Syria Population
Syria has an estimated population of about 24.7 million, which makes it the 57th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing very rapidly, at 4.47% a year.
The capital is Damascus.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2015–2024 (World Bank)
How Syria's population is changing
Syria records about 1,565 births and 333 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 1,232 people per day, or about 449,988 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 546,494 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 121% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Syria would take roughly 16 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2015 to 2024, the population rose from 19.4 million to 24.7 million — a gain of 5.25 million, or 27.0%.
Where people live in Syria
With about 128 people per square kilometre, Syria is moderately populated, roughly 2.1× the world average of 62. That ranks 40th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Jordan and France.
Syria covers about 183,630 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 24.7 million into that density figure.
About 72.1% of people live in urban areas, making Syria highly urbanised, above the world average of 57.6%. That works out to roughly 17.8 million town and city dwellers and 6.89 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Syria
Syria has a broadly balanced age structure: about 29.2% are under 15 and 4.7% are 65 or older. Children outnumber over-65s by roughly 6.2 to one.
The total fertility rate is about 2.70 births per woman, above the ~2.1 replacement level, which is what sustains growth from births alone. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 72.6 years, close to the global average of 73.5.
Syria at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24.7 million | 2024 |
| World rank by population | #57 | 2024 |
| Annual growth rate | 4.47% | 2024 |
| Population density | 128 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 183,630 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 72.1% | 2024 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 72.6 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 2.70 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 29.2% | 2024 |
| Population 65 and over | 4.7% | 2024 |
| Net migration | 546,494 | 2024 |
| Births per day | 1,565 | 2024 |
| Deaths per day | 333 | 2024 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Syria?
Is Syria's population growing or shrinking?
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Where do these Syria figures come from?
Current local time in Syria
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2024. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank