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Population in Ethiopia compared to Syria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 5.22 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 2.02% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Ethiopia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Syria
2100 371,078,260 44,500,028
2099 369,338,252 44,570,009
2098 367,513,542 44,629,837
2097 365,567,496 44,692,566
2096 363,536,294 44,747,012
2095 361,596,042 44,774,686
2094 359,531,317 44,824,294
2093 357,460,480 44,853,295
2092 355,389,829 44,882,700
2091 353,218,632 44,895,349
2090 350,960,021 44,926,869
2089 348,751,618 44,925,891
2088 346,517,326 44,920,667
2087 344,162,324 44,928,298
2086 341,671,994 44,947,658
2085 339,167,930 44,913,669
2084 336,649,520 44,878,845
2083 334,083,247 44,850,592
2082 331,401,460 44,790,014
2081 328,715,487 44,723,244
2080 326,013,981 44,624,321
2079 323,282,865 44,567,127
2078 320,422,535 44,529,618
2077 317,492,915 44,484,155
2076 314,518,328 44,400,339
2075 311,487,723 44,306,882
2074 308,416,133 44,209,517
2073 305,383,505 44,102,028
2072 302,258,564 43,965,642
2071 299,119,280 43,821,617
2070 295,963,235 43,678,154
2069 292,756,723 43,530,683
2068 289,522,748 43,348,487
2067 286,191,689 43,154,741
2066 282,905,709 42,944,885
2065 279,576,283 42,695,249
2064 276,197,958 42,445,036
2063 272,782,685 42,198,056
2062 269,340,926 41,949,014
2061 265,803,351 41,695,586
2060 262,269,354 41,410,547
2059 258,692,767 41,097,942
2058 255,205,644 40,815,606
2057 251,656,356 40,534,091
2056 248,002,497 40,224,053
2055 244,426,069 39,918,930
2054 240,794,405 39,584,624
2053 237,155,110 39,242,144
2052 233,479,314 38,940,206
2051 229,733,593 38,629,604
2050 226,055,085 38,307,069
2049 222,351,471 37,986,965
2048 218,627,197 37,682,780
2047 214,883,954 37,391,752
2046 211,161,780 37,081,479
2045 207,461,987 36,744,441
2044 203,749,820 36,428,225
2043 200,035,613 36,090,851
2042 196,351,202 35,729,021
2041 192,689,672 35,352,033
2040 189,023,384 34,947,817
2039 185,365,776 34,533,772
2038 181,733,067 34,091,760
2037 178,124,993 33,612,993
2036 174,515,366 33,134,445
2035 170,904,339 32,608,669
2034 167,316,305 32,062,309
2033 163,763,376 31,477,500
2032 160,167,364 30,883,996
2031 156,590,018 30,248,264
2030 153,023,174 29,592,787
2029 149,461,578 28,871,638
2028 145,944,350 28,141,821
2027 142,419,893 27,355,002
2026 138,930,724 26,535,554
2025 135,472,051 25,620,427
2024 132,059,767 24,672,760
2023 128,691,692 23,594,623
2022 125,384,287 22,462,173
2021 122,138,588 21,628,839
2020 118,917,671 21,049,429
2019 115,737,383 20,353,534
2018 112,664,152 19,577,845
2017 109,666,481 19,224,668
2016 106,718,162 19,193,834
2015 103,867,135 19,424,618
2014 101,115,610 20,273,659
2013 98,438,751 21,666,917
2012 95,798,767 22,759,763
2011 93,149,970 22,878,098
2010 90,538,514 22,482,421
2009 88,007,636 21,976,969
2008 85,543,668 21,636,564
2007 83,103,217 20,884,125
2006 80,703,490 19,637,022
2005 78,367,470 18,814,091
2004 76,077,206 18,336,875
2003 73,832,663 17,889,296
2002 71,635,517 17,468,332
2001 69,487,762 17,051,338
2000 67,411,494 16,637,888
1999 65,374,561 16,228,061
1998 63,363,524 15,820,413
1997 61,404,539 15,417,542
1996 59,467,635 15,018,104
1995 57,537,335 14,616,801
1994 55,611,508 14,208,583
1993 53,708,891 13,795,686
1992 51,853,747 13,385,571
1991 49,717,198 12,980,821
1990 47,609,755 12,579,208
1989 45,879,690 12,179,060
1988 44,150,825 11,782,264
1987 42,460,039 11,388,923
