Quick facts
Damascus overview
Damascus (orange) and the other large cities of Syria
Damascus lies in Damascus Governorate in Syria at 33.51°N, 36.29°E, about 701 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Damascus (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is smaller than Aleppo (2,098,210) and larger than Homs (775,404). The largest city in Syria is Aleppo with 2,098,210 people.
The nearest large city is Babīlā, about 6 km away, followed by Jaramānā (6 km).
Syria as a whole has a live population of 26,705,157 (+3% a year) and ranks #57 of 238 countries — see the Syria population page for the full statistics and the Syria atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Damascus
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Babīlā Rif-dimashq | 6 km | 50,880 |
| Jaramānā Rif-dimashq | 6 km | 99,999 |
| ‘Irbīn Rif-dimashq | 8 km | 42,474 |
| Dārayyā Rif-dimashq | 8 km | 71,596 |
| Ḩarastā Rif-dimashq | 9 km | 37,348 |
| Muadamiyat al-Sham Rif-dimashq | 10 km | 52,738 |
| At Tall Rif-dimashq | 11 km | 55,561 |
| Dūmā Rif-dimashq | 12 km | 111,864 |
Largest cities in Syria
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Damascus?
Damascus has about 1,569,394 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Damascus the capital of Syria?
Yes — Damascus is the national capital of Syria.
How big is Damascus compared with the rest of Syria?
Its 1,569,394 residents are 5.9% of the 26,705,157 people living in Syria today. Aleppo is larger with 2,098,210 people.
Where is Damascus?
In Damascus Governorate, Syria, at latitude 33.51 and longitude 36.29, 701 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Babīlā (6 km), Jaramānā (6 km), ‘Irbīn (8 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Damascus Population 2026 — Syria. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/syria/damascus/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/syria/damascus/">Damascus Population 2026 — Syria</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.