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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iran was 91,567,738 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iran's population is 93,468,444 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 3.48 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 +1.19% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iran has increased from 73.4M people to 93.5M (27.4% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Iran vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Iran
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iran Syria
2100 80,713,760 44,620,090
2099 81,246,718 44,690,260
2098 81,770,953 44,750,249
2097 82,295,714 44,813,148
2096 82,818,575 44,867,740
2095 83,338,446 44,895,489
2094 83,854,648 44,945,231
2093 84,371,569 44,974,311
2092 84,888,626 45,003,795
2091 85,410,099 45,016,478
2090 85,934,675 45,048,083
2089 86,466,409 45,047,102
2088 87,004,165 45,041,864
2087 87,549,685 45,049,516
2086 88,105,571 45,068,928
2085 88,668,329 45,034,847
2084 89,239,709 44,999,929
2083 89,817,194 44,971,600
2082 90,402,538 44,910,859
2081 90,995,822 44,843,908
2080 91,595,122 44,744,718
2079 92,196,842 44,687,371
2078 92,801,160 44,649,760
2077 93,405,954 44,604,175
2076 94,007,669 44,520,132
2075 94,606,607 44,426,423
2074 95,197,577 44,328,795
2073 95,783,994 44,221,016
2072 96,355,853 44,084,262
2071 96,915,335 43,939,848
2070 97,460,813 43,795,999
2069 97,988,897 43,648,130
2068 98,496,927 43,465,442
2067 98,978,509 43,271,173
2066 99,439,391 43,060,752
2065 99,877,457 42,810,442
2064 100,288,977 42,559,554
2063 100,668,199 42,311,907
2062 101,017,348 42,062,193
2061 101,332,810 41,808,082
2060 101,612,261 41,522,274
2059 101,858,931 41,208,825
2058 102,061,144 40,925,728
2057 102,228,085 40,643,453
2056 102,358,266 40,332,578
2055 102,449,092 40,026,632
2054 102,498,594 39,691,425
2053 102,508,245 39,348,020
2052 102,480,373 39,045,268
2051 102,417,847 38,733,827
2050 102,318,917 38,410,423
2049 102,189,816 38,089,455
2048 102,024,233 37,784,449
2047 101,832,213 37,492,636
2046 101,613,554 37,181,526
2045 101,371,784 36,843,579
2044 101,104,998 36,526,509
2043 100,818,045 36,188,225
2042 100,512,032 35,825,419
2041 100,188,214 35,447,414
2040 99,849,875 35,042,107
2039 99,501,869 34,626,945
2038 99,137,385 34,183,740
2037 98,759,167 33,703,682
2036 98,366,612 33,223,843
2035 97,963,082 32,696,648
2034 97,546,148 32,148,814
2033 97,118,106 31,562,427
2032 96,671,440 30,967,322
2031 96,204,118 30,329,874
2030 95,718,604 29,672,629
2029 95,195,996 28,949,535
2028 94,623,034 28,217,748
2027 93,987,260 27,428,807
2026 93,276,075 26,607,148
2025 92,478,162 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 9.47% to 102,318,917 people with a rank change from 17th to 18th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M people compared to the peak of 45.1M 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 0.99% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Iran grew by 1.06%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Iran Syria
Current population
93468444
26829400
Population rank 17/197 56/197
Percent of world population 1.13% 0.32%
One net population change
32.9 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
26.9 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
1.24 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,627 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +959,031 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.06% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 98/197 6/197
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 - 190,156 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.5% of the population change in Iran is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/iran/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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