Skip to content

Population density: India vs Syria compared

Updated on by Georank team

India has a population density of 1,287 people per square mile compared to 375 people in Syria. India has 24,387 sq ft of land per person vs 80,788 sq ft in Syria. India and Syria rank 19th and 68th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. India has 17.9% of the world's population and 2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.3% of the population and 0.12% of the land area for Syria, making the population density in India 242.8% higher than in Syria.

Population density by year

India
Syria

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
India Syria
2026 1,287 375
2025 1,275 362
2024 1,264 348
2023 1,253 333
2022 1,242 317
2021 1,232 305
2020 1,222 296.9
2019 1,210 287.1
2018 1,197 276.1
2017 1,184 271.2
2016 1,171 270.7
2015 1,157 274
2014 1,143 285.9
2013 1,129 306
2012 1,114 321
2011 1,099 323
2010 1,083 317
2009 1,068 310
2008 1,052 305
2007 1,037 294.5
2006 1,022 277
2005 1,006 265.4
2004 990 258.7
2003 973 252.4
2002 956 246.2
2001 939 240.3
2000 922 234.5
1999 904 228.7
1998 887 223
1997 870 217.3
1996 853 211.6
1995 837 206
1994 820 200.2
1993 803 194.4
1992 787 188.6
1991 770 182.9
1990 753 177.3
1989 737 171.6
1988 721 166
1987 705 160.5
1986 689 155.1
1985 673 149.7
1984 658 144.6
1983 642 139.6
1982 627 134.9
1981 613 130.5
1980 599 126.2
1979 585 122.1
1978 571 118
1977 558 114
1976 545 110.2
1975 533 106.5
1974 520 102.9
1973 508 99.5
1972 497 96.2
1971 486 93
1970 476 89.9
1969 465 87
1968 455 84.3
1967 446 81.6
1966 436 79
1965 427 76.6
1964 417 74.3
1963 408 72
1962 398 69.9
1961 389 67.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in India increased by 25.9%, compared to a 35.5% growth in Syria.

In 2006, India ranked 17th by population density and is 19th now. Syria was 75th in 2006 and ranks 68th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

India
Syria
1x
Year Urban population
India Syria
2024 35.4% 72.1%
2023 35.1% 72.2%
2022 34.8% 72.6%
2021 34.4% 73%
2020 34.1% 73.4%
2019 33.8% 73.8%
2018 33.5% 74.1%
2017 33.2% 74.5%
2016 32.9% 75.2%
2015 32.5% 75.8%
2014 32.2% 76%
2013 31.9% 73.1%
2012 31.6% 65.1%
2011 31.3% 58.5%
2010 30.9% 55.7%
2009 30.5% 55%
2008 30.1% 54.6%
2007 29.8% 54.3%
2006 29.4% 54.1%
2005 29.1% 53.8%
2004 28.8% 53.5%
2003 28.5% 53.1%
2002 28.2% 52.7%
2001 27.9% 52.3%
2000 27.6% 51.9%
1999 27.4% 51.5%
1998 27.2% 51.1%
1997 27% 50.7%
1996 26.8% 50.4%
1995 26.6% 50%
1994 26.4% 49.8%
1993 26.2% 49.5%
1992 26% 49.3%
1991 25.8% 49%
1990 25.6% 48.8%
1989 25.4% 48.6%
1988 25.2% 48.5%
1987 25% 48.3%
1986 24.8% 48.1%
1985 24.7% 47.9%
1984 24.5% 47.7%
1983 24.3% 47.5%
1982 24% 47.3%
1981 23.8% 47%
1980 23.5% 46.7%
1979 23.2% 46.4%
1978 22.8% 46.1%
1977 22.4% 45.8%
1976 21.9% 45.5%
1975 21.5% 45.2%
1974 21% 44.8%
1973 20.6% 44.5%
1972 20.3% 44.1%
1971 20% 43.8%
1970 19.7% 43.4%
1969 19.5% 43%
1968 19.2% 42.7%
1967 19% 42.4%
1966 18.8% 42%
1965 18.6% 41.7%
1964 18.4% 41.4%
1963 18.3% 41%
1962 18.1% 40.7%
1961 18% 40.4%
1960 17.9% 40%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/syria | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 28.8% to 35.4% in India and from 53.5% to 72.1% in Syria.

Densely populated cities

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/india/syria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2004–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.