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Syria statistics: country profile & rankings

Updated on by Georank team

Syria is a low-income country with a population of 24.7M people. The capital and largest city is Damascus, with 2.69M residents. Syria shares land borders with Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel.

Syria ranks 129/197 by GDP ($20B) and 185/197 by GDP per capita ($847). The top category for both exports and imports is raw materials & minerals.

Main facts and rankings

Syria Rank
Population
26829400
56/197
GDP
$20B
2023
129/197
GDP per capita
$847
2023
185/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,650
2023
160/197
Government debt
$18.4B
2010
103/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
30%
2010
157/185
Government debt per person
$820
2010
148/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$730
2026
197/197
Land area 70,900 sq mi 87/197
Population density 375 ppl/mi² 68/197
Fertility rate 2.71 64/196
Median age 23.9 years 138/196
Life expectancy 73.4 years 108/197

Syria trends dashboard: time-series charts

Syria's economy ranked

1x
Year GDP
2023 $19,993,439,950
2022 $23,622,827,080
2021 $14,353,205,678
2020 $12,047,752,036
2019 $22,583,045,060
2018 $21,497,782,868
2017 $16,369,843,352
2016 $12,597,854,877
2015 $16,466,863,117
2014 $21,502,061,466
2013 $21,361,254,635
2012 $43,190,318,033
2011 $67,539,428,159
2010 $61,390,830,875
2009 $54,111,735,629
2008 $52,557,913,569
2007 $40,465,318,382
2006 $33,751,788,856
2005 $28,858,965,517
2004 $25,086,950,495
2003 $21,828,144,686
2002 $20,669,357,462
2001 $20,237,024,725
2000 $18,937,052,543
1999 $15,873,875,969
1998 $15,200,846,154
1997 $14,505,233,463
1996 $13,789,560,878
1995 $11,396,706,587
1994 $10,122,020,000
1993 $13,695,962,055
1992 $13,253,565,861
1991 $12,981,833,333
1990 $12,308,624,418
1989 $9,853,395,762
1988 $10,577,041,645
1987 $11,356,215,543
1986 $13,293,205,278
1985 $16,403,539,893
1984 $17,503,078,174
1983 $17,589,277,143
1982 $16,298,929,011
1981 $15,518,201,335
1980 $13,062,420,382
1979 $9,929,681,529
1978 $9,275,200,458
1977 $7,696,011,396
1976 $7,633,528,867
1975 $6,826,980,444
1974 $5,159,557,148
1973 $3,239,487,516
1972 $3,059,681,698
1971 $2,589,851,325
1970 $2,140,384,010
1969 $2,245,011,515
1968 $1,753,746,430
1967 $1,580,229,799
1966 $1,342,287,553
1965 $1,472,036,540
1964 $1,339,494,267
1963 $1,200,447,408
1962 $1,110,565,881
1961 $945,244,972
1960 $857,704,413

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

GeoRank.org/facts/syria | CC BY

Syria's economy ranked

1x
Year GDP per capita
2023 $847
2022 $1,052
2021 $664
2020 $572
2019 $1,110
2018 $1,098
2017 $852
2016 $656
2015 $848
2014 $1,061
2013 $986
2012 $1,898
2011 $2,952
2010 $2,731
2009 $2,462
2008 $2,429
2007 $1,938
2006 $1,719
2005 $1,534
2004 $1,368
2003 $1,220
2002 $1,183
2001 $1,187
2000 $1,138
1999 $978
1998 $961
1997 $941
1996 $918
1995 $780
1994 $712
1993 $993
1992 $990
1991 $1,000
1990 $978
1989 $809
1988 $898
1987 $997
1986 $1,208
1985 $1,544
1984 $1,706
1983 $1,776
1982 $1,703
1981 $1,676
1980 $1,458
1979 $1,146
1978 $1,108
1977 $951
1976 $976
1975 $904
1974 $707
1973 $459
1972 $448
1971 $393
1970 $335
1969 $364
1968 $293.3
1967 $272.9
1966 $239.3
1965 $270.8
1964 $254.2
1963 $234.9
1962 $223.9
1961 $196.3
1960 $183.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/syria | CC BY

