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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 92,417,681 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,580,141 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 3.47 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Iran is ranked the 17th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 1.45% of the world: 1.13% for Iran vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Iran has had an average growth rate of +1.15% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.6M (27.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Iran vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Syria
2100 80,660,972 44,500,028
2099 81,193,582 44,570,009
2098 81,717,474 44,629,837
2097 82,241,892 44,692,566
2096 82,764,411 44,747,012
2095 83,283,942 44,774,686
2094 83,799,806 44,824,294
2093 84,316,389 44,853,295
2092 84,833,108 44,882,700
2091 85,354,240 44,895,349
2090 85,878,473 44,926,869
2089 86,409,859 44,925,891
2088 86,947,263 44,920,667
2087 87,492,427 44,928,298
2086 88,047,949 44,947,658
2085 88,610,339 44,913,669
2084 89,181,346 44,878,845
2083 89,758,453 44,850,592
2082 90,343,413 44,790,014
2081 90,936,310 44,723,244
2080 91,535,218 44,624,321
2079 92,136,544 44,567,127
2078 92,740,467 44,529,618
2077 93,344,865 44,484,155
2076 93,946,187 44,400,339
2075 94,544,733 44,306,882
2074 95,135,317 44,209,517
2073 95,721,351 44,102,028
2072 96,292,835 43,965,642
2071 96,851,951 43,821,617
2070 97,397,073 43,678,154
2069 97,924,812 43,530,683
2068 98,432,509 43,348,487
2067 98,913,776 43,154,741
2066 99,374,357 42,944,885
2065 99,812,137 42,695,249
2064 100,223,387 42,445,036
2063 100,602,361 42,198,056
2062 100,951,282 41,949,014
2061 101,266,537 41,695,586
2060 101,545,806 41,410,547
2059 101,792,315 41,097,942
2058 101,994,395 40,815,606
2057 102,161,227 40,534,091
2056 102,291,323 40,224,053
2055 102,382,089 39,918,930
2054 102,431,558 39,584,624
2053 102,441,204 39,242,144
2052 102,413,350 38,940,206
2051 102,350,865 38,629,604
2050 102,251,999 38,307,069
2049 102,122,983 37,986,965
2048 101,957,508 37,682,780
2047 101,765,614 37,391,752
2046 101,547,098 37,081,479
2045 101,305,486 36,744,441
2044 101,038,874 36,428,225
2043 100,752,109 36,090,851
2042 100,446,296 35,729,021
2041 100,122,690 35,352,033
2040 99,784,572 34,947,817
2039 99,436,793 34,533,772
2038 99,072,548 34,091,760
2037 98,694,577 33,612,993
2036 98,302,279 33,134,445
2035 97,899,013 32,608,669
2034 97,482,352 32,062,309
2033 97,054,589 31,477,500
2032 96,608,216 30,883,996
2031 96,141,200 30,248,264
2030 95,656,003 29,592,787
2029 95,133,736 28,871,638
2028 94,561,150 28,141,821
2027 93,925,792 27,355,002
2026 93,215,072 26,535,554
2025 92,417,681 25,620,427
2024 91,567,738 24,672,760
2023 90,608,707 23,594,623
2022 89,524,246 22,462,173
2021 88,455,488 21,628,839
2020 87,723,443 21,049,429
2019 87,051,648 20,353,534
2018 86,117,998 19,577,845
2017 85,026,754 19,224,668
2016 83,812,228 19,193,834
2015 82,619,362 19,424,618
2014 81,502,045 20,273,659
2013 80,414,686 21,666,917
2012 79,370,580 22,759,763
2011 78,383,598 22,878,098
2010 77,420,842 22,482,421
2009 76,457,825 21,976,969
2008 75,514,204 21,636,564
2007 74,602,648 20,884,125
2006 73,392,747 19,637,022
2005 71,828,455 18,814,091
2004 70,256,316 18,336,875
2003 68,769,340 17,889,296
2002 68,011,317 17,468,332
2001 67,452,005 17,051,338
2000 66,418,659 16,637,888
1999 65,445,391 16,228,061
1998 64,519,859 15,820,413
1997 63,639,638 15,417,542
1996 62,881,300 15,018,104
1995 62,205,567 14,616,801
1994 61,520,598 14,208,583
1993 61,403,543 13,795,686
1992 61,184,983 13,385,571
1991 59,986,931 12,980,821
1990 58,380,092 12,579,208
1989 56,704,914 12,179,060
1988 55,072,694 11,782,264
1987 53,323,493 11,388,923
1986 51,446,045 11,002,844
1985 49,582,289 10,625,672
1984 47,793,998 10,258,398
