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Population in North Macedonia compared to Syria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,824,359 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,805,954 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 14.9 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • North Macedonia is ranked the 150th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.02% for North Macedonia vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, North Macedonia has had an average growth rate of -0.48% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.44% decline), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

North Macedonia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia Syria
2100 866,884 44,620,090
2099 877,788 44,690,260
2098 888,715 44,750,249
2097 899,716 44,813,148
2096 910,709 44,867,740
2095 921,559 44,895,489
2094 932,633 44,945,231
2093 943,984 44,974,311
2092 955,335 45,003,795
2091 966,773 45,016,478
2090 978,130 45,048,083
2089 989,666 45,047,102
2088 1,001,224 45,041,864
2087 1,012,831 45,049,516
2086 1,024,787 45,068,928
2085 1,036,668 45,034,847
2084 1,048,876 44,999,929
2083 1,061,031 44,971,600
2082 1,073,408 44,910,859
2081 1,085,823 44,843,908
2080 1,098,127 44,744,718
2079 1,110,614 44,687,371
2078 1,123,398 44,649,760
2077 1,136,448 44,604,175
2076 1,149,787 44,520,132
2075 1,163,080 44,426,423
2074 1,176,671 44,328,795
2073 1,190,351 44,221,016
2072 1,204,015 44,084,262
2071 1,217,691 43,939,848
2070 1,231,978 43,795,999
2069 1,246,408 43,648,130
2068 1,260,869 43,465,442
2067 1,275,289 43,271,173
2066 1,289,439 43,060,752
2065 1,303,917 42,810,442
2064 1,318,161 42,559,554
2063 1,332,807 42,311,907
2062 1,347,540 42,062,193
2061 1,362,299 41,808,082
2060 1,376,807 41,522,274
2059 1,390,921 41,208,825
2058 1,404,982 40,925,728
2057 1,419,185 40,643,453
2056 1,433,595 40,332,578
2055 1,447,857 40,026,632
2054 1,462,210 39,691,425
2053 1,476,351 39,348,020
2052 1,489,905 39,045,268
2051 1,503,526 38,733,827
2050 1,516,629 38,410,423
2049 1,529,608 38,089,455
2048 1,542,390 37,784,449
2047 1,555,085 37,492,636
2046 1,568,151 37,181,526
2045 1,581,115 36,843,579
2044 1,593,878 36,526,509
2043 1,606,930 36,188,225
2042 1,619,941 35,825,419
2041 1,632,704 35,447,414
2040 1,645,446 35,042,107
2039 1,658,034 34,626,945
2038 1,670,347 34,183,740
2037 1,682,850 33,703,682
2036 1,695,204 33,223,843
2035 1,707,302 32,696,648
2034 1,719,193 32,148,814
2033 1,730,723 31,562,427
2032 1,742,288 30,967,322
2031 1,753,729 30,329,874
2030 1,765,162 29,672,629
2029 1,775,815 28,949,535
2028 1,786,051 28,217,748
2027 1,795,945 27,428,807
2026 1,805,954 26,607,148
2025 1,815,368 25,689,551
2024 1,824,359 24,672,760
2023 1,827,816 23,594,623
2022 1,831,712 22,462,173
2021 1,837,114 21,628,839
2020 1,856,124 21,049,429
2019 1,876,262 20,353,534
2018 1,889,051 19,577,845
2017 1,898,657 19,224,668
2016 1,906,313 19,193,834
2015 1,912,430 19,424,618
2014 1,917,557 20,273,659
2013 1,922,716 21,666,917
2012 1,929,821 22,759,763
2011 1,937,398 22,878,098
2010 1,946,298 22,482,421
2009 1,958,782 21,976,969
2008 1,971,493 21,636,564
2007 1,982,933 20,884,125
2006 1,994,287 19,637,022
2005 2,005,330 18,814,091
2004 2,016,186 18,336,875
2003 2,022,725 17,889,296
2002 2,020,157 17,468,332
2001 2,034,882 17,051,338
2000 2,026,350 16,637,888
1999 2,017,142 16,228,061
1998 2,007,523 15,820,413
1997 1,996,869 15,417,542
1996 2,012,553 15,018,104
1995 1,998,534 14,616,801
1994 1,992,666 14,208,583
1993 2,006,854 13,795,686
1992 2,032,523 13,385,571
1991 2,055,994 12,980,821
1990 2,063,689 12,579,208
1989 2,055,649 12,179,060
1988 2,045,737 11,782,264
1987 2,035,157 11,388,923
1986 2,024,732 11,002,844
1985 2,014,331 10,625,672
1984 2,003,399 10,258,398
1983 1,991,901 9,904,809