Syria's life expectancy calculator

1x
Year Life expectancy, years
2026 73.4
2025 73
2024 72.6
2023 72.1
2022 72.8
2021 72.4
2020 71.9
2019 71
2018 67.4
2017 65.7
2016 65.2
2015 63.3
2014 65.5
2013 65.1
2012 66.2
2011 72.3
2010 73.5
2009 73.5
2008 73.4
2007 73.3
2006 73
2005 72.8
2004 72.5
2003 72.2
2002 71.7
2001 71.3
2000 70.9
1999 70.5
1998 70.2
1997 70.2
1996 70.2
1995 70.2
1994 70.3
1993 70.3
1992 70.2
1991 70.1
1990 69.8
1989 69.5
1988 69.2
1987 68.8
1986 68.4
1985 68
1984 67.7
1983 67.4
1982 60.8
1981 64.6
1980 66.5
1979 66.2
1978 65.9
1977 65.4
1976 64.8
1975 64.2
1974 63.4
1973 60.8
1972 62
1971 61.3
1970 60.6
1969 59.8
1968 59.1
1967 58
1966 57.6
1965 56.9
1964 56.2
1963 55.4
1962 54.6
1961 53.7
1960 52.7
1959 51.7
1958 50.7
1957 49.6
1956 48.5
1955 47.4
1954 46.4
1953 45.3
1952 44.3
1951 43.4
1950 42.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/syria | CC BY

Syria's population clock and projection

1x
Year Population
2024 24,672,760
2023 23,594,623
2022 22,462,173
2021 21,628,839
2020 21,049,429
2019 20,353,534
2018 19,577,845
2017 19,224,668
2016 19,193,834
2015 19,424,618
2014 20,273,659
2013 21,666,917
2012 22,759,763
2011 22,878,098
2010 22,482,421
2009 21,976,969
2008 21,636,564
2007 20,884,125
2006 19,637,022
2005 18,814,091
2004 18,336,875
2003 17,889,296
2002 17,468,332
2001 17,051,338
2000 16,637,888
1999 16,228,061
1998 15,820,413
1997 15,417,542
1996 15,018,104
1995 14,616,801
1994 14,208,583
1993 13,795,686
1992 13,385,571
1991 12,980,821
1990 12,579,208
1989 12,179,060
1988 11,782,264
1987 11,388,923
1986 11,002,844
1985 10,625,672
1984 10,258,398
1983 9,904,809
1982 9,572,511
1981 9,260,189
1980 8,957,663
1979 8,661,909
1978 8,372,759
1977 8,090,501
1976 7,817,320
1975 7,554,364
1974 7,302,160
1973 7,060,321
1972 6,826,024
1971 6,598,094
1970 6,380,609
1969 6,175,166
1968 5,978,742
1967 5,790,198
1966 5,609,047
1965 5,435,267
1964 5,269,087
1963 5,110,467
1962 4,959,340
1961 4,815,466
1960 4,673,500

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/syria | CC BY

Syria's birth and fertility rates

1x
Year Fertility rate
2023 2.71
2022 2.75
2021 2.8
2020 2.84
2019 2.88
2018 2.93
2017 2.97
2016 3.01
2015 3.07
2014 3.12
2013 3.17
2012 3.22
2011 3.29
2010 3.36
2009 3.42
2008 3.48
2007 3.54
2006 3.56
2005 3.61
2004 3.68
2003 3.76
2002 3.87
2001 3.98
2000 4.07
1999 4.14
1998 4.25
1997 4.37
1996 4.54
1995 4.7
1994 4.86
1993 4.99
1992 5.14
1991 5.34
1990 5.56
1989 5.78
1988 6
1987 6.2
1986 6.37
1985 6.48
1984 6.59
1983 6.69
1982 6.81
1981 6.97
1980 7.12
1979 7.25
1978 7.35
1977 7.42
1976 7.45
1975 7.49
1974 7.52
1973 7.55
1972 7.57
1971 7.6
1970 7.62
1969 7.59
1968 7.57
1967 7.56
1966 7.55
1965 7.53
1964 7.53
1963 7.51
1962 7.51
1961 7.5
1960 7.51