1986 41,037,656 11,002,844
1985 39,842,136 10,625,672
1984 38,735,722 10,258,398
1983 37,740,817 9,904,809
1982 36,701,290 9,572,511
1981 35,304,012 9,260,189
1980 34,428,514 8,957,663
1979 34,238,652 8,661,909
1978 33,734,592 8,372,759
1977 33,167,272 8,090,501
1976 32,534,418 7,817,320
1975 31,723,252 7,554,364
1974 30,957,273 7,302,160
1973 30,166,785 7,060,321
1972 29,374,608 6,826,024
1971 28,600,106 6,598,094
1970 27,829,128 6,380,609
1969 27,072,571 6,175,166
1968 26,337,930 5,978,742
1967 25,620,276 5,790,198
1966 24,952,689 5,609,047
1965 24,310,612 5,435,267
1964 23,666,548 5,269,087
1963 23,051,637 5,110,467
1962 22,465,126 4,959,340
1961 21,906,102 4,815,466
1960 21,376,693 4,673,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Syria
2100 0.47% -0.16%
2099 0.5% -0.13%
2098 0.53% -0.14%
2097 0.56% -0.12%
2096 0.54% -0.06%
2095 0.57% -0.11%
2094 0.58% -0.06%
2093 0.58% -0.07%
2092 0.61% -0.03%
2091 0.64% -0.07%
2090 0.63% 0.002%
2089 0.64% 0.01%
2088 0.68% -0.02%
2087 0.73% -0.04%
2086 0.74% 0.08%
2085 0.75% 0.08%
2084 0.77% 0.06%
2083 0.81% 0.14%
2082 0.82% 0.15%
2081 0.83% 0.22%
2080 0.84% 0.13%
2079 0.89% 0.08%
2078 0.92% 0.1%
2077 0.95% 0.19%
2076 0.97% 0.21%
2075 1% 0.22%
2074 0.99% 0.24%
2073 1.03% 0.31%
2072 1.05% 0.33%
2071 1.07% 0.33%
2070 1.1% 0.34%
2069 1.12% 0.42%
2068 1.16% 0.45%
2067 1.16% 0.49%
2066 1.19% 0.58%
2065 1.22% 0.59%
2064 1.25% 0.59%
2063 1.28% 0.59%
2062 1.33% 0.61%
2061 1.35% 0.69%
2060 1.38% 0.76%
2059 1.37% 0.69%
2058 1.41% 0.69%
2057 1.47% 0.77%
2056 1.46% 0.76%
2055 1.51% 0.84%
2054 1.53% 0.87%
2053 1.57% 0.78%
2052 1.63% 0.8%
2051 1.63% 0.84%
2050 1.67% 0.84%
2049 1.7% 0.81%
2048 1.74% 0.78%
2047 1.76% 0.84%
2046 1.78% 0.92%
2045 1.82% 0.87%
2044 1.86% 0.93%
2043 1.88% 1.01%
2042 1.9% 1.07%
2041 1.94% 1.16%
2040 1.97% 1.2%
2039 2% 1.3%
2038 2.03% 1.42%
2037 2.07% 1.44%
2036 2.11% 1.61%
2035 2.14% 1.7%
2034 2.17% 1.86%
2033 2.25% 1.92%
2032 2.28% 2.1%
2031 2.33% 2.21%
2030 2.38% 2.5%
2029 2.41% 2.59%
2028 2.47% 2.88%
2027 2.51% 3.09%
2026 2.55% 3.57%
2025 2.58% 3.84%
2024 2.62% 4.57%
2023 2.64% 5.04%
2022 2.66% 3.85%
2021 2.71% 2.75%
2020 2.75% 3.42%
2019 2.73% 3.96%
2018 2.73% 1.84%
2017 2.76% 0.16%
2016 2.74% -1.19%
2015 2.72% -4.19%
2014 2.72% -6.43%
2013 2.76% -4.8%
2012 2.84% -0.52%
2011 2.88% 1.76%
2010 2.88% 2.3%
2009 2.88% 1.57%
2008 2.94% 3.6%
2007 2.97% 6.35%
2006 2.98% 4.37%
2005 3.01% 2.6%
2004 3.04% 2.5%
2003 3.07% 2.41%
2002 3.09% 2.45%
2001 3.08% 2.48%
2000 3.12% 2.53%
1999 3.17% 2.58%
1998 3.19% 2.61%
1997 3.26% 2.66%
1996 3.35% 2.75%
1995 3.46% 2.87%
1994 3.54% 2.99%
1993 3.58% 3.06%
1992 4.3% 3.12%
1991 4.43% 3.19%
1990 3.77% 3.29%
1989 3.92% 3.37%
1988 3.98% 3.45%
1987 3.47% 3.51%
1986 3% 3.55%
1985 2.86% 3.58%
1984 2.64% 3.57%
1983 2.83% 3.47%
1982 3.96% 3.37%
1981 2.54% 3.38%
1980 0.55% 3.41%
1979 1.49% 3.45%
1978 1.71% 3.49%
1977 1.95% 3.49%
1976 2.56% 3.48%
1975 2.47% 3.45%
1974 2.62% 3.43%
1973 2.7% 3.43%
1972 2.71% 3.45%
1971 2.77% 3.41%
1970 2.79% 3.33%
1969 2.79% 3.29%
1968 2.8% 3.26%
1967 2.68% 3.23%
1966 2.64% 3.2%
1965 2.72% 3.15%
1964 2.67% 3.1%
1963 2.61% 3.05%
1962 2.55% 2.99%
1961 2.48% 3.04%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Syria
Current population
140722974
26956472
Population rank 10/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.32%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
7.59 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
40.6 seconds
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 5/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 +421,693
