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Population in Saudi Arabia compared to Syria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Saudi Arabia was 35,300,280 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Saudi Arabia's population is 36,734,925 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 1.37 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Saudi Arabia is ranked the 44th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.44% for Saudi Arabia vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Saudi Arabia has had an average growth rate of +2.3% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Saudi Arabia has increased from 21.5M people to 36.7M (71.2% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Saudi Arabia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Saudi Arabia Syria
2100 74,230,118 44,620,090
2099 73,760,045 44,690,260
2098 73,287,526 44,750,249
2097 72,813,125 44,813,148
2096 72,336,039 44,867,740
2095 71,858,206 44,895,489
2094 71,379,928 44,945,231
2093 70,900,460 44,974,311
2092 70,420,464 45,003,795
2091 69,940,749 45,016,478
2090 69,462,214 45,048,083
2089 68,985,976 45,047,102
2088 68,510,277 45,041,864
2087 68,035,545 45,049,516
2086 67,562,521 45,068,928
2085 67,091,615 45,034,847
2084 66,621,667 44,999,929
2083 66,152,653 44,971,600
2082 65,684,321 44,910,859
2081 65,216,102 44,843,908
2080 64,749,128 44,744,718
2079 64,282,393 44,687,371
2078 63,815,918 44,649,760
2077 63,348,712 44,604,175
2076 62,880,120 44,520,132
2075 62,409,793 44,426,423
2074 61,937,628 44,328,795
2073 61,462,662 44,221,016
2072 60,984,202 44,084,262
2071 60,502,791 43,939,848
2070 60,018,216 43,795,999
2069 59,529,456 43,648,130
2068 59,036,086 43,465,442
2067 58,539,487 43,271,173
2066 58,039,687 43,060,752
2065 57,537,106 42,810,442
2064 57,032,172 42,559,554
2063 56,524,331 42,311,907
2062 56,014,549 42,062,193
2061 55,501,467 41,808,082
2060 54,986,901 41,522,274
2059 54,469,809 41,208,825
2058 53,950,469 40,925,728
2057 53,430,639 40,643,453
2056 52,909,061 40,332,578
2055 52,386,571 40,026,632
2054 51,862,312 39,691,425
2053 51,336,335 39,348,020
2052 50,809,100 39,045,268
2051 50,280,719 38,733,827
2050 49,751,739 38,410,423
2049 49,221,828 38,089,455
2048 48,690,143 37,784,449
2047 48,157,605 37,492,636
2046 47,623,246 37,181,526
2045 47,087,215 36,843,579
2044 46,550,306 36,526,509
2043 46,013,232 36,188,225
2042 45,475,200 35,825,419
2041 44,936,131 35,447,414
2040 44,396,093 35,042,107
2039 43,856,006 34,626,945
2038 43,314,707 34,183,740
2037 42,773,375 33,703,682
2036 42,231,639 33,223,843
2035 41,690,245 32,696,648
2034 41,150,029 32,148,814
2033 40,611,021 31,562,427
2032 40,073,144 30,967,322
2031 39,535,357 30,329,874
2030 38,998,581 29,672,629
2029 38,417,447 28,949,535
2028 37,810,902 28,217,748
2027 37,189,969 27,428,807
2026 36,566,201 26,607,148
2025 35,932,673 25,689,551
2024 35,300,280 24,672,760
2023 33,702,731 23,594,623
2022 32,175,224 22,462,173
2021 30,784,383 21,628,839
2020 31,552,510 21,049,429
2019 30,063,799 20,353,534
2018 30,196,281 19,577,845
2017 30,977,355 19,224,668
2016 30,954,198 19,193,834
2015 29,816,382 19,424,618
2014 28,309,273 20,273,659
2013 27,624,004 21,666,917
2012 26,168,861 22,759,763
2011 25,091,867 22,878,098
2010 23,978,487 22,482,421
2009 24,217,654 21,976,969
2008 23,287,877 21,636,564
2007 22,368,313 20,884,125
2006 21,459,144 19,637,022
2005 20,559,890 18,814,091
2004 19,669,480 18,336,875
2003 18,786,767 17,889,296
2002 17,910,910 17,468,332
2001 17,041,397 17,051,338
2000 16,177,722 16,637,888
1999 15,472,075 16,228,061
1998 14,922,185 15,820,413
1997 14,374,943 15,417,542
1996 13,831,009 15,018,104
1995 13,289,245 14,616,801
1994 12,750,040 14,208,583
1993 12,215,862 13,795,686
1992 11,686,676 13,385,571
1991 11,160,744 12,980,821
1990 10,640,691 12,579,208
1989 10,128,394 12,179,060
1988 9,629,165 11,782,264
1987 9,130,194 11,388,923
