Syria birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Syria has a birth rate of 22.1 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 2.71 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Syria was 7.51 children per woman — 2.77 times higher than in 2023.

Syria birth rate statistics:

Syria is ranked 61/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 53/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 28.8, a change from 30 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 120.2 in 1960 to 38.9 in 2023.
27.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 20.6% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Syria by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	2.71	64
2022	2.75	66
2021	2.8	66
2020	2.84	68
2019	2.88	66
2018	2.93	65
2017	2.97	66
2016	3.01	66
2015	3.07	66
2014	3.12	64
2013	3.17	64
2012	3.22	64
2011	3.29	65
2010	3.36	63
2009	3.42	63
2008	3.48	61
2007	3.54	60
2006	3.56	60
2005	3.61	60
2004	3.68	61
2003	3.76	60
2002	3.87	58
2001	3.98	58
2000	4.07	59
1999	4.14	59
1998	4.25	61
1997	4.37	61
1996	4.54	60
1995	4.7	60
1994	4.86	60
1993	4.99	60
1992	5.14	57
1991	5.34	55
1990	5.56	53
1989	5.78	50
1988	6	46
1987	6.2	41
1986	6.37	38
1985	6.48	36
1984	6.59	35
1983	6.69	31
1982	6.81	28
1981	6.97	26
1980	7.12	24
1979	7.25	18
1978	7.35	13
1977	7.42	12
1976	7.45	12
1975	7.49	12
1974	7.52	12
1973	7.55	10
1972	7.57	10
1971	7.6	9
1970	7.62	9
1969	7.59	10
1968	7.57	10
1967	7.56	10
1966	7.55	11
1965	7.53	11
1964	7.53	11
1963	7.51	12
1962	7.51	11
1961	7.5	12
1960	7.51	13

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Syria is 2.71, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 4.99 — a 45.7% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	402,713	521,606	118,893
2022	369,750	476,961	107,211
2021	350,560	457,925	107,365
2020	327,992	434,460	106,468
2019	293,762	401,310	107,548
2018	242,530	370,647	128,117
2017	237,214	376,515	139,301
2016	236,007	376,563	140,556
2015	253,977	413,705	159,728
2014	333,116	482,188	149,072
2013	419,341	582,146	162,805
2012	475,520	630,946	155,426
2011	543,950	643,103	99,153
2010	558,666	644,638	85,972
2009	559,314	642,804	83,490
2008	576,593	659,136	82,543
2007	529,162	607,185	78,023
2006	480,616	555,197	74,581
2005	468,960	542,372	73,412
2004	461,209	533,914	72,705
2003	457,000	529,111	72,111
2002	453,967	526,373	72,406
2001	451,503	524,226	72,723
2000	446,211	519,168	72,957
1999	439,261	511,962	72,701
1998	433,447	505,493	72,046
1997	429,887	500,360	70,473
1996	430,765	499,397	68,632
1995	430,172	496,766	66,594
1994	426,996	491,403	64,407
1993	420,244	482,807	62,563
1992	412,878	474,036	61,158
1991	410,830	471,190	60,360
1990	409,177	469,091	59,914
1989	406,111	466,007	59,896
1988	404,285	464,056	59,771
1987	399,159	458,973	59,814
1986	390,821	450,621	59,800
1985	379,231	438,904	59,673
1984	366,768	426,164	59,396
1983	355,375	414,734	59,359
1982	319,664	403,768	84,104
1981	330,237	397,882	67,645
1980	332,464	391,781	59,317
1979	324,943	384,259	59,316
1978	316,724	376,028	59,304
1977	306,630	366,532	59,902
1976	294,267	354,687	60,420
1975	282,299	343,534	61,235
1974	270,735	333,080	62,345
1973	254,687	322,882	68,195
1972	249,027	313,553	64,526
1971	239,610	304,871	65,261
1970	230,117	296,417	66,300
1969	219,114	286,503	67,389
1968	209,454	277,832	68,378
1967	199,223	269,394	70,171
1966	191,122	261,751	70,629
1965	182,560	253,995	71,435
1964	174,549	246,967	72,418
1963	166,555	240,099	73,544
1962	159,155	233,966	74,811
1961	151,485	227,819	76,334
1960	143,687	221,444	77,757

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Syria (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +1.46% annually. On average, 304,762 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.71% — 402,713 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Syria ranks 44/196 for absolute natural population change and 58/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Syria compared to other countries

