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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 67.6 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Iceland vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Syria
2100 359,553 44,620,090
2099 361,331 44,690,260
2098 363,133 44,750,249
2097 364,957 44,813,148
2096 366,850 44,867,740
2095 368,746 44,895,489
2094 370,650 44,945,231
2093 372,614 44,974,311
2092 374,717 45,003,795
2091 376,803 45,016,478
2090 378,807 45,048,083
2089 380,812 45,047,102
2088 382,997 45,041,864
2087 385,164 45,049,516
2086 387,257 45,068,928
2085 389,362 45,034,847
2084 391,416 44,999,929
2083 393,481 44,971,600
2082 395,438 44,910,859
2081 397,470 44,843,908
2080 399,499 44,744,718
2079 401,462 44,687,371
2078 403,324 44,649,760
2077 405,255 44,604,175
2076 406,954 44,520,132
2075 408,546 44,426,423
2074 410,015 44,328,795
2073 411,402 44,221,016
2072 412,903 44,084,262
2071 414,245 43,939,848
2070 415,521 43,795,999
2069 416,683 43,648,130
2068 417,749 43,465,442
2067 418,899 43,271,173
2066 419,918 43,060,752
2065 420,941 42,810,442
2064 421,814 42,559,554
2063 422,695 42,311,907
2062 423,614 42,062,193
2061 424,319 41,808,082
2060 425,096 41,522,274
2059 425,721 41,208,825
2058 426,288 40,925,728
2057 426,844 40,643,453
2056 427,304 40,332,578
2055 427,695 40,026,632
2054 427,915 39,691,425
2053 428,108 39,348,020
2052 428,300 39,045,268
2051 428,278 38,733,827
2050 428,323 38,410,423
2049 428,289 38,089,455
2048 428,213 37,784,449
2047 428,102 37,492,636
2046 427,911 37,181,526
2045 427,683 36,843,579
2044 427,236 36,526,509
2043 426,580 36,188,225
2042 425,915 35,825,419
2041 425,212 35,447,414
2040 424,385 35,042,107
2039 423,407 34,626,945
2038 422,302 34,183,740
2037 421,094 33,703,682
2036 419,738 33,223,843
2035 418,238 32,696,648
2034 416,721 32,148,814
2033 415,006 31,562,427
2032 413,150 30,967,322
2031 411,039 30,329,874
2030 408,677 29,672,629
2029 406,109 28,949,535
2028 403,085 28,217,748
2027 399,797 27,428,807
2026 396,141 26,607,148
2025 391,759 25,689,551
2024 386,506 24,672,760
2023 385,663 23,594,623
2022 382,003 22,462,173
2021 372,520 21,628,839
2020 366,463 21,049,429
2019 360,563 20,353,534
2018 352,721 19,577,845
2017 343,400 19,224,668
2016 335,439 19,193,834
2015 330,815 19,424,618
2014 327,386 20,273,659
2013 323,764 21,666,917
2012 320,716 22,759,763
2011 319,014 22,878,098
2010 318,041 22,482,421
2009 318,499 21,976,969
2008 317,414 21,636,564
2007 311,566 20,884,125
2006 303,782 19,637,022
2005 296,734 18,814,091
2004 292,074 18,336,875
2003 289,521 17,889,296
2002 287,523 17,468,332
2001 284,968 17,051,338
2000 281,205 16,637,888
1999 277,381 16,228,061
1998 274,047 15,820,413
1997 271,128 15,417,542
1996 268,916 15,018,104
1995 267,468 14,616,801
1994 266,021 14,208,583
1993 263,725 13,795,686
1992 261,057 13,385,571
1991 257,797 12,980,821
1990 254,826 12,579,208
1989 252,852 12,179,060
1988 249,740 11,782,264
1987 245,859 11,388,923
1986 243,180 11,002,844
1985 241,405 10,625,672
1984 239,511 10,258,398
1983 236,977 9,904,809
1982 233,860 9,572,511
1981 230,755 9,260,189
1980 228,138 8,957,663