1983 46,029,535 9,904,809
1982 44,272,141 9,572,511
1981 41,989,312 9,260,189
1980 39,842,324 8,957,663
1979 38,424,952 8,661,909
1978 37,126,535 8,372,759
1977 35,933,181 8,090,501
1976 34,837,271 7,817,320
1975 33,802,973 7,554,364
1974 32,796,463 7,302,160
1973 31,839,838 7,060,321
1972 30,921,179 6,826,024
1971 30,029,071 6,598,094
1970 29,145,100 6,380,609
1969 28,273,482 6,175,166
1968 27,437,391 5,978,742
1967 26,628,432 5,790,198
1966 25,829,270 5,609,047
1965 25,036,978 5,435,267
1964 24,262,859 5,269,087
1963 23,519,005 5,110,467
1962 22,807,907 4,959,340
1961 22,125,726 4,815,466
1960 21,470,434 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/iran/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iran increased by 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iran gained 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Iran was ranked 17th most populous country in 2006 and is still 17th 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) Iran's population will grow by 9.27% to 102,251,999 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Iran
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iran Syria
2100 -0.66% -0.16%
2099 -0.64% -0.13%
2098 -0.64% -0.14%
2097 -0.63% -0.12%
2096 -0.62% -0.06%
2095 -0.62% -0.11%
2094 -0.61% -0.06%
2093 -0.61% -0.07%
2092 -0.61% -0.03%
2091 -0.61% -0.07%
2090 -0.61% 0.002%
2089 -0.62% 0.01%
2088 -0.62% -0.02%
2087 -0.63% -0.04%
2086 -0.63% 0.08%
2085 -0.64% 0.08%
2084 -0.64% 0.06%
2083 -0.65% 0.14%
2082 -0.65% 0.15%
2081 -0.65% 0.22%
2080 -0.65% 0.13%
2079 -0.65% 0.08%
2078 -0.65% 0.1%
2077 -0.64% 0.19%
2076 -0.63% 0.21%
2075 -0.62% 0.22%
2074 -0.61% 0.24%
2073 -0.59% 0.31%
2072 -0.58% 0.33%
2071 -0.56% 0.33%
2070 -0.54% 0.34%
2069 -0.52% 0.42%
2068 -0.49% 0.45%
2067 -0.46% 0.49%
2066 -0.44% 0.58%
2065 -0.41% 0.59%
2064 -0.38% 0.59%
2063 -0.35% 0.59%
2062 -0.31% 0.61%
2061 -0.28% 0.69%
2060 -0.24% 0.76%
2059 -0.2% 0.69%
2058 -0.16% 0.69%
2057 -0.13% 0.77%
2056 -0.09% 0.76%
2055 -0.05% 0.84%
2054 -0.009% 0.87%
2053 0.03% 0.78%
2052 0.06% 0.8%
2051 0.1% 0.84%
2050 0.13% 0.84%
2049 0.16% 0.81%
2048 0.19% 0.78%
2047 0.22% 0.84%
2046 0.24% 0.92%
2045 0.26% 0.87%
2044 0.28% 0.93%
2043 0.3% 1.01%
2042 0.32% 1.07%
2041 0.34% 1.16%
2040 0.35% 1.2%
2039 0.37% 1.3%
2038 0.38% 1.42%
2037 0.4% 1.44%
2036 0.41% 1.61%
2035 0.43% 1.7%
2034 0.44% 1.86%
2033 0.46% 1.92%
2032 0.49% 2.1%
2031 0.51% 2.21%
2030 0.55% 2.5%
2029 0.61% 2.59%
2028 0.68% 2.88%
2027 0.76% 3.09%
2026 0.86% 3.57%
2025 0.93% 3.84%
2024 1.06% 4.57%
2023 1.21% 5.04%
2022 1.21% 3.85%
2021 0.83% 2.75%
2020 0.77% 3.42%
2019 1.08% 3.96%
2018 1.28% 1.84%
2017 1.45% 0.16%
2016 1.44% -1.19%
2015 1.37% -4.19%
2014 1.35% -6.43%
2013 1.32% -4.8%
2012 1.26% -0.52%
2011 1.24% 1.76%
2010 1.26% 2.3%
2009 1.25% 1.57%
2008 1.22% 3.6%
2007 1.65% 6.35%
2006 2.18% 4.37%
2005 2.24% 2.6%
2004 2.16% 2.5%
2003 1.11% 2.41%
2002 0.83% 2.45%
2001 1.56% 2.48%
2000 1.49% 2.53%
1999 1.43% 2.58%
1998 1.38% 2.61%
1997 1.21% 2.66%
1996 1.09% 2.75%
1995 1.11% 2.87%
1994 0.19% 2.99%
1993 0.36% 3.06%
1992 2% 3.12%
1991 2.75% 3.19%
1990 2.95% 3.29%
1989 2.96% 3.37%
1988 3.28% 3.45%
1987 3.65% 3.51%
1986 3.76% 3.55%
1985 3.74% 3.58%
1984 3.83% 3.57%
1983 3.97% 3.47%
1982 5.44% 3.37%
1981 5.39% 3.38%
1980 3.69% 3.41%
1979 3.5% 3.45%
1978 3.32% 3.49%
1977 3.15% 3.49%
1976 3.06% 3.48%
1975 3.07% 3.45%
1974 3% 3.43%
1973 2.97% 3.43%
1972 2.97% 3.45%
1971 3.03% 3.41%
1970 3.08% 3.33%
1969 3.05% 3.29%
1968 3.04% 3.26%
1967 3.09% 3.23%
1966 3.16% 3.2%
1965 3.19% 3.15%
1964 3.16% 3.1%
1963 3.12% 3.05%
1962 3.08% 2.99%
1961 3.05% 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/iran/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iran grew by 0.93%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Iran Syria
Current population
93580141
26956472
Population rank 17/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.32%