	Syria	Rank
Fertility rate	2.71	64/196
Birth rate	22.1	61/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+402,713	44/196
Natural population change rate	+1.71%	58/196
Population growth	+4.57%	6/197
Average age at childbearing	28.8 years	124/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	37.9	85/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	136.4	63/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	36.3	67/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	27.7%	9/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	37.5%	109/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	96.2%	114/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.02%	121/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	1%	86/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	1.9%	72/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	2.06%	78/192
Life expectancy	73.4 years	108/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	47	37.9	136.4	36.3
2025	46.8	38.2	138.5	35.9
2024	46.3	38.7	140.4	35.6
2023	44.2	39.3	140.9	34.8
2022	42.4	40	142.6	34.5
2021	42.3	40.9	145.2	35.5
2020	41.2	41.5	146.9	36.5
2019	39.4	41.7	148.7	37.1
2018	37.8	42.2	150.9	37.9
2017	39.2	42.6	152.3	40
2016	39.3	43.1	153.9	41.6
2015	42.7	44.1	156.4	44.7
2014	47.8	45.4	158.5	48.5
2013	54.1	46.7	160.6	52.7
2012	55.8	47.8	163	55.4
2011	56.6	48.8	165.8	57.2
2010	57.8	50.2	168.6	59
2009	58.9	51.4	171.1	60.5
2008	61.4	52.6	174	62.6
2007	58.6	53.5	176	62.8
2006	57	53.1	177.3	62.3
2005	58.1	53.2	178.9	63.5
2004	58.6	54.3	181.7	65.2
2003	59.6	55.6	185.2	67
2002	60.7	57.3	189.6	69.1
2001	61.9	59.1	194.5	71.2
2000	62.9	61.6	198.4	72.8
1999	63.6	64	202.6	73.6
1998	64.4	67.4	204.4	76
1997	65.4	70.6	207	78.6
1996	67	73.8	212.1	81.9
1995	68.5	77.1	216.9	85.1
1994	69.8	79.1	221.9	88.1
1993	70.6	79.6	226.4	90.8
1992	71.4	79.4	231.5	93.7
1991	73.2	81.9	239.5	97
1990	75.2	85	248.2	100.6
1989	77.2	88	256.6	104.1
1988	79.4	92.4	267	107
1987	81.3	95.8	275.8	109.5
1986	82.6	98.2	283	111.4
1985	83.3	99	288.9	112.3
1984	83.8	100.3	293	113.3
1983	84.5	103.1	297.5	114
1982	85.2	104.8	303	115
1981	86.8	108.8	309	117.3
1980	88.5	112.8	315	119.7
1979	89.8	115.3	319	122.4
1978	91	117.9	323	124.1
1977	91.9	119.3	326	125
1976	92.1	119	326	126.3
1975	92.3	117.8	326	128.5
1974	92.6	117.2	326	130.6
1973	92.9	116.8	326	132.2
1972	93.3	119	325	133.5
1971	93.9	122.1	324	134.6
1970	94.4	122.5	325	135.4
1969	94.3	123.8	322	135.5
1968	94.5	125.2	321	135.5
1967	94.7	125.7	319	135.3
1966	95.1	125.5	318	135.3
1965	95.3	124	316	134.8
1964	95.6	122.5	314	134.5
1963	95.9	123	311	133.7
1962	96.3	123	310	132.6
1961	96.7	122.7	309	131
1960	97	122.2	308	129.4