1982 1,978,956 9,572,511
1981 1,959,065 9,260,189
1980 1,933,038 8,957,663
1979 1,906,523 8,661,909
1978 1,879,847 8,372,759
1977 1,853,138 8,090,501
1976 1,825,830 7,817,320
1975 1,797,972 7,554,364
1974 1,770,545 7,302,160
1973 1,743,816 7,060,321
1972 1,717,395 6,826,024
1971 1,691,216 6,598,094
1970 1,664,208 6,380,609
1969 1,636,345 6,175,166
1968 1,608,930 5,978,742
1967 1,582,492 5,790,198
1966 1,557,349 5,609,047
1965 1,533,466 5,435,267
1964 1,510,900 5,269,087
1963 1,488,737 5,110,467
1962 1,471,745 4,959,340
1961 1,455,171 4,815,466
1960 1,435,059 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/north-macedonia/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of North Macedonia decreased by 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, North Macedonia lost 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

North Macedonia was ranked 142nd most populous country in 2006 and is 150th 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) North Macedonia's population will shrink by 16% to 1,516,629 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 45.1M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 867K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
North Macedonia Syria
2100 -1.24% -0.16%
2099 -1.23% -0.13%
2098 -1.22% -0.14%
2097 -1.21% -0.12%
2096 -1.18% -0.06%
2095 -1.19% -0.11%
2094 -1.2% -0.06%
2093 -1.19% -0.07%
2092 -1.18% -0.03%
2091 -1.16% -0.07%
2090 -1.17% 0.002%
2089 -1.15% 0.01%
2088 -1.15% -0.02%
2087 -1.17% -0.04%
2086 -1.15% 0.08%
2085 -1.16% 0.08%
2084 -1.15% 0.06%
2083 -1.15% 0.14%
2082 -1.14% 0.15%
2081 -1.12% 0.22%
2080 -1.12% 0.13%
2079 -1.14% 0.08%
2078 -1.15% 0.1%
2077 -1.16% 0.19%
2076 -1.14% 0.21%
2075 -1.15% 0.22%
2074 -1.15% 0.24%
2073 -1.13% 0.31%
2072 -1.12% 0.33%
2071 -1.16% 0.33%
2070 -1.16% 0.34%
2069 -1.15% 0.42%
2068 -1.13% 0.45%
2067 -1.1% 0.49%
2066 -1.11% 0.58%
2065 -1.08% 0.59%
2064 -1.1% 0.59%
2063 -1.09% 0.59%
2062 -1.08% 0.61%
2061 -1.05% 0.69%
2060 -1.01% 0.76%
2059 -1% 0.69%
2058 -1% 0.69%
2057 -1.01% 0.77%
2056 -0.99% 0.76%
2055 -0.98% 0.84%
2054 -0.96% 0.87%
2053 -0.91% 0.78%
2052 -0.91% 0.8%
2051 -0.86% 0.84%
2050 -0.85% 0.84%
2049 -0.83% 0.81%
2048 -0.82% 0.78%
2047 -0.83% 0.84%
2046 -0.82% 0.92%
2045 -0.8% 0.87%
2044 -0.81% 0.93%
2043 -0.8% 1.01%
2042 -0.78% 1.07%
2041 -0.77% 1.16%
2040 -0.76% 1.2%
2039 -0.74% 1.3%
2038 -0.74% 1.42%
2037 -0.73% 1.44%
2036 -0.71% 1.61%
2035 -0.69% 1.7%
2034 -0.67% 1.86%
2033 -0.66% 1.92%
2032 -0.65% 2.1%
2031 -0.65% 2.21%
2030 -0.6% 2.5%
2029 -0.57% 2.59%
2028 -0.55% 2.88%
2027 -0.55% 3.09%
2026 -0.52% 3.57%
2025 -0.49% 4.12%
2024 -0.19% 4.57%
2023 -0.21% 5.04%
2022 -0.29% 3.85%
2021 -1.02% 2.75%
2020 -1.07% 3.42%
2019 -0.68% 3.96%
2018 -0.51% 1.84%
2017 -0.4% 0.16%
2016 -0.32% -1.19%
2015 -0.27% -4.19%
2014 -0.27% -6.43%
2013 -0.37% -4.8%
2012 -0.39% -0.52%
2011 -0.46% 1.76%
2010 -0.64% 2.3%
2009 -0.64% 1.57%
2008 -0.58% 3.6%
2007 -0.57% 6.35%
2006 -0.55% 4.37%
2005 -0.54% 2.6%
2004 -0.32% 2.5%
2003 0.13% 2.41%
2002 -0.72% 2.45%
2001 0.42% 2.48%
2000 0.46% 2.53%
1999 0.48% 2.58%
1998 0.53% 2.61%
1997 -0.78% 2.66%
1996 0.7% 2.75%
1995 0.29% 2.87%
1994 -0.71% 2.99%
1993 -1.26% 3.06%
1992 -1.14% 3.12%
1991 -0.37% 3.19%
1990 0.39% 3.29%
1989 0.48% 3.37%
1988 0.52% 3.45%
1987 0.51% 3.51%
1986 0.52% 3.55%
1985 0.55% 3.58%
1984 0.58% 3.57%
1983 0.65% 3.47%
1982 1.02% 3.37%
1981 1.35% 3.38%
1980 1.39% 3.41%
1979 1.42% 3.45%
1978 1.44% 3.49%
1977 1.5% 3.49%
1976 1.55% 3.48%
1975 1.55% 3.45%
1974 1.53% 3.43%
1973 1.54% 3.43%
1972 1.55% 3.45%
1971 1.62% 3.41%
1970 1.7% 3.33%
1969 1.7% 3.29%
1968 1.67% 3.26%
1967 1.61% 3.23%
1966 1.56% 3.2%
1965 1.49% 3.15%
1964 1.49% 3.1%
1963 1.15% 3.05%
1962 1.14% 2.99%
1961 1.4% 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/north-macedonia/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Syria