One net population change
37.2 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
27.4 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
1.21 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,329 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +849,943 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +0.93% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 103/197 5/197
One migration net change every
4.51 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +116,786 +421,693
Net migration rank 14/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 3,840,654 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 17/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 103/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iran
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iran Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 116,786 - 421,693
2024 715,785 190,156 449,784 546,494
2023 750,150 262,044 402,713 757,309
2022 753,525 403,190 369,750 735,142
2021 645,725 334,967 350,560 211,220
2020 663,978 -180,680 327,992 269,050
2019 893,063 -32,794 293,762 500,985
2018 1,035,052 -27,946 242,530 514,102
2017 1,140,549 34,849 237,214 -287,501
2016 1,186,949 66,630 236,007 -124,063
2015 1,178,317 -46,239 253,977 -827,496
2014 1,158,552 -56,042 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 1,119,533 -47,322 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 1,073,804 -57,823 475,520 -999,267
2011 1,023,925 -65,924 543,950 -256,888
2010 980,380 -12,849 558,666 -54,359
2009 958,322 211 559,314 -52,703
2008 940,983 -12,184 576,593 -402,393
2007 919,254 -24,950 529,162 801,514
2006 884,529 640,932 480,616 682,911
2005 837,305 765,873 468,960 13,382
2004 801,203 739,996 461,209 10,881
2003 732,600 700,222 457,000 -33,920
2002 752,205 -668,962 453,967 -35,096
2001 743,658 291,692 451,503 -36,383
2000 731,203 300,133 446,211 -34,425
1999 723,237 191,988 439,261 -31,394
1998 717,655 218,171 433,447 -26,025
1997 726,574 98,009 429,887 -31,571
1996 784,508 -92,435 430,765 -30,197
1995 879,648 -220,258 430,172 -28,122
1994 1,008,076 -297,487 426,996 -12,630
1993 1,219,658 -1,696,091 420,244 -8,828
1992 1,365,466 -451,945 412,878 -4,063
1991 1,495,594 -13,059 410,830 -10,154
1990 1,530,434 200,711 409,177 -6,620
1989 1,609,739 9,460 406,111 -8,379
1988 1,614,512 30,688 404,285 -8,426
1987 1,639,644 213,524 399,159 -8,335
1986 1,659,289 242,411 390,821 -9,485
1985 1,661,750 163,999 379,231 -6,221
1984 1,653,051 97,748 366,768 -5,245
1983 1,573,612 204,544 355,375 -9,729
1982 1,514,240 222,390 319,664 -721
1981 1,376,830 1,452,169 330,237 -24,536
1980 1,361,293 103,674 332,464 -33,114
1979 1,294,306 75,451 324,943 -32,793
1978 1,156,974 70,088 316,724 -30,567
1977 1,091,542 68,093 306,630 -28,275
1976 1,013,347 18,825 294,267 -26,268
1975 929,481 106,921 282,299 -24,389
1974 873,369 103,252 270,735 -24,242
1973 831,880 104,779 254,687 -17,502
1972 804,043 96,614 249,027 -17,610
1971 805,830 77,717 239,610 -15,167
1970 794,612 89,757 230,117 -19,594
1969 780,660 78,196 219,114 -18,749
1968 743,992 69,342 209,454 -16,968
1967 727,276 77,313 199,223 -14,618
1966 695,040 98,709 191,122 -13,434
1965 663,029 127,808 182,560 -12,704
1964 635,589 121,817 174,549 -12,044
1963 620,126 110,190 166,555 -11,817
1962 595,538 96,332 159,155 -11,641
1961 594,674 77,811 151,485 -11,237
1960 584,060 54,041 143,687 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 89.9% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 8,963,093 people) and 10.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,004,177 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, 3,840,654 residents or 4.2% of the population were not native-born in Iran, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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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