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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Palestine was 5,289,152 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Palestine's population is 5,500,288 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 4.88 times bigger than Palestine's.
  • Palestine is ranked the 123rd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.07% for Palestine vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Palestine has had an average growth rate of +2.4% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Palestine has increased from 3.41M people to 5.5M (61.5% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Palestine vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Palestine
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Palestine Syria
2100 11,139,010 44,620,090
2099 11,129,016 44,690,260
2098 11,115,634 44,750,249
2097 11,098,586 44,813,148
2096 11,082,327 44,867,740
2095 11,062,471 44,895,489
2094 11,043,660 44,945,231
2093 11,021,075 44,974,311
2092 10,997,198 45,003,795
2091 10,971,910 45,016,478
2090 10,945,522 45,048,083
2089 10,919,566 45,047,102
2088 10,888,804 45,041,864
2087 10,859,463 45,049,516
2086 10,826,475 45,068,928
2085 10,792,233 45,034,847
2084 10,754,076 44,999,929
2083 10,714,778 44,971,600
2082 10,670,980 44,910,859
2081 10,620,947 44,843,908
2080 10,570,849 44,744,718
2079 10,522,979 44,687,371
2078 10,470,607 44,649,760
2077 10,414,129 44,604,175
2076 10,353,616 44,520,132
2075 10,289,455 44,426,423
2074 10,226,287 44,328,795
2073 10,161,032 44,221,016
2072 10,092,947 44,084,262
2071 10,017,951 43,939,848
2070 9,943,046 43,795,999
2069 9,866,885 43,648,130
2068 9,791,535 43,465,442
2067 9,709,928 43,271,173
2066 9,631,509 43,060,752
2065 9,548,264 42,810,442
2064 9,463,483 42,559,554
2063 9,376,741 42,311,907
2062 9,291,255 42,062,193
2061 9,199,970 41,808,082
2060 9,107,804 41,522,274
2059 9,017,564 41,208,825
2058 8,928,703 40,925,728
2057 8,835,816 40,643,453
2056 8,741,740 40,332,578
2055 8,649,798 40,026,632
2054 8,556,281 39,691,425
2053 8,458,243 39,348,020
2052 8,357,325 39,045,268
2051 8,254,626 38,733,827
2050 8,148,985 38,410,423
2049 8,043,520 38,089,455
2048 7,937,607 37,784,449
2047 7,829,116 37,492,636
2046 7,718,770 37,181,526
2045 7,604,199 36,843,579
2044 7,488,707 36,526,509
2043 7,372,333 36,188,225
2042 7,254,143 35,825,419
2041 7,135,388 35,447,414
2040 7,016,744 35,042,107
2039 6,896,956 34,626,945
2038 6,781,970 34,183,740
2037 6,666,634 33,703,682
2036 6,552,620 33,223,843
2035 6,436,783 32,696,648
2034 6,323,647 32,148,814
2033 6,210,874 31,562,427
2032 6,102,090 30,967,322
2031 5,994,279 30,329,874
2030 5,888,039 29,672,629
2029 5,783,463 28,949,535
2028 5,680,155 28,217,748
2027 5,576,750 27,428,807
2026 5,471,938 26,607,148
2025 5,376,521 25,689,551
2024 5,289,152 24,672,760
2023 5,165,775 23,594,623
2022 5,043,612 22,462,173
2021 4,922,749 21,628,839
2020 4,803,269 21,049,429
2019 4,685,306 20,353,534
2018 4,569,087 19,577,845
2017 4,454,805 19,224,668
2016 4,367,088 19,193,834
2015 4,270,092 19,424,618
2014 4,173,398 20,273,659
2013 4,076,708 21,666,917
2012 3,979,998 22,759,763
2011 3,882,986 22,878,098
2010 3,786,161 22,482,421
2009 3,689,099 21,976,969
2008 3,591,977 21,636,564
2007 3,494,496 20,884,125
2006 3,406,334 19,637,022
2005 3,320,396 18,814,091
2004 3,236,626 18,336,875
2003 3,154,969 17,889,296
2002 3,075,373 17,468,332
2001 2,997,784 17,051,338
2000 2,922,153 16,637,888
1999 2,848,431 16,228,061
1998 2,776,568 15,820,413
1997 2,706,518 15,417,542
1996 2,587,997 15,018,104
1995 2,474,666 14,616,801
1994 2,366,298 14,208,583
1993 2,262,676 13,795,686
1992 2,163,591 13,385,571
1991 2,068,845 12,980,821
1990 1,978,248 12,579,208
1989 - 12,179,060
1988 - 11,782,264
1987 - 11,388,923
1986 - 11,002,844