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

GeoRank.org/facts/syria | CC BY

Syria's demographics

1x
Year Median age, years
2024 23.9
2023 23.3
2022 22.7
2021 22.2
2020 21.6
2019 20.9
2018 20.1
2017 19.6
2016 19.5
2015 19.5
2014 20.1
2013 21.2
2012 21.8
2011 21.9
2010 21.7
2009 21.5
2008 21.3
2007 21
2006 20.3
2005 19.7
2004 19.5
2003 19.2
2002 19
2001 18.8
2000 18.5
1999 18.3
1998 18.1
1997 17.9
1996 17.7
1995 17.5
1994 17.3
1993 17.1
1992 16.9
1991 16.7
1990 16.5
1989 16.4
1988 16.2
1987 16.1
1986 16
1985 15.9
1984 15.8
1983 15.8
1982 15.7
1981 15.6
1980 15.6
1979 15.6
1978 15.6
1977 15.6
1976 15.6
1975 15.7
1974 15.7
1973 15.7
1972 15.8
1971 15.8
1970 15.9
1969 16
1968 16.1
1967 16.2
1966 16.4
1965 16.5
1964 16.7
1963 16.9
1962 17.1
1961 17.3
1960 17.6

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/syria | CC BY

Syria vs. World: Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Syria with other countries.

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Syria: National Statistics

Finance

Syria Rank
GNI, Atlas method
$18.2B
2023
130/194
Government expenditure, % of GDP
28.6%
2010
106/195
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.13%
2009
57/193
Military expenditure, % of GDP
4.06%
2010
19/163
Armed forces personnel
269,000
2020
26/174
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.79%
2010
169/188
Unemployment rate
8.61%
2010
47/196
Services, % of GDP
44.9%
2022
159/191
Industry, % of GDP
12%
2022
175/194
Economic freedom index
51.2
2012
155/197
Income share by richest 10%
21.1%
2022
165/169
Income share by poorest 10%
3.8%
2022
20/169
Total reserves including gold
$20.6B
2010
62/177
Personal remittances received
$1.62B
2010
74/191
International tourist arrivals
2,424,000
2019
55/188
International tourism as share of exports
32.2%
2010
23/184
Banked people share
23.3%
2011
148/158

Energy

Syria Rank
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
455 kg
2022
139/177
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.5
2022
129/173
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
31.4 megatons
2024
71/187
CO2 emissions per capita
1.27 tons
2024
123/187
Fossil fuel energy use share
99.5%
2022
11/176
Renewable energy use share
1.1%
2021
178/193
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.72%
2022
124/147
Net energy imports use share
61.3%
2022
34/144
Electric power consumption per capita
690 kWh
2022
113/147
Renewable electricity output share
3.91%
2021
167/192
Hydroelectric share
3.76%
2022
121/192
Nuclear share
0%
2021
173/192
Electricity access
88.4%
2023
142/195

Society

Syria Rank
% of world population
0.3%
2024
57/197
Annual migration change
+421,693
2025
3/196
Urban population
72.1%
2024
68/195
Male:Female ratio
50:50
2024
N/A
Average male height
5.63 ft
2025
112/190
Average female height
5.23 ft
2025
122/190
Quality of life index
18.4
2026
182/197
Corruption Perceptions Index
15
2025
189/197
Higher education index
33
2026
125/183
Homicides per 100K people
2.07
2010
118/197
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
14.9
2019
97/197
Visa free countries
37
2025
194/195
Adult literacy rate
94.4%
2021
111/196
English speaking
4%
2025
154/197
People using the Internet
34.7%
2019
164/195

Health

Syria Rank
Government health expenditure per capita
$33.3
2023
182/192
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$24.1
2023
154/192
Life expectancy
73.4 years
2026
108/197
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
11.8%
2023
53/181
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.52
2021
102/193
Maternal mortality per 100K births
20
2023
121/193
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
20.6
2023
78/192
Diabetes prevalence
19%
2024
19/195
Air quality index
42
2026
116/197
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.09 liters
2020
176/186

Territory

Syria Rank
% of world land
0.12%
2026
87/197
Land area per capita
2,874 sq mi
2024
127/197
Agricultural land area
52,533 sq mi
2026
61/194
Forest area
2,016 sq mi
2026
138/196

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2010, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2012, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. Wikidata (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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