Current population
1805954
26829400
Population rank 150/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
2.53 hours
29.3 seconds
One birth every
31.3 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
26.1 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline -9 +2,954
Annual growth/decline -3,457 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 6/197
One migration net change every
1.56 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -5,645 +421,693
Net migration rank 119/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 150,902 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 122/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 8.3% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 73/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
North Macedonia Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,645 - 421,693
2024 - -5,728 - 546,494
2023 -3,290 -5,597 402,713 757,309
2022 -4,397 -5,296 369,750 735,142
2021 -9,737 -5,483 350,560 211,220
2020 -5,939 -23,458 327,992 269,050
2019 -375 -24,204 293,762 500,985
2018 1,512 -24,878 242,530 514,102
2017 1,329 -24,227 237,214 -287,501
2016 2,374 -24,144 236,007 -124,063
2015 2,294 -23,010 253,977 -827,496
2014 3,644 -22,132 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 3,653 -20,297 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 3,087 -19,083 475,520 -999,267
2011 3,100 -17,871 543,950 -256,888
2010 4,866 -16,668 558,666 -54,359
2009 4,309 -15,455 559,314 -52,703
2008 3,746 -17,645 576,593 -402,393
2007 2,974 -15,705 529,162 801,514
2006 3,988 -9,632 480,616 682,911
2005 4,011 -2,244 468,960 13,382
2004 5,444 -2,640 461,209 10,881
2003 8,900 -2,880 457,000 -33,920
2002 9,697 -2,858 453,967 -35,096
2001 10,174 -922 451,503 -36,383
2000 12,159 -2,824 446,211 -34,425
1999 10,489 -1,261 439,261 -31,394
1998 12,446 -589 433,447 -26,025
1997 12,979 -477 429,887 -31,571
1996 14,806 -397 430,765 -30,197
1995 17,239 -3,603 430,172 -28,122
1994 19,103 -21,006 426,996 -12,630
1993 20,797 -47,273 420,244 -8,828
1992 21,659 -46,509 412,878 -4,063
1991 23,387 -45,484 410,830 -10,154
1990 22,868 -16,174 409,177 -6,620
1989 22,912 -13,528 406,111 -8,379
1988 24,064 -13,621 404,285 -8,426
1987 24,359 -13,635 399,159 -8,335
1986 23,720 -13,589 390,821 -9,485
1985 24,167 -13,492 379,231 -6,221
1984 24,436 -13,251 366,768 -5,245
1983 24,690 -12,884 355,375 -9,729
1982 25,810 -11,716 319,664 -721
1981 25,689 0 330,237 -24,536
1980 26,547 -189 332,464 -33,114
1979 27,096 -426 324,943 -32,793
1978 27,150 -462 316,724 -30,567
1977 27,410 -683 306,630 -28,275
1976 28,799 -911 294,267 -26,268
1975 28,983 -1,147 282,299 -24,389
1974 28,400 -1,376 270,735 -24,242
1973 28,032 -1,600 254,687 -17,502
1972 28,236 -1,834 249,027 -17,610
1971 28,010 -2,064 239,610 -15,167
1970 28,022 60 230,117 -19,594
1969 27,464 181 219,114 -18,749
1968 28,378 -1,201 209,454 -16,968
1967 28,401 -2,696 199,223 -14,618
1966 28,766 -4,176 191,122 -13,434
1965 28,564 -5,385 182,560 -12,704
1964 27,889 -5,938 174,549 -12,044
1963 28,124 -5,759 166,555 -11,817
1962 25,317 -13,702 159,155 -11,641
1961 27,846 -6,309 151,485 -11,237
1960 28,816 -10,126 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/north-macedonia/syria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 6.45% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 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, 150,902 residents or 8.3% of the population were not native-born in North Macedonia, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

North Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K
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/north-macedonia/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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