Quick facts
Syria population overview
Syria is the 22nd most populous of 52 countries and territories in Asia. The United Nations put the population at 26,070,774 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +3% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 2,170 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 615,270 births (23.6 per 1,000 people) and 125,140 deaths (4.8 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 302,421 people. The infant mortality rate is 13.3 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 4,673,500 in 1960 to 25,620,427 in 2025 — a change of +448.2%, or +2.7% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 23.8 years; life expectancy at birth is 73.4 years; women have on average 2.7 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 28.4% of residents are under 15 and 4.8% are 65 or older (2025); 72.1% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Damascus. Syria covers 185,180 km², giving a population density of about 144 people per km². GDP was $23.74B in 2022 — about $1,057 per person (World Bank classification: low income).
Syria population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) | 26,702,813 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 26,070,774 |
| World rank | #57 of 238 |
| Rank in Asia | #22 of 52 |
| Share of world population | 0.3% |
| Annual growth rate | +3% |
| Births per year est. | 615,270 |
| Deaths per year est. | 125,140 |
| Net migration per year est. | +302,421 |
| Birth rate | 23.6 per 1,000 |
| Death rate | 4.8 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality | 13.3 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio | 100.4 males per 100 females |
| Median age | 23.8 years |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 | 2.7 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 | 72.1% |
| Surface area 2023 | 185,180 km² |
| Population density | 144 per km² |
| Capital | Damascus |
| GDP (current US$) 2022 | $23.74B |
| GDP per capita 2022 | $1,057 |
| Income group World Bank | Low income |
Syria population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 26,702,813 | – | – |
| 2025 | 25,620,427 | +947,667 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 24,672,760 | +1,078,137 | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 23,594,623 | +1,132,450 | +5% |
| 2022 | 22,462,173 | +833,334 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 21,628,839 | +579,410 | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 21,049,429 | +1,624,811 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 19,424,618 | -3,057,803 | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 22,482,421 | +3,668,330 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 18,814,091 | +2,176,203 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 16,637,888 | +2,021,087 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 14,616,801 | +2,037,593 | +3% |
| 1990 | 12,579,208 | +1,953,536 | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 10,625,672 | +1,668,009 | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 8,957,663 | +1,403,299 | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 7,554,364 | +1,173,755 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 6,380,609 | +945,342 | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 5,435,267 | +761,767 | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 4,673,500 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
About Syria
Population over time
- From 4,673,500 in 1960 to 26,702,813 today — up 471.4%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +2.8% per year.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 72.6 years (2024), up 19.8 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2.7 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 23.2 births vs 4.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 18.2 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
Age structure
- 28.4% of the population is under 15 and 4.8% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has shrunk from 5% in 1960 — the population is getting younger.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 31.45 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 66.68 Mt in 2008 — down 52.8% since.
- Per person: 1.27 t in 2024, vs 0.99 t in 1970.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 395.9 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), down 52.4% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 1.1% of final energy in 2021 (-1.3 points since 1990).
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 2.8% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 2% to 2.8% since 1990 — roughly 1,516 km² of forest gained.
Urban population (% of total)
- 72.1% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 40% in 1960 (+32.1 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1995.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: critical — freshwater withdrawals are 195.8% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 318 m³ in 2022, down 78.6% since 1961.
Economy
- GDP: $23.74B in 2022.
- Nominal GDP is down 45% since 2012.
- That works out to $1,057 per person.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 13.6% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 13.4% in 2019 — persistently high inflation erodes real incomes.
Internet & mobile
- 33.8% of people used the internet in 2018.
- Mobile subscriptions: 71.2 per 100 people (2024).
Syria in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Syria in 2026?
As of October 2026, Syria has an estimated population of 26,702,813. The United Nations estimated 26,070,774 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +3% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Syria growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +3% per year — roughly 2,170 more people every day. Each year there are about 615,270 births and 125,140 deaths, with net migration of +302,421.
What is the population density of Syria?
About 144 people per square kilometre: 26,702,813 people living on 185,180 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Syria?
The median age is 23.8 years, and life expectancy at birth is 73.4 years. 28.4% of the population is under 15 and 4.8% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Syria rank by population?
Syria is the 57th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 22nd in Asia, with 0.3% of the global population.
How has the population of Syria changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 4,673,500; by 2025 it had grown to 25,620,427 (+448.2%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Burkina FasoSources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+3%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.