Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,256,567 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 14,975,051 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.79 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Rwanda is ranked the 77th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.18% for Rwanda vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Rwanda has had an average growth rate of +2.31% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15M (61% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Rwanda vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Syria
2100 33,092,520 44,620,090
2099 32,987,847 44,690,260
2098 32,907,335 44,750,249
2097 32,832,706 44,813,148
2096 32,747,490 44,867,740
2095 32,615,044 44,895,489
2094 32,529,590 44,945,231
2093 32,396,544 44,974,311
2092 32,274,083 45,003,795
2091 32,171,077 45,016,478
2090 32,068,626 45,048,083
2089 31,872,593 45,047,102
2088 31,726,882 45,041,864
2087 31,533,364 45,049,516
2086 31,379,315 45,068,928
2085 31,235,000 45,034,847
2084 31,092,940 44,999,929
2083 30,917,707 44,971,600
2082 30,733,578 44,910,859
2081 30,557,819 44,843,908
2080 30,367,298 44,744,718
2079 30,176,627 44,687,371
2078 29,997,866 44,649,760
2077 29,800,561 44,604,175
2076 29,627,021 44,520,132
2075 29,423,503 44,426,423
2074 29,225,643 44,328,795
2073 29,007,777 44,221,016
2072 28,780,763 44,084,262
2071 28,560,382 43,939,848
2070 28,316,533 43,795,999
2069 28,103,541 43,648,130
2068 27,854,906 43,465,442
2067 27,591,747 43,271,173
2066 27,355,659 43,060,752
2065 27,084,704 42,810,442
2064 26,821,315 42,559,554
2063 26,543,184 42,311,907
2062 26,296,132 42,062,193
2061 25,985,356 41,808,082
2060 25,712,904 41,522,274
2059 25,437,446 41,208,825
2058 25,106,242 40,925,728
2057 24,837,928 40,643,453
2056 24,566,784 40,332,578
2055 24,266,669 40,026,632
2054 23,976,914 39,691,425
2053 23,690,426 39,348,020
2052 23,406,346 39,045,268
2051 23,099,207 38,733,827
2050 22,800,250 38,410,423
2049 22,484,698 38,089,455
2048 22,157,938 37,784,449
2047 21,834,786 37,492,636
2046 21,540,566 37,181,526
2045 21,215,262 36,843,579
2044 20,902,695 36,526,509
2043 20,535,605 36,188,225
2042 20,201,608 35,825,419
2041 19,832,577 35,447,414
2040 19,463,015 35,042,107
2039 19,096,860 34,626,945
2038 18,761,626 34,183,740
2037 18,421,864 33,703,682
2036 18,116,691 33,223,843
2035 17,753,910 32,696,648
2034 17,421,234 32,148,814
2033 17,089,349 31,562,427
2032 16,811,505 30,967,322
2031 16,485,559 30,329,874
2030 16,167,916 29,672,629
2029 15,858,862 28,949,535
2028 15,544,959 28,217,748
2027 15,207,733 27,428,807
2026 14,888,776 26,607,148
2025 14,560,205 25,689,551
2024 14,256,567 24,672,760
2023 13,954,471 23,594,623
2022 13,651,030 22,462,173
2021 13,355,260 21,628,839
2020 13,065,837 21,049,429
2019 12,776,103 20,353,534
2018 12,487,996 19,577,845
2017 12,202,060 19,224,668
2016 11,919,183 19,193,834
2015 11,640,022 19,424,618
2014 11,364,757 20,273,659
2013 11,093,340 21,666,917
2012 10,829,901 22,759,763
2011 10,573,733 22,878,098
2010 10,317,553 22,482,421
2009 10,060,432 21,976,969
2008 9,804,269 21,636,564
2007 9,549,933 20,884,125
2006 9,299,246 19,637,022
2005 9,054,528 18,814,091
2004 8,816,844 18,336,875
2003 8,586,875 17,889,296
2002 8,400,180 17,468,332
2001 8,287,094 17,051,338
2000 8,213,931 16,637,888
1999 8,147,912 16,228,061
1998 8,081,681 15,820,413
1997 7,755,238 15,417,542
1996 6,708,764 15,018,104
1995 5,674,118 14,616,801
1994 6,792,352 14,208,583
1993 7,981,132 13,795,686
1992 7,683,266 13,385,571
1991 7,526,966 12,980,821
1990 7,375,307 12,579,208
1989 7,184,706 12,179,060
1988 6,968,071 11,782,264
1987 6,749,493 11,388,923
1986 6,531,881 11,002,844
1985 6,317,228 10,625,672