1985 - 10,625,672
1984 - 10,258,398
1983 - 9,904,809
1982 - 9,572,511
1981 - 9,260,189
1980 - 8,957,663
1979 - 8,661,909
1978 - 8,372,759
1977 - 8,090,501
1976 - 7,817,320
1975 - 7,554,364
1974 - 7,302,160
1973 - 7,060,321
1972 - 6,826,024
1971 - 6,598,094
1970 - 6,380,609
1969 - 6,175,166
1968 - 5,978,742
1967 - 5,790,198
1966 - 5,609,047
1965 - 5,435,267
1964 - 5,269,087
1963 - 5,110,467
1962 - 4,959,340
1961 - 4,815,466
1960 - 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/palestine/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Palestine increased by 960,754 people (a 28.2% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Palestine gained 1,133,200 people (a 25.9% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Palestine was ranked 127th most populous country in 2006 and is 123rd 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) Palestine's population will grow by 48.2% to 8,148,985 people with a rank change from 123rd to 112th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Palestine is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 11.1M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Palestine
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Palestine Syria
2100 0.09% -0.16%
2099 0.12% -0.13%
2098 0.15% -0.14%
2097 0.15% -0.12%
2096 0.18% -0.06%
2095 0.17% -0.11%
2094 0.2% -0.06%
2093 0.22% -0.07%
2092 0.23% -0.03%
2091 0.24% -0.07%
2090 0.24% 0.002%
2089 0.28% 0.01%
2088 0.27% -0.02%
2087 0.3% -0.04%
2086 0.32% 0.08%
2085 0.35% 0.08%
2084 0.37% 0.06%
2083 0.41% 0.14%
2082 0.47% 0.15%
2081 0.47% 0.22%
2080 0.45% 0.13%
2079 0.5% 0.08%
2078 0.54% 0.1%
2077 0.58% 0.19%
2076 0.62% 0.21%
2075 0.62% 0.22%
2074 0.64% 0.24%
2073 0.67% 0.31%
2072 0.75% 0.33%
2071 0.75% 0.33%
2070 0.77% 0.34%
2069 0.77% 0.42%
2068 0.84% 0.45%
2067 0.81% 0.49%
2066 0.87% 0.58%
2065 0.9% 0.59%
2064 0.93% 0.59%
2063 0.92% 0.59%
2062 0.99% 0.61%
2061 1.01% 0.69%
2060 1% 0.76%
2059 1% 0.69%
2058 1.05% 0.69%
2057 1.08% 0.77%
2056 1.06% 0.76%
2055 1.09% 0.84%
2054 1.16% 0.87%
2053 1.21% 0.78%
2052 1.24% 0.8%
2051 1.3% 0.84%
2050 1.31% 0.84%
2049 1.33% 0.81%
2048 1.39% 0.78%
2047 1.43% 0.84%
2046 1.51% 0.92%
2045 1.54% 0.87%
2044 1.58% 0.93%
2043 1.63% 1.01%
2042 1.66% 1.07%
2041 1.69% 1.16%
2040 1.74% 1.2%
2039 1.7% 1.3%
2038 1.73% 1.42%
2037 1.74% 1.44%
2036 1.8% 1.61%
2035 1.79% 1.7%
2034 1.82% 1.86%
2033 1.78% 1.92%
2032 1.8% 2.1%
2031 1.8% 2.21%
2030 1.81% 2.5%
2029 1.82% 2.59%
2028 1.85% 2.88%
2027 1.92% 3.09%
2026 1.77% 3.57%
2025 1.65% 4.12%
2024 2.39% 4.57%
2023 2.42% 5.04%
2022 2.46% 3.85%
2021 2.49% 2.75%
2020 2.52% 3.42%
2019 2.54% 3.96%
2018 2.57% 1.84%
2017 2.01% 0.16%
2016 2.27% -1.19%
2015 2.32% -4.19%
2014 2.37% -6.43%
2013 2.43% -4.8%
2012 2.5% -0.52%
2011 2.56% 1.76%
2010 2.63% 2.3%
2009 2.7% 1.57%
2008 2.79% 3.6%
2007 2.59% 6.35%
2006 2.59% 4.37%
2005 2.59% 2.6%
2004 2.59% 2.5%
2003 2.59% 2.41%
2002 2.59% 2.45%
2001 2.59% 2.48%
2000 2.59% 2.53%
1999 2.59% 2.58%
1998 2.59% 2.61%
1997 4.58% 2.66%
1996 4.58% 2.75%
1995 4.58% 2.87%
1994 4.58% 2.99%
1993 4.58% 3.06%
1992 4.58% 3.12%
1991 4.58% 3.19%
1990 - 3.29%
1989 - 3.37%
1988 - 3.45%
1987 - 3.51%
1986 - 3.55%
1985 - 3.58%
1984 - 3.57%
1983 - 3.47%
1982 - 3.37%
1981 - 3.38%
1980 - 3.41%
1979 - 3.45%
1978 - 3.49%
1977 - 3.49%
1976 - 3.48%
1975 - 3.45%
1974 - 3.43%
1973 - 3.43%
1972 - 3.45%
1971 - 3.41%
1970 - 3.33%
1969 - 3.29%
1968 - 3.26%
1967 - 3.23%
1966 - 3.2%
1965 - 3.15%
1964 - 3.1%
1963 - 3.05%
1962 - 2.99%
1961 - 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/palestine/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Palestine grew by 2.39%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Palestine Syria
Current population
5500288
26829400
Population rank 123/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.32%
One net population change
