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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 132,059,767 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 139,917,664 people compared to 26,829,400 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 2.01% 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 +2.71% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 140M (73.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Ethiopia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Syria
2100 371,192,732 44,620,090
2099 369,452,188 44,690,260
2098 367,626,914 44,750,249
2097 365,680,268 44,813,148
2096 363,648,440 44,867,740
2095 361,707,589 44,895,489
2094 359,642,227 44,945,231
2093 357,570,752 44,974,311
2092 355,499,462 45,003,795
2091 353,327,595 45,016,478
2090 351,068,287 45,048,083
2089 348,859,203 45,047,102
2088 346,624,222 45,041,864
2087 344,268,493 45,049,516
2086 341,777,395 45,068,928
2085 339,272,558 45,034,847
2084 336,753,372 44,999,929
2083 334,186,307 44,971,600
2082 331,503,693 44,910,859
2081 328,816,892 44,843,908
2080 326,114,551 44,744,718
2079 323,382,593 44,687,371
2078 320,521,381 44,649,760
2077 317,590,857 44,604,175
2076 314,615,353 44,520,132
2075 311,583,813 44,426,423
2074 308,511,275 44,328,795
2073 305,477,711 44,221,016
2072 302,351,806 44,084,262
2071 299,211,554 43,939,848
2070 296,054,535 43,795,999
2069 292,847,034 43,648,130
2068 289,612,061 43,465,442
2067 286,279,975 43,271,173
2066 282,992,981 43,060,752
2065 279,662,528 42,810,442
2064 276,283,161 42,559,554
2063 272,866,834 42,311,907
2062 269,424,014 42,062,193
2061 265,885,347 41,808,082
2060 262,350,260 41,522,274
2059 258,772,570 41,208,825
2058 255,284,371 40,925,728
2057 251,733,988 40,643,453
2056 248,079,002 40,332,578
2055 244,501,471 40,026,632
2054 240,868,686 39,691,425
2053 237,228,269 39,348,020
2052 233,551,340 39,045,268
2051 229,804,463 38,733,827
2050 226,124,819 38,410,423
2049 222,420,063 38,089,455
2048 218,694,640 37,784,449
2047 214,950,242 37,492,636
2046 211,226,920 37,181,526
2045 207,525,986 36,843,579
2044 203,812,674 36,526,509
2043 200,097,321 36,188,225
2042 196,411,774 35,825,419
2041 192,749,114 35,447,414
2040 189,081,695 35,042,107
2039 185,422,958 34,626,945
2038 181,789,129 34,183,740
2037 178,179,942 33,703,682
2036 174,569,201 33,223,843
2035 170,957,061 32,696,648
2034 167,367,920 32,148,814
2033 163,813,895 31,562,427
2032 160,216,774 30,967,322
2031 156,638,324 30,329,874
2030 153,070,380 29,672,629
2029 149,507,684 28,949,535
2028 145,989,372 28,217,748
2027 142,463,827 27,428,807
2026 138,973,582 26,607,148
2025 135,513,842 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 61.6% to 226,124,819 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 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 45.1M 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 2.62% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.62%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Syria
Current population
139917664
26829400
Population rank 10/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.32%
One net population change
9.36 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
7.68 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
41.1 seconds
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,228 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +3,368,075 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 6/197
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 - 30,069 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.8% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people). In Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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