Share of population living in cities in Syria
Syria: Share of population living in cities was 46.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities in Syria, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities in Syria is 46.6%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities in Syria peaked at 50.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 24.5%, in 1950.
Syria ranks 71st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities in Syria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 24.5% | — |
| 1955 | 26.4% | +7.9% |
| 1960 | 27.2% | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 28.6% | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 30.6% | +7.0% |
| 1975 | 33.6% | +9.9% |
| 1980 | 34.9% | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 36.7% | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 38.8% | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 39.5% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 41.9% | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 45.5% | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 50.4% | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 42.2% | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 46.6% | +10.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25.4% | 24.5% | 26.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 27.9% | 27.2% | 28.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.1% | 30.6% | 33.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 35.8% | 34.9% | 36.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 39.2% | 38.8% | 39.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 43.7% | 41.9% | 45.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 46.3% | 42.2% | 50.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 46.6% | 46.6% | 46.6% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities in Syria?
- Share of population living in cities in Syria was 46.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 50.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.5% in 1950.
- How does Syria rank for share of population living in cities?
- Syria ranks 71st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.