometre | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.0038 units per square kilometre | 0.0001 units per square kilometre | 0.0141 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0338 units per square kilometre | 0.0117 units per square kilometre | 0.0471 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0803 units per square kilometre | 0.0265 units per square kilometre | 0.1167 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.2 units per square kilometre | 0.1005 units per square kilometre | 36.24 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.03 units per square kilometre | 34.61 units per square kilometre | 37.3 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Syria
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, per square in Syria?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square in Syria was 34.61 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 37.3 units per square kilometre in 2021.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 units per square kilometre in 1987.
- How does Syria rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square?
- Syria ranks 1st out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin, per square rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 157.5%. 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, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 47 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 divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Refugees by country of origin UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.