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Syria by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 8.85% will be to women under age 20, 61.1% to women ages 20-29, and 30.1% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 12.5%, 53.2%, and 34.3%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Syria	World
2100	15.9%	16.5%
2099	16%	16.6%
2098	16%	16.6%
2097	16.1%	16.7%
2096	16.1%	16.8%
2095	16.1%	16.8%
2094	16.2%	16.9%
2093	16.2%	17%
2092	16.2%	17%
2091	16.2%	17.1%
2090	16.2%	17.2%
2089	16.2%	17.2%
2088	16.2%	17.3%
2087	16.3%	17.4%
2086	16.4%	17.4%
2085	16.4%	17.5%
2084	16.5%	17.5%
2083	16.7%	17.6%
2082	16.8%	17.7%
2081	17%	17.7%
2080	17.2%	17.8%
2079	17.4%	17.8%
2078	17.6%	17.9%
2077	17.8%	17.9%
2076	18.1%	18%
2075	18.3%	18%
2074	18.6%	18.1%
2073	18.8%	18.2%
2072	19.1%	18.2%
2071	19.3%	18.3%
2070	19.5%	18.3%
2069	19.6%	18.4%
2068	19.8%	18.5%
2067	19.9%	18.6%
2066	20%	18.6%
2065	20.1%	18.7%
2064	20.1%	18.8%
2063	20.1%	18.9%
2062	20.2%	19.1%
2061	20.2%	19.2%
2060	20.2%	19.3%
2059	20.2%	19.4%
2058	20.3%	19.5%
2057	20.4%	19.6%
2056	20.5%	19.8%
2055	20.7%	19.9%
2054	21%	20%
2053	21.3%	20.1%
2052	21.6%	20.2%
2051	22%	20.3%
2050	22.5%	20.4%
2049	23%	20.5%
2048	23.6%	20.6%
2047	24.2%	20.7%
2046	24.8%	20.8%
2045	25.5%	20.9%
2044	26.1%	20.9%
2043	26.7%	21%
2042	27.2%	21.1%
2041	27.8%	21.2%
2040	28.2%	21.2%
2039	28.6%	21.3%
2038	28.9%	21.4%
2037	29%	21.5%
2036	29%	21.6%
2035	28.9%	21.8%
2034	28.7%	22%
2033	28.5%	22.2%
2032	28.1%	22.4%
2031	27.7%	22.7%
2030	27.4%	23%
2029	27.3%	23.3%
2028	27.4%	23.6%
2027	27.7%	23.9%
2026	28.1%	24.2%
2025	28.8%	24.6%
2024	29.2%	24.7%
2023	30.3%	25%
2022	31.9%	25.3%
2021	33.4%	25.6%
2020	34.6%	25.8%
2019	36.1%	26%
2018	37.9%	26.2%
2017	39.3%	26.4%
2016	40.2%	26.5%
2015	40.6%	26.6%
2014	39.8%	26.8%
2013	38%	26.9%
2012	36.5%	27%
2011	36.1%	27.1%
2010	36.1%	27.3%
2009	36.3%	27.5%
2008	36.3%	27.6%
2007	36.7%	27.9%
2006	38.1%	28.1%
2005	39.1%	28.5%
2004	39.6%	28.8%
2003	40.2%	29.2%
2002	40.8%	29.6%
2001	41.3%	30%
2000	41.9%	30.4%
1999	42.4%	30.8%
1998	42.9%	31.1%
1997	43.3%	31.5%
1996	43.8%	31.8%
1995	44.2%	32.1%
1994	44.7%	32.3%
1993	45.2%	32.5%
1992	45.7%	32.7%
1991	46.1%	32.9%
1990	46.6%	33%
1989	46.9%	33.2%
1988	47.2%	33.4%
1987	47.5%	33.6%
1986	47.7%	33.8%
1985	48%	34%
1984	48.2%	34.3%
1983	48.4%	34.6%
1982	48.5%	34.9%
1981	48.7%	35.2%
1980	48.7%	35.5%
1979	48.7%	35.9%
1978	48.7%	36.3%
1977	48.7%	36.7%
1976	48.6%	36.9%
1975	48.6%	37.1%
1974	48.5%	37.2%
1973	48.5%	37.3%
1972	48.4%	37.5%
1971	48.3%	37.6%
1970	48.2%	37.7%
1969	48%	37.8%
1968	47.8%	37.9%
1967	47.5%	38%
1966	47.3%	38%
1965	46.9%	38%
1964	46.6%	38%
1963	46.3%	37.8%
1962	46.1%	37.6%
1961	45.7%	37.5%
1960	45.3%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Syria was 45.3% in 1960, 45.7% in 1992, and 29.2% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Syria.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	20	197
2022	21	203
2021	30	242
2020	23	211
2019	24	207
2018	21	211
2017	23	215
2016	23	220
2015	24	228
2014	25	231
2013	25	235
2012	22	239
2011	21	247
2010	19	253
2009	19	258
2008	20	264
2007	19	269
2006	20	276
2005	21	283
2004	22	291
2003	24	301
2002	26	311
2001	29	321
2000	31	328
1999	32	340
1998	34	360
1997	34	358
1996	34	366
1995	33	371
1994	32	382
1993	32	389
1992	33	395
1991	35	395
1990	37	391
1989	41	401
1988	44	414
1987	48	429
1986	52	438
1985	55	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Syria was 20 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.02% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 35.5% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Syria	World
2023	2.06%	2.49%
2022	2.11%	2.59%
2021	2.1%	2.66%
2020	2.24%	2.75%
2019	2.5%	2.86%
2018	3.26%	2.97%
2017	3.3%	3.11%
2016	3.22%	3.22%
2015	3.7%	3.35%
2014	3.53%	3.48%
2013	3.65%	3.61%
2012	3.39%	3.77%
2011	2.17%	3.97%
2010	1.9%	4.11%
2009	1.9%	4.31%
2008	1.9%	4.5%
2007	1.92%	4.7%
2006	1.95%	4.92%
2005	1.98%	5.16%
2004	2.03%	5.43%
2003	2.09%	5.65%
2002	2.15%	5.94%
2001	2.23%	6.21%
2000	2.32%	6.48%
1999	2.42%	6.75%
1998	2.53%	7.05%
1997	2.66%	7.28%
1996	2.8%	7.52%
1995	2.94%	7.76%
1994	3.09%	7.98%
1993	3.24%	8.19%
1992	3.4%	8.46%
1991	3.55%	8.66%
1990	3.7%	8.81%
1989	3.85%	9.02%
1988	4.02%	9.31%
1987	4.19%	9.47%
1986	4.39%	9.81%
1985	4.6%	10.1%
1984	4.84%	10.4%
1983	5.1%	10.6%
1982	7.06%	10.8%
1981	6.33%	11%
1980	6.03%	11.4%
1979	6.4%	11.7%
1978	6.79%	12.2%
1977	7.19%	12.6%
1976	7.61%	13%
1975	8.03%	13.4%
1974	8.47%	13.8%
1973	8.92%	14.1%
1972	9.4%	14.5%
1971	9.91%	15.1%
1970	10.5%	15.2%
1969	11.1%	15.4%
1968	11.7%	15.6%
1967	12.3%	15.9%
1966	12.9%	16.1%
1965	13.5%	16.4%
1964	14.1%	16.6%
1963	14.7%	16.5%
1962	15.3%	16.7%
1961	16.1%	17%
1960	16.9%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/syria | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Syria was 20.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 2.06% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 23.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.