1984 6,107,627 10,258,398
1983 5,905,311 9,904,809
1982 5,711,549 9,572,511
1981 5,527,230 9,260,189
1980 5,353,259 8,957,663
1979 5,189,541 8,661,909
1978 5,035,171 8,372,759
1977 4,888,240 8,090,501
1976 4,745,954 7,817,320
1975 4,607,728 7,554,364
1974 4,474,228 7,302,160
1973 4,345,047 7,060,321
1972 4,220,335 6,826,024
1971 4,100,044 6,598,094
1970 3,980,669 6,380,609
1969 3,861,271 6,175,166
1968 3,744,010 5,978,742
1967 3,629,577 5,790,198
1966 3,521,626 5,609,047
1965 3,423,210 5,435,267
1964 3,334,834 5,269,087
1963 3,258,890 5,110,467
1962 3,186,025 4,959,340
1961 3,106,779 4,815,466
1960 3,022,294 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/rwanda/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Rwanda increased by 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Rwanda gained 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Rwanda was ranked 86th most populous country in 2006 and is 77th 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) Rwanda's population will grow by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Rwanda Syria
2100 0.32% -0.16%
2099 0.24% -0.13%
2098 0.23% -0.14%
2097 0.26% -0.12%
2096 0.41% -0.06%
2095 0.26% -0.11%
2094 0.41% -0.06%
2093 0.38% -0.07%
2092 0.32% -0.03%
2091 0.32% -0.07%
2090 0.62% 0.002%
2089 0.46% 0.01%
2088 0.61% -0.02%
2087 0.49% -0.04%
2086 0.46% 0.08%
2085 0.46% 0.08%
2084 0.57% 0.06%
2083 0.6% 0.14%
2082 0.58% 0.15%
2081 0.63% 0.22%
2080 0.63% 0.13%
2079 0.6% 0.08%
2078 0.66% 0.1%
2077 0.59% 0.19%
2076 0.69% 0.21%
2075 0.68% 0.22%
2074 0.75% 0.24%
2073 0.79% 0.31%
2072 0.77% 0.33%
2071 0.86% 0.33%
2070 0.76% 0.34%
2069 0.89% 0.42%
2068 0.95% 0.45%
2067 0.86% 0.49%
2066 1% 0.58%
2065 0.98% 0.59%
2064 1.05% 0.59%
2063 0.94% 0.59%
2062 1.2% 0.61%
2061 1.06% 0.69%
2060 1.08% 0.76%
2059 1.32% 0.69%
2058 1.08% 0.69%
2057 1.1% 0.77%
2056 1.24% 0.76%
2055 1.21% 0.84%
2054 1.21% 0.87%
2053 1.21% 0.78%
2052 1.33% 0.8%
2051 1.31% 0.84%
2050 1.4% 0.84%
2049 1.47% 0.81%
2048 1.48% 0.78%
2047 1.37% 0.84%
2046 1.53% 0.92%
2045 1.5% 0.87%
2044 1.79% 0.93%
2043 1.65% 1.01%
2042 1.86% 1.07%
2041 1.9% 1.16%
2040 1.92% 1.2%
2039 1.79% 1.3%
2038 1.84% 1.42%
2037 1.68% 1.44%
2036 2.04% 1.61%
2035 1.91% 1.7%
2034 1.94% 1.86%
2033 1.65% 1.92%
2032 1.98% 2.1%
2031 1.96% 2.21%
2030 1.95% 2.5%
2029 2.02% 2.59%
2028 2.22% 2.88%
2027 2.14% 3.09%
2026 2.26% 3.57%
2025 2.13% 4.12%
2024 2.16% 4.57%
2023 2.22% 5.04%
2022 2.21% 3.85%
2021 2.22% 2.75%
2020 2.27% 3.42%
2019 2.31% 3.96%
2018 2.34% 1.84%
2017 2.37% 0.16%
2016 2.4% -1.19%
2015 2.42% -4.19%
2014 2.45% -6.43%
2013 2.43% -4.8%
2012 2.42% -0.52%
2011 2.48% 1.76%
2010 2.56% 2.3%
2009 2.61% 1.57%
2008 2.66% 3.6%
2007 2.7% 6.35%
2006 2.7% 4.37%
2005 2.7% 2.6%
2004 2.68% 2.5%
2003 2.22% 2.41%
2002 1.36% 2.45%
2001 0.89% 2.48%
2000 0.81% 2.53%
1999 0.82% 2.58%
1998 4.21% 2.61%
1997 15.6% 2.66%
1996 18.2% 2.75%
1995 -16.5% 2.87%
1994 -14.9% 2.99%
1993 3.88% 3.06%
1992 2.08% 3.12%
1991 2.06% 3.19%
1990 2.65% 3.29%
1989 3.11% 3.37%
1988 3.24% 3.45%
1987 3.33% 3.51%
1986 3.4% 3.55%
1985 3.43% 3.58%
1984 3.43% 3.57%
1983 3.39% 3.47%
1982 3.33% 3.37%
1981 3.25% 3.38%
1980 3.15% 3.41%
1979 3.07% 3.45%
1978 3.01% 3.49%
1977 3% 3.49%
1976 3% 3.48%
1975 2.98% 3.45%
1974 2.97% 3.43%
1973 2.96% 3.43%
1972 2.93% 3.45%
1971 3% 3.41%
1970 3.09% 3.33%
1969 3.13% 3.29%
1968 3.15% 3.26%
1967 3.07% 3.23%
1966 2.87% 3.2%
1965 2.65% 3.15%
1964 2.33% 3.1%
1963 2.29% 3.05%
1962 2.55% 2.99%
1961 2.8% 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/rwanda/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.16%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Syria
Current population
14975051
26829400
Population rank 77/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.32%
