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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Rwanda was 14,569,341 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Rwanda's population is 15,062,056 people compared to 26,956,472 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 0.51% 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 +2.28% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Rwanda has increased from 9.3M people to 15.1M (62% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Rwanda vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Rwanda
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Rwanda Syria
2100 33,113,283 44,500,028
2099 33,008,545 44,570,009
2098 32,927,982 44,629,837
2097 32,853,307 44,692,566
2096 32,768,037 44,747,012
2095 32,635,508 44,774,686
2094 32,550,001 44,824,294
2093 32,416,870 44,853,295
2092 32,294,333 44,882,700
2091 32,191,262 44,895,349
2090 32,088,747 44,926,869
2089 31,892,591 44,925,891
2088 31,746,789 44,920,667
2087 31,553,150 44,928,298
2086 31,399,004 44,947,658
2085 31,254,597 44,913,669
2084 31,112,448 44,878,845
2083 30,937,106 44,850,592
2082 30,752,861 44,790,014
2081 30,576,992 44,723,244
2080 30,386,351 44,624,321
2079 30,195,560 44,567,127
2078 30,016,688 44,529,618
2077 29,819,259 44,484,155
2076 29,645,610 44,400,339
2075 29,441,964 44,306,882
2074 29,243,980 44,209,517
2073 29,025,977 44,102,028
2072 28,798,822 43,965,642
2071 28,578,302 43,821,617
2070 28,334,300 43,678,154
2069 28,121,174 43,530,683
2068 27,872,383 43,348,487
2067 27,609,059 43,154,741
2066 27,372,823 42,944,885
2065 27,101,698 42,695,249
2064 26,838,144 42,445,036
2063 26,559,838 42,198,056
2062 26,312,631 41,949,014
2061 26,001,660 41,695,586
2060 25,729,037 41,410,547
2059 25,453,407 41,097,942
2058 25,121,995 40,815,606
2057 24,853,512 40,534,091
2056 24,582,198 40,224,053
2055 24,281,895 39,918,930
2054 23,991,958 39,584,624
2053 23,705,290 39,242,144
2052 23,421,032 38,940,206
2051 23,113,700 38,629,604
2050 22,814,556 38,307,069
2049 22,498,806 37,986,965
2048 22,171,841 37,682,780
2047 21,848,486 37,391,752
2046 21,554,082 37,081,479
2045 21,228,573 36,744,441
2044 20,915,810 36,428,225
2043 20,548,490 36,090,851
2042 20,214,283 35,729,021
2041 19,845,021 35,352,033
2040 19,475,227 34,947,817
2039 19,108,842 34,533,772
2038 18,773,398 34,091,760
2037 18,433,422 33,612,993
2036 18,128,058 33,134,445
2035 17,765,049 32,608,669
2034 17,432,165 32,062,309
2033 17,100,072 31,477,500
2032 16,822,053 30,883,996
2031 16,495,903 30,248,264
2030 16,178,061 29,592,787
2029 15,868,812 28,871,638
2028 15,554,713 28,141,821
2027 15,217,275 27,355,002
2026 14,898,118 26,535,554
2025 14,569,341 25,620,427
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% 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 51.5% to 22,814,556 people with a rank change from 77th to 72nd. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 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 44.9M 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 2.19% 3.84%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Rwanda grew by 2.19%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Rwanda Syria
Current population
15062056
26956472
Population rank 77/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.18% 0.32%
One net population change
1.69 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
1.31 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
6.25 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +857 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +312,774 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +2.19% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 40/197 5/197
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 316,025 -15,582 449,784 546,494
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94% of the population change in Rwanda is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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, 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 (1960–2025, 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/rwanda/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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