1979 225,735 8,661,909
1978 223,537 8,372,759
1977 221,799 8,090,501
1976 220,154 7,817,320
1975 217,979 7,554,364
1974 215,209 7,302,160
1973 212,317 7,060,321
1972 209,137 6,826,024
1971 206,098 6,598,094
1970 204,438 6,380,609
1969 203,369 6,175,166
1968 201,488 5,978,742
1967 198,751 5,790,198
1966 195,570 5,609,047
1965 192,286 5,435,267
1964 188,983 5,269,087
1963 185,653 5,110,467
1962 182,378 4,959,340
1961 179,029 4,815,466
1960 175,574 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/iceland/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd 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) Iceland's population will grow by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Syria
2100 -0.49% -0.16%
2099 -0.5% -0.13%
2098 -0.5% -0.14%
2097 -0.52% -0.12%
2096 -0.51% -0.06%
2095 -0.51% -0.11%
2094 -0.53% -0.06%
2093 -0.56% -0.07%
2092 -0.55% -0.03%
2091 -0.53% -0.07%
2090 -0.53% 0.002%
2089 -0.57% 0.01%
2088 -0.56% -0.02%
2087 -0.54% -0.04%
2086 -0.54% 0.08%
2085 -0.52% 0.08%
2084 -0.52% 0.06%
2083 -0.49% 0.14%
2082 -0.51% 0.15%
2081 -0.51% 0.22%
2080 -0.49% 0.13%
2079 -0.46% 0.08%
2078 -0.48% 0.1%
2077 -0.42% 0.19%
2076 -0.39% 0.21%
2075 -0.36% 0.22%
2074 -0.34% 0.24%
2073 -0.36% 0.31%
2072 -0.32% 0.33%
2071 -0.31% 0.33%
2070 -0.28% 0.34%
2069 -0.26% 0.42%
2068 -0.27% 0.45%
2067 -0.24% 0.49%
2066 -0.24% 0.58%
2065 -0.21% 0.59%
2064 -0.21% 0.59%
2063 -0.22% 0.59%
2062 -0.17% 0.61%
2061 -0.18% 0.69%
2060 -0.15% 0.76%
2059 -0.13% 0.69%
2058 -0.13% 0.69%
2057 -0.11% 0.77%
2056 -0.09% 0.76%
2055 -0.05% 0.84%
2054 -0.05% 0.87%
2053 -0.04% 0.78%
2052 0.005% 0.8%
2051 -0.01% 0.84%
2050 0.008% 0.84%
2049 0.02% 0.81%
2048 0.03% 0.78%
2047 0.04% 0.84%
2046 0.05% 0.92%
2045 0.1% 0.87%
2044 0.15% 0.93%
2043 0.16% 1.01%
2042 0.17% 1.07%
2041 0.2% 1.16%
2040 0.23% 1.2%
2039 0.26% 1.3%
2038 0.29% 1.42%
2037 0.32% 1.44%
2036 0.36% 1.61%
2035 0.36% 1.7%
2034 0.41% 1.86%
2033 0.45% 1.92%
2032 0.51% 2.1%
2031 0.58% 2.21%
2030 0.63% 2.5%
2029 0.75% 2.59%
2028 0.82% 2.88%
2027 0.92% 3.09%
2026 1.12% 3.57%
2025 1.36% 4.12%
2024 0.22% 4.57%
2023 0.96% 5.04%
2022 2.55% 3.85%
2021 1.65% 2.75%
2020 1.64% 3.42%
2019 2.22% 3.96%
2018 2.71% 1.84%
2017 2.37% 0.16%
2016 1.4% -1.19%
2015 1.05% -4.19%
2014 1.12% -6.43%
2013 0.95% -4.8%
2012 0.53% -0.52%
2011 0.31% 1.76%
2010 -0.14% 2.3%
2009 0.34% 1.57%
2008 1.88% 3.6%
2007 2.56% 6.35%
2006 2.38% 4.37%
2005 1.6% 2.6%
2004 0.88% 2.5%
2003 0.69% 2.41%
2002 0.9% 2.45%
2001 1.34% 2.48%
2000 1.38% 2.53%
1999 1.22% 2.58%
1998 1.08% 2.61%
1997 0.82% 2.66%
1996 0.54% 2.75%
1995 0.54% 2.87%
1994 0.87% 2.99%
1993 1.02% 3.06%
1992 1.26% 3.12%
1991 1.17% 3.19%
1990 0.78% 3.29%
1989 1.25% 3.37%
1988 1.58% 3.45%
1987 1.1% 3.51%
1986 0.74% 3.55%
1985 0.79% 3.58%
1984 1.07% 3.57%
1983 1.33% 3.47%
1982 1.35% 3.37%
1981 1.15% 3.38%
1980 1.06% 3.41%
1979 0.98% 3.45%
1978 0.78% 3.49%
1977 0.75% 3.49%
1976 1% 3.48%
1975 1.29% 3.45%
1974 1.36% 3.43%
1973 1.52% 3.43%
1972 1.47% 3.45%
1971 0.81% 3.41%
1970 0.53% 3.33%
1969 0.93% 3.29%
1968 1.38% 3.26%
1967 1.63% 3.23%
1966 1.71% 3.2%
1965 1.75% 3.15%
1964 1.79% 3.1%
1963 1.8% 3.05%
1962 1.87% 2.99%