One net population change
1.74 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
1.33 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
6.35 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +828 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +302,096 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +2.16% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 45/197 6/197
One migration net change every
1.4 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +6,282 +421,693
Net migration rank 48/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 513,316 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 80/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 109/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Rwanda
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Rwanda Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 6,282 - 421,693
2024 - -15,582 - 546,494
2023 312,762 -9,001 402,713 757,309
2022 312,145 -9,001 369,750 735,142
2021 309,895 -21,492 350,560 211,220
2020 312,692 -22,251 327,992 269,050
2019 313,525 -24,492 293,762 500,985
2018 312,512 -25,323 242,530 514,102
2017 310,323 -25,634 237,214 -287,501
2016 305,549 -24,474 236,007 -124,063
2015 299,114 -21,862 253,977 -827,496
2014 292,779 -19,505 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 286,331 -16,779 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 282,584 -25,260 475,520 -999,267
2011 282,922 -27,915 543,950 -256,888
2010 286,848 -29,501 558,666 -54,359
2009 287,034 -30,128 559,314 -52,703
2008 287,334 -31,913 576,593 -402,393
2007 285,791 -32,537 529,162 801,514
2006 282,149 -34,008 480,616 682,911
2005 275,121 -33,830 468,960 13,382
2004 265,273 -31,214 461,209 10,881
2003 251,243 -25,355 457,000 -33,920
2002 239,036 -91,518 453,967 -35,096
2001 230,845 -152,197 451,503 -36,383
2000 221,276 -153,588 446,211 -34,425
1999 210,518 -146,162 439,261 -31,394
1998 197,185 -129,089 433,447 -26,025
1997 174,687 410,106 429,887 -31,571
1996 140,455 1,367,700 430,765 -30,197
1995 121,137 439,995 430,172 -28,122
1994 -719,479 -2,078,111 426,996 -12,630
1993 183,926 236,110 420,244 -8,828
1992 188,025 -12,334 412,878 -4,063
1991 196,431 -59,519 410,830 -10,154
1990 207,895 -41,483 409,177 -6,620
1989 217,632 -2,826 406,111 -8,379
1988 223,759 -5,285 404,285 -8,426
1987 225,744 -7,062 399,159 -8,335
1986 225,526 -8,982 390,821 -9,485
1985 223,794 -11,031 379,231 -6,221
1984 219,337 -12,899 366,768 -5,245
1983 212,750 -14,560 355,375 -9,729
1982 205,147 -15,818 319,664 -721
1981 195,769 -16,453 330,237 -24,536
1980 184,988 -16,359 332,464 -33,114
1979 174,477 -15,669 324,943 -32,793
1978 163,779 -13,838 316,724 -30,567
1977 155,011 -11,084 306,630 -28,275
1976 147,665 -7,027 294,267 -26,268
1975 140,596 -4,791 282,299 -24,389
1974 135,743 -4,535 270,735 -24,242
1973 131,021 -3,862 254,687 -17,502
1972 126,403 -4,156 249,027 -17,610
1971 122,567 -4,230 239,610 -15,167
1970 119,273 1,149 230,117 -19,594
1969 115,394 2,983 219,114 -18,749
1968 111,422 4,728 209,454 -16,968
1967 108,053 4,655 199,223 -14,618
1966 105,128 -1,930 191,122 -13,434
1965 103,422 -9,774 182,560 -12,704
1964 102,562 -19,458 174,549 -12,044
1963 94,296 -25,524 166,555 -11,817
1962 102,548 -25,594 159,155 -11,641
1961 102,051 -20,508 151,485 -11,237
1960 100,627 -13,198 143,687 0

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 93.8% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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, 513,316 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Rwanda, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K
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/rwanda/syria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.