Net migration rank 31/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - 421,693
2024 3,379,409 30,069 449,784 546,494
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 402,713 757,309
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 369,750 735,142
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 350,560 211,220
2020 3,199,718 38,866 327,992 269,050
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 293,762 500,985
2018 3,015,231 9,302 242,530 514,102
2017 2,899,143 71,766 237,214 -287,501
2016 2,809,889 115,823 236,007 -124,063
2015 2,713,529 62,785 253,977 -827,496
2014 2,623,647 103,122 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 2,546,020 80,955 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 2,533,398 119,517 475,520 -999,267
2011 2,527,811 116,793 543,950 -256,888
2010 2,498,048 80,213 558,666 -54,359
2009 2,467,118 16,315 559,314 -52,703
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 576,593 -402,393
2007 2,436,753 -381 529,162 801,514
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 480,616 682,911
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 468,960 13,382
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 461,209 10,881
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 457,000 -33,920
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 453,967 -35,096
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 451,503 -36,383
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 446,211 -34,425
1999 2,010,987 29,142 439,261 -31,394
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 433,447 -26,025
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 429,887 -31,571
1996 1,896,364 41,456 430,765 -30,197
1995 1,831,068 91,727 430,172 -28,122
1994 1,788,133 140,715 426,996 -12,630
1993 1,734,851 141,545 420,244 -8,828
1992 1,673,839 160,106 412,878 -4,063
1991 1,579,416 859,737 410,830 -10,154
1990 1,479,663 296,014 409,177 -6,620
1989 1,441,769 242,614 406,111 -8,379
1988 1,393,356 379,966 404,285 -8,426
1987 1,356,853 251,387 399,159 -8,335
1986 1,050,277 186,227 390,821 -9,485
1985 997,050 157,476 379,231 -6,221
1984 920,670 137,632 366,768 -5,245
1983 863,472 68,022 355,375 -9,729
1982 1,080,853 66,702 319,664 -721
1981 1,018,838 628,135 330,237 -24,536
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 332,464 -33,114
1979 987,203 -711,455 324,943 -32,793
1978 943,388 -210,991 316,724 -30,567
1977 929,381 -527,133 306,630 -28,275
1976 899,577 -36,125 294,267 -26,268
1975 801,425 -42,540 282,299 -24,389
1974 777,306 -4,232 270,735 -24,242
1973 807,535 347 254,687 -17,502
1972 779,808 -3,375 249,027 -17,610
1971 787,047 -14,510 239,610 -15,167
1970 760,821 8,589 230,117 -19,594
1969 736,428 7,258 219,114 -18,749
1968 715,602 9,992 209,454 -16,968
1967 695,283 14,437 199,223 -14,618
1966 616,281 9,160 191,122 -13,434
1965 642,359 16,348 182,560 -12,704
1964 618,667 10,749 174,549 -12,044
1963 590,998 9,418 166,555 -11,817
1962 563,650 8,960 159,155 -11,641
1961 538,518 6,938 151,485 -11,237
1960 511,694 1,696 143,687 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/syria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people). In Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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 map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/syria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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