1986 8,628,639 11,002,844
1985 8,151,779 10,625,672
1984 7,697,307 10,258,398
1983 7,252,941 9,904,809
1982 6,824,486 9,572,511
1981 6,420,551 9,260,189
1980 6,047,997 8,957,663
1979 5,703,698 8,661,909
1978 5,381,902 8,372,759
1977 5,083,048 8,090,501
1976 4,807,933 7,817,320
1975 4,556,287 7,554,364
1974 4,323,632 7,302,160
1973 4,106,344 7,060,321
1972 3,905,722 6,826,024
1971 3,724,031 6,598,094
1970 3,562,470 6,380,609
1969 3,417,114 6,175,166
1968 3,282,711 5,978,742
1967 3,157,242 5,790,198
1966 3,039,887 5,609,047
1965 2,928,771 5,435,267
1964 2,821,968 5,269,087
1963 2,719,341 5,110,467
1962 2,620,910 4,959,340
1961 2,526,347 4,815,466
1960 2,435,403 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/saudi-arabia/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Saudi Arabia increased by 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Saudi Arabia gained 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th most populous country in 2006 and is 44th 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) Saudi Arabia's population will grow by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people with a rank change from 44th to 43rd. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Saudi Arabia Syria
2100 0.64% -0.16%
2099 0.64% -0.13%
2098 0.65% -0.14%
2097 0.66% -0.12%
2096 0.66% -0.06%
2095 0.67% -0.11%
2094 0.68% -0.06%
2093 0.68% -0.07%
2092 0.69% -0.03%
2091 0.69% -0.07%
2090 0.69% 0.002%
2089 0.69% 0.01%
2088 0.7% -0.02%
2087 0.7% -0.04%
2086 0.7% 0.08%
2085 0.71% 0.08%
2084 0.71% 0.06%
2083 0.71% 0.14%
2082 0.72% 0.15%
2081 0.72% 0.22%
2080 0.73% 0.13%
2079 0.73% 0.08%
2078 0.74% 0.1%
2077 0.75% 0.19%
2076 0.75% 0.21%
2075 0.76% 0.22%
2074 0.77% 0.24%
2073 0.78% 0.31%
2072 0.8% 0.33%
2071 0.81% 0.33%
2070 0.82% 0.34%
2069 0.84% 0.42%
2068 0.85% 0.45%
2067 0.86% 0.49%
2066 0.87% 0.58%
2065 0.89% 0.59%
2064 0.9% 0.59%
2063 0.91% 0.59%
2062 0.92% 0.61%
2061 0.94% 0.69%
2060 0.95% 0.76%
2059 0.96% 0.69%
2058 0.97% 0.69%
2057 0.99% 0.77%
2056 1% 0.76%
2055 1.01% 0.84%
2054 1.02% 0.87%
2053 1.04% 0.78%
2052 1.05% 0.8%
2051 1.06% 0.84%
2050 1.08% 0.84%
2049 1.09% 0.81%
2048 1.11% 0.78%
2047 1.12% 0.84%
2046 1.14% 0.92%
2045 1.15% 0.87%
2044 1.17% 0.93%
2043 1.18% 1.01%
2042 1.2% 1.07%
2041 1.22% 1.16%
2040 1.23% 1.2%
2039 1.25% 1.3%
2038 1.27% 1.42%
2037 1.28% 1.44%
2036 1.3% 1.61%
2035 1.31% 1.7%
2034 1.33% 1.86%
2033 1.34% 1.92%
2032 1.36% 2.1%
2031 1.38% 2.21%
2030 1.51% 2.5%
2029 1.6% 2.59%
2028 1.67% 2.88%
2027 1.71% 3.09%
2026 1.76% 3.57%
2025 1.79% 4.12%
2024 4.74% 4.57%
2023 4.75% 5.04%
2022 4.52% 3.85%
2021 -2.43% 2.75%
2020 4.95% 3.42%
2019 -0.44% 3.96%
2018 -2.52% 1.84%
2017 0.07% 0.16%
2016 3.82% -1.19%
2015 5.32% -4.19%
2014 2.48% -6.43%
2013 5.56% -4.8%
2012 4.29% -0.52%
2011 4.64% 1.76%
2010 -0.99% 2.3%
2009 3.99% 1.57%
2008 4.11% 3.6%
2007 4.24% 6.35%
2006 4.37% 4.37%
2005 4.53% 2.6%
2004 4.7% 2.5%
2003 4.89% 2.41%
2002 5.1% 2.45%
2001 5.34% 2.48%
2000 4.56% 2.53%
1999 3.69% 2.58%
1998 3.81% 2.61%
1997 3.93% 2.66%
1996 4.08% 2.75%
1995 4.23% 2.87%
1994 4.37% 2.99%
1993 4.53% 3.06%
1992 4.71% 3.12%
1991 4.89% 3.19%
1990 5.06% 3.29%
1989 5.18% 3.37%
1988 5.47% 3.45%
1987 5.81% 3.51%
1986 5.85% 3.55%
1985 5.9% 3.58%
1984 6.13% 3.57%
1983 6.28% 3.47%
1982 6.29% 3.37%
1981 6.16% 3.38%
1980 6.04% 3.41%
1979 5.98% 3.45%
1978 5.88% 3.49%
1977 5.72% 3.49%
1976 5.52% 3.48%
1975 5.38% 3.45%
1974 5.29% 3.43%
1973 5.14% 3.43%
1972 4.88% 3.45%
1971 4.54% 3.41%
1970 4.25% 3.33%
1969 4.09% 3.29%
1968 3.97% 3.26%
1967 3.86% 3.23%
1966 3.79% 3.2%
1965 3.78% 3.15%
1964 3.77% 3.1%
1963 3.76% 3.05%
1962 3.74% 2.99%
1961 3.73% 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/saudi-arabia/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Saudi Arabia grew by 4.74%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Saudi Arabia Syria
Current population
36734925
26829400
Population rank 44/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.44% 0.32%
