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Population density: Lebanon vs Syria compared

Updated on by Georank team

Lebanon has a population density of 1,492 people per square mile compared to 375 people in Syria. Lebanon has 19,377 sq ft of land per person vs 80,788 sq ft in Syria. Lebanon and Syria rank 14th and 68th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Lebanon has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.007% 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 Lebanon 297.6% higher than in Syria.

Population density by year

Lebanon
Syria

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Lebanon Syria
2026 1,492 375
2025 1,480 362
2024 1,470 348
2023 1,462 333
2022 1,454 317
2021 1,448 305
2020 1,444 296.9
2019 1,467 287.1
2018 1,515 276.1
2017 1,560 271.2
2016 1,601 270.7
2015 1,639 274
2014 1,607 285.9
2013 1,454 306
2012 1,326 321
2011 1,290 323
2010 1,276 317
2009 1,264 310
2008 1,247 305
2007 1,226 294.5
2006 1,203 277
2005 1,183 265.4
2004 1,164 258.7
2003 1,146 252.4
2002 1,130 246.2
2001 1,114 240.3
2000 1,096 234.5
1999 1,077 228.7
1998 1,059 223
1997 1,040 217.3
1996 1,022 211.6
1995 1,003 206
1994 985 200.2
1993 967 194.4
1992 949 188.6
1991 929 182.9
1990 910 177.3
1989 893 171.6
1988 875 166
1987 857 160.5
1986 836 155.1
1985 815 149.7
1984 798 144.6
1983 784 139.6
1982 773 134.9
1981 762 130.5
1980 746 126.2
1979 730 122.1
1978 715 118
1977 699 114
1976 690 110.2
1975 682 106.5
1974 667 102.9
1973 651 99.5
1972 635 96.2
1971 619 93
1970 604 89.9
1969 589 87
1968 574 84.3
1967 559 81.6
1966 544 79
1965 529 76.6
1964 514 74.3
1963 499 72
1962 483 69.9
1961 468 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/lebanon/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Lebanon increased by 24%, compared to a 35.5% growth in Syria.

In 2006, Lebanon ranked 16th by population density and is 14th now. Syria was 75th in 2006 and ranks 68th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Lebanon
Syria
1x
Year Urban population
Lebanon Syria
2024 90.7% 72.1%
2023 90.5% 72.2%
2022 90.2% 72.6%
2021 90% 73%
2020 89.7% 73.4%
2019 89.5% 73.8%
2018 89.3% 74.1%
2017 89.1% 74.5%
2016 88.8% 75.2%
2015 88.6% 75.8%
2014 88.4% 76%
2013 88.2% 73.1%
2012 88% 65.1%
2011 87.8% 58.5%
2010 87.6% 55.7%
2009 87.5% 55%
2008 87.3% 54.6%
2007 87.1% 54.3%
2006 86.9% 54.1%
2005 86.8% 53.8%
2004 86.6% 53.5%
2003 86.4% 53.1%
2002 86.3% 52.7%
2001 86.1% 52.3%
2000 86% 51.9%
1999 85.9% 51.5%
1998 85.8% 51.1%
1997 85.6% 50.7%
1996 85.4% 50.4%
1995 85.1% 50%
1994 84.8% 49.8%
1993 84.5% 49.5%
1992 84.2% 49.3%
1991 83.8% 49%
1990 83.3% 48.8%
1989 82.9% 48.6%
1988 82.4% 48.5%
1987 81.8% 48.3%
1986 81.1% 48.1%
1985 80.3% 47.9%
1984 79.3% 47.7%
1983 78.2% 47.5%
1982 77.1% 47.3%
1981 75.8% 47%
1980 74.5% 46.7%
1979 73.1% 46.4%
1978 71.7% 46.1%
1977 70.2% 45.8%
1976 68.7% 45.5%
1975 67.1% 45.2%
1974 65.6% 44.8%
1973 64.1% 44.5%
1972 62.5% 44.1%
1971 61% 43.8%
1970 59.5% 43.4%
1969 57.9% 43%
1968 56.2% 42.7%
1967 54.4% 42.4%
1966 52.5% 42%
1965 50.6% 41.7%
1964 48.7% 41.4%
1963 46.8% 41%
1962 45% 40.7%
1961 43.3% 40.4%
1960 41.7% 40%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 86.6% to 90.7% in Lebanon and from 53.5% to 72.1% in Syria.

Densely populated cities

Lebanon
City Population
Beirut 2.42M
Tripoli 863K
Sidon 164K
Tyre 160K
Jounieh 102K
Zahle 100K
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/lebanon/syria | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2004–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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