4.26 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
3.76 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
14.1 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +338 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +123,377 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +2.39% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 34/197 6/197
One migration net change every
22.8 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -23,156 +421,693
Net migration rank 154/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 272,481 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 103/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 5% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 92/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Palestine
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Palestine Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -23,156 - 421,693
2024 - -23,145 - 546,494
2023 102,613 -24,996 402,713 757,309
2022 123,987 -5,006 369,750 735,142
2021 120,396 -12,369 350,560 211,220
2020 122,416 -12,369 327,992 269,050
2019 124,508 -24,733 293,762 500,985
2018 124,791 -25,141 242,530 514,102
2017 125,688 -25,452 237,214 -287,501
2016 126,698 -22,774 236,007 -124,063
2015 126,189 -22,903 253,977 -827,496
2014 120,724 -27,077 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 120,503 -26,979 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 119,185 -26,916 475,520 -999,267
2011 119,021 -26,662 543,950 -256,888
2010 117,674 -26,351 558,666 -54,359
2009 111,724 -25,906 559,314 -52,703
2008 108,395 -23,985 576,593 -402,393
2007 112,453 -20,337 529,162 801,514
2006 111,728 -23,445 480,616 682,911
2005 110,569 -28,161 468,960 13,382
2004 110,045 -32,853 461,209 10,881
2003 109,162 -35,968 457,000 -33,920
2002 108,560 -35,038 453,967 -35,096
2001 107,320 -25,652 451,503 -36,383
2000 106,367 -11,496 446,211 -34,425
1999 104,823 -13,860 439,261 -31,394
1998 103,566 -13,146 433,447 -26,025
1997 102,307 10,417 429,887 -31,571
1996 98,085 9,810 430,765 -30,197
1995 94,037 8,763 430,172 -28,122
1994 90,156 7,434 426,996 -12,630
1993 86,434 5,975 420,244 -8,828
1992 82,865 4,411 412,878 -4,063
1991 79,444 2,116 410,830 -10,154
1990 76,163 -476 409,177 -6,620
1989 - -3,026 406,111 -8,379
1988 - -3,008 404,285 -8,426
1987 - 50,702 399,159 -8,335
1986 - -21,071 390,821 -9,485
1985 - -31,640 379,231 -6,221
1984 - 9,108 366,768 -5,245
1983 - 684 355,375 -9,729
1982 - -9,799 319,664 -721
1981 - -13,892 330,237 -24,536
1980 - -15,067 332,464 -33,114
1979 - -16,058 324,943 -32,793
1978 - -16,654 316,724 -30,567
1977 - -16,444 306,630 -28,275
1976 - -14,515 294,267 -26,268
1975 - -11,596 282,299 -24,389
1974 - -8,670 270,735 -24,242
1973 - -6,736 254,687 -17,502
1972 - -7,848 249,027 -17,610
1971 - -17,235 239,610 -15,167
1970 - -31,405 230,117 -19,594
1969 - -45,586 219,114 -18,749
1968 - -54,963 209,454 -16,968
1967 - -55,265 199,223 -14,618
1966 - -47,780 191,122 -13,434
1965 - -36,419 182,560 -12,704
1964 - -31,125 174,549 -12,044
1963 - -21,220 166,555 -11,817
1962 - -18,971 159,155 -11,641
1961 - -18,224 151,485 -11,237
1960 - -17,662 143,687 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 85.7% of the population change in Palestine is from natural causes (a gain of 1,218,010 people) and 14.3% is from migration (a loss of 202,820 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, 272,481 residents or 5% of the population were not native-born in Palestine, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Palestine
City Population
Gaza 590K
Ashdod 220K
Hebron 215K
Nablus 178K
Ramallah 43.9K
Qalqilya 41.7K
Bethlehem 36K
Dura 6K
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/palestine/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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