One net population change
19.7 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
57 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
6.66 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +4,377 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +1,597,549 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +4.74% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 4/197 6/197
One migration net change every
4.4 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +119,738 +421,693
Net migration rank 13/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 13,683,841 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 3/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 40.3% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 14/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Saudi Arabia Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 119,738 - 421,693
2024 - 122,170 - 546,494
2023 474,366 325,691 402,713 757,309
2022 406,920 977,072 369,750 735,142
2021 409,032 -106,287 350,560 211,220
2020 447,036 -74,725 327,992 269,050
2019 474,407 191,582 293,762 500,985
2018 528,767 -988,751 242,530 514,102
2017 546,751 -920,812 237,214 -287,501
2016 537,829 -26,997 236,007 -124,063
2015 511,023 465,292 253,977 -827,496
2014 493,431 469,144 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 475,299 485,794 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 465,649 479,206 475,520 -999,267
2011 443,675 491,253 543,950 -256,888
2010 418,641 504,955 558,666 -54,359
2009 438,557 496,229 559,314 -52,703
2008 433,457 491,337 576,593 -402,393
2007 425,199 489,136 529,162 801,514
2006 399,333 504,661 480,616 682,911
2005 375,938 518,565 468,960 13,382
2004 362,843 523,472 461,209 10,881
2003 364,520 514,606 457,000 -33,920
2002 372,099 500,508 453,967 -35,096
2001 382,153 484,252 451,503 -36,383
2000 392,407 468,515 446,211 -34,425
1999 390,112 160,263 439,261 -31,394
1998 389,499 159,898 433,447 -26,025
1997 385,033 160,066 429,887 -31,571
1996 382,248 160,532 430,765 -30,197
1995 380,231 160,512 430,172 -28,122
1994 377,351 160,306 426,996 -12,630
1993 372,621 158,074 420,244 -8,828
1992 366,763 160,908 412,878 -4,063
1991 361,329 162,857 410,830 -10,154
1990 355,495 160,416 409,177 -6,620
1989 349,399 159,273 406,111 -8,379
1988 342,865 146,918 404,285 -8,426
1987 333,088 175,075 399,159 -8,335
1986 322,340 172,606 390,821 -9,485
1985 310,558 148,208 379,231 -6,221
1984 296,615 153,562 366,768 -5,245
1983 280,616 157,930 355,375 -9,729
1982 264,831 153,528 319,664 -721
1981 249,156 140,355 330,237 -24,536
1980 234,372 121,220 332,464 -33,114
1979 220,186 112,826 324,943 -32,793
1978 205,331 105,263 316,724 -30,567
1977 191,103 96,015 306,630 -28,275
1976 178,024 85,083 294,267 -26,268
1975 166,223 73,960 282,299 -24,389
1974 155,478 69,653 270,735 -24,242
1973 145,450 63,995 254,687 -17,502
1972 136,360 55,439 249,027 -17,610
1971 127,600 43,989 239,610 -15,167
1970 120,440 31,097 230,117 -19,594
1969 113,859 25,312 219,114 -18,749
1968 108,281 21,366 209,454 -16,968
1967 103,343 17,947 199,223 -14,618
1966 98,361 15,054 191,122 -13,434
1965 93,820 15,000 182,560 -12,704
1964 89,776 15,000 174,549 -12,044
1963 85,480 15,000 166,555 -11,817
1962 81,393 15,000 159,155 -11,641
1961 77,743 15,000 151,485 -11,237
1960 74,143 15,000 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/saudi-arabia/syria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.9% of the population change in Saudi Arabia is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 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, 13,683,841 residents or 40.3% of the population were not native-born in Saudi Arabia, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K
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/saudi-arabia/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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