1961 1.97% 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/iceland/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Iceland Syria
Current population
397129
26829400
Population rank 173/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.32%
One net population change
10.4 hours
29.3 seconds
One birth every
2.07 hours
1.01 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +843 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 6/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +421,693
Net migration rank 56/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 421,693
2024 - 3,543 - 546,494
2023 1,697 4,630 402,713 757,309
2022 1,719 6,535 369,750 735,142
2021 2,534 4,911 350,560 211,220
2020 2,199 2,498 327,992 269,050
2019 2,163 5,030 293,762 500,985
2018 1,975 6,638 242,530 514,102
2017 1,854 8,348 237,214 -287,501
2016 1,711 4,128 236,007 -124,063
2015 1,952 1,499 253,977 -827,496
2014 2,324 1,139 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 2,169 1,666 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 2,566 -277 475,520 -999,267
2011 2,521 -1,393 543,950 -256,888
2010 2,862 -2,055 558,666 -54,359
2009 3,026 -4,785 559,314 -52,703
2008 2,825 1,138 576,593 -402,393
2007 2,617 5,254 529,162 801,514
2006 2,491 5,300 480,616 682,911
2005 2,433 3,925 468,960 13,382
2004 2,425 610 461,209 10,881
2003 2,317 -204 457,000 -33,920
2002 2,243 -333 453,967 -35,096
2001 2,365 867 451,503 -36,383
2000 2,475 1,877 446,211 -34,425
1999 2,192 1,165 439,261 -31,394
1998 2,357 1,014 433,447 -26,025
1997 2,305 225 429,887 -31,571
1996 2,447 -511 430,765 -30,197
1995 2,354 -1,354 430,172 -28,122
1994 2,713 -804 426,996 -12,630
1993 2,875 -194 420,244 -8,828
1992 2,898 -225 412,878 -4,063
1991 2,733 1,145 410,830 -10,154
1990 3,058 -971 409,177 -6,620
1989 2,832 -994 406,111 -8,379
1988 2,847 1,572 404,285 -8,426
1987 2,360 944 399,159 -8,335
1986 2,384 -335 390,821 -9,485
1985 2,221 -628 379,231 -6,221
1984 2,539 -328 366,768 -5,245
1983 2,702 170 355,375 -9,729
1982 2,736 616 319,664 -721
1981 2,677 157 330,237 -24,536
1980 2,966 -629 332,464 -33,114
1979 2,980 -572 324,943 -32,793
1978 2,727 -781 316,724 -30,567
1977 2,551 -1,079 306,630 -28,275
1976 2,951 -1,181 294,267 -26,268
1975 2,965 -388 282,299 -24,389
1974 2,776 209 270,735 -24,242
1973 3,121 -310 254,687 -17,502
1972 3,241 362 249,027 -17,610
1971 2,782 -231 239,610 -15,167
1970 2,576 -1,754 230,117 -19,594
1969 2,766 -1,414 219,114 -18,749
1968 2,841 -448 209,454 -16,968
1967 3,021 47 199,223 -14,618
1966 3,305 39 191,122 -13,434
1965 3,442 -194 182,560 -12,704
1964 3,459 -67 174,549 -12,044
1963 3,490 -113 166,555 -11,817
1962 3,465 -228 159,155 -11,641
1961 3,312 164 151,485 -11,237
1960 3,758 -269 143,687 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 30.7% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 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, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
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/iceland/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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