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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of North Macedonia was 1,820,909 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current North Macedonia's population is 1,811,466 people compared to 26,956,472 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 -0.47% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of North Macedonia has decreased from 1.99M people to 1.81M (9.17% decline), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

North Macedonia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
North Macedonia Syria
2100 869,530 44,500,028
2099 880,467 44,570,009
2098 891,427 44,629,837
2097 902,461 44,692,566
2096 913,488 44,747,012
2095 924,371 44,774,686
2094 935,479 44,824,294
2093 946,865 44,853,295
2092 958,251 44,882,700
2091 969,723 44,895,349
2090 981,115 44,926,869
2089 992,687 44,925,891
2088 1,004,280 44,920,667
2087 1,015,922 44,928,298
2086 1,027,915 44,947,658
2085 1,039,832 44,913,669
2084 1,052,077 44,878,845
2083 1,064,269 44,850,592
2082 1,076,684 44,790,014
2081 1,089,137 44,723,244
2080 1,101,478 44,624,321
2079 1,114,004 44,567,127
2078 1,126,827 44,529,618
2077 1,139,917 44,484,155
2076 1,153,296 44,400,339
2075 1,166,630 44,306,882
2074 1,180,262 44,209,517
2073 1,193,984 44,102,028
2072 1,207,689 43,965,642
2071 1,221,407 43,821,617
2070 1,235,738 43,678,154
2069 1,250,212 43,530,683
2068 1,264,718 43,348,487
2067 1,279,182 43,154,741
2066 1,293,374 42,944,885
2065 1,307,896 42,695,249
2064 1,322,184 42,445,036
2063 1,336,875 42,198,056
2062 1,351,652 41,949,014
2061 1,366,457 41,695,586
2060 1,381,009 41,410,547
2059 1,395,166 41,097,942
2058 1,409,270 40,815,606
2057 1,423,516 40,534,091
2056 1,437,970 40,224,053
2055 1,452,276 39,918,930
2054 1,466,673 39,584,624
2053 1,480,857 39,242,144
2052 1,494,452 38,940,206
2051 1,508,115 38,629,604
2050 1,521,258 38,307,069
2049 1,534,276 37,986,965
2048 1,547,097 37,682,780
2047 1,559,831 37,391,752
2046 1,572,937 37,081,479
2045 1,585,940 36,744,441
2044 1,598,742 36,428,225
2043 1,611,835 36,090,851
2042 1,624,885 35,729,021
2041 1,637,687 35,352,033
2040 1,650,468 34,947,817
2039 1,663,094 34,533,772
2038 1,675,445 34,091,760
2037 1,687,986 33,612,993
2036 1,700,377 33,134,445
2035 1,712,512 32,608,669
2034 1,724,440 32,062,309
2033 1,736,005 31,477,500
2032 1,747,606 30,883,996
2031 1,759,081 30,248,264
2030 1,770,549 29,592,787
2029 1,781,235 28,871,638
2028 1,791,502 28,141,821
2027 1,801,426 27,355,002
2026 1,811,466 26,535,554
2025 1,820,909 25,620,427
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 94,847 people (a 4.98% decline), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% 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 1,521,258 people with a rank change from 150th to 152nd. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 870K 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 -0.19% 3.84%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of North Macedonia declined by 0.19%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

North Macedonia Syria
Current population
1811466
26956472
Population rank 150/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.32%
One net population change
2.55 hours
33.4 seconds
One birth every
32.7 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
26 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -9 +2,596
Annual growth/decline -3,450 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate -0.19% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 176/197 5/197
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 -4,196 -5,728 449,784 546,494
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 11% of the population change in North Macedonia is from natural causes (a loss of 20,425 people) and 89% is from migration (a loss of 166,025 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/north-macedonia/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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