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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,654,739 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,653,532 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.31 times bigger than Somalia's.
  • Somalia is ranked the 66th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.57% of the world: 0.25% for Somalia vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Somalia has had an average growth rate of +3.59% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.7M (88.2% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Somalia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia Syria
2100 68,341,587 44,500,028
2099 67,997,987 44,570,009
2098 67,660,056 44,629,837
2097 67,320,374 44,692,566
2096 66,931,214 44,747,012
2095 66,544,181 44,774,686
2094 66,138,594 44,824,294
2093 65,719,626 44,853,295
2092 65,283,569 44,882,700
2091 64,812,444 44,895,349
2090 64,322,633 44,926,869
2089 63,882,977 44,925,891
2088 63,424,502 44,920,667
2087 62,947,792 44,928,298
2086 62,408,129 44,947,658
2085 61,835,054 44,913,669
2084 61,280,718 44,878,845
2083 60,723,949 44,850,592
2082 60,150,487 44,790,014
2081 59,639,547 44,723,244
2080 59,064,099 44,624,321
2079 58,441,001 44,567,127
2078 57,816,490 44,529,618
2077 57,176,183 44,484,155
2076 56,567,204 44,400,339
2075 55,970,712 44,306,882
2074 55,295,699 44,209,517
2073 54,617,874 44,102,028
2072 53,944,923 43,965,642
2071 53,250,824 43,821,617
2070 52,540,460 43,678,154
2069 51,845,897 43,530,683
2068 51,165,760 43,348,487
2067 50,461,574 43,154,741
2066 49,748,163 42,944,885
2065 48,994,126 42,695,249
2064 48,235,809 42,445,036
2063 47,492,758 42,198,056
2062 46,756,776 41,949,014
2061 46,008,848 41,695,586
2060 45,192,338 41,410,547
2059 44,370,279 41,097,942
2058 43,631,825 40,815,606
2057 42,870,700 40,534,091
2056 42,095,303 40,224,053
2055 41,292,441 39,918,930
2054 40,487,904 39,584,624
2053 39,720,236 39,242,144
2052 38,967,888 38,940,206
2051 38,205,058 38,629,604
2050 37,448,393 38,307,069
2049 36,717,019 37,986,965
2048 35,962,583 37,682,780
2047 35,196,924 37,391,752
2046 34,440,935 37,081,479
2045 33,696,593 36,744,441
2044 32,957,131 36,428,225
2043 32,227,622 36,090,851
2042 31,517,627 35,729,021
2041 30,775,671 35,352,033
2040 30,013,616 34,947,817
2039 29,294,623 34,533,772
2038 28,565,580 34,091,760
2037 27,821,304 33,612,993
2036 27,097,563 33,134,445
2035 26,368,985 32,608,669
2034 25,671,628 32,062,309
2033 25,002,924 31,477,500
2032 24,323,435 30,883,996
2031 23,642,617 30,248,264
2030 22,951,436 29,592,787
2029 22,285,719 28,871,638
2028 21,638,095 28,141,821
2027 20,978,784 27,355,002
2026 20,310,008 26,535,554
2025 19,654,739 25,620,427
2024 19,009,151 24,672,760
2023 18,358,615 23,594,623
2022 17,801,897 22,462,173
2021 17,271,431 21,628,839
2020 16,651,191 21,049,429
2019 16,030,971 20,353,534
2018 15,452,487 19,577,845
2017 14,916,629 19,224,668
2016 14,348,740 19,193,834
2015 13,806,963 19,424,618
2014 13,339,491 20,273,659
2013 12,869,594 21,666,917
2012 12,461,160 22,759,763
2011 12,348,830 22,878,098
2010 12,261,756 22,482,421
2009 11,961,201 21,976,969
2008 11,663,084 21,636,564
2007 11,322,582 20,884,125
2006 10,975,502 19,637,022
2005 10,644,228 18,814,091
2004 10,280,998 18,336,875
2003 9,909,157 17,889,296
2002 9,550,063 17,468,332
2001 9,198,493 17,051,338
2000 8,838,713 16,637,888
1999 8,492,059 16,228,061
1998 8,155,417 15,820,413
1997 7,824,525 15,417,542
1996 7,554,474 15,018,104
1995 7,285,007 14,616,801
1994 7,026,797 14,208,583
1993 6,681,399 13,795,686
1992 6,495,107 13,385,571
1991 6,813,760 12,980,821
1990 7,082,811 12,579,208
1989 7,114,817 12,179,060
1988 7,235,360 11,782,264
1987 7,228,302 11,388,923
1986 6,974,788 11,002,844
1985 6,693,289 10,625,672
1984 6,428,389 10,258,398
1983 6,198,430 9,904,809
1982 6,003,840 9,572,511
1981 5,982,849 9,260,189
1980 5,936,154 8,957,663
1979 5,449,117 8,661,909
1978 4,814,892 8,372,759
1977 4,484,050 8,090,501
1976 4,365,812 7,817,320
1975 4,257,535 7,554,364
1974 4,151,842 7,302,160
1973 4,045,592 7,060,321
1972 3,939,436 6,826,024
1971 3,837,691 6,598,094
1970 3,738,448 6,380,609
1969 3,641,015 6,175,166
1968 3,546,590 5,978,742
1967 3,454,537 5,790,198
1966 3,365,106 5,609,047
1965 3,277,874 5,435,267
1964 3,192,796 5,269,087
1963 3,110,361 5,110,467
1962 3,030,091 4,959,340
1961 2,952,054 4,815,466
1960 2,876,331 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/somalia/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Somalia increased by 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Somalia gained 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Somalia was ranked 75th most populous country in 2006 and is 66th 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) Somalia's population will grow by 81.3% to 37,448,393 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.3M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Somalia Syria
2100 0.51% -0.16%
2099 0.5% -0.13%
2098 0.5% -0.14%
2097 0.58% -0.12%
2096 0.58% -0.06%
2095 0.61% -0.11%
2094 0.64% -0.06%
2093 0.67% -0.07%
2092 0.73% -0.03%
2091 0.76% -0.07%
2090 0.69% 0.002%
2089 0.72% 0.01%
2088 0.76% -0.02%
2087 0.86% -0.04%
2086 0.93% 0.08%
2085 0.9% 0.08%
2084 0.92% 0.06%
2083 0.95% 0.14%
2082 0.86% 0.15%
2081 0.97% 0.22%
2080 1.07% 0.13%
2079 1.08% 0.08%
2078 1.12% 0.1%
2077 1.08% 0.19%
2076 1.07% 0.21%
2075 1.22% 0.22%
2074 1.24% 0.24%
2073 1.25% 0.31%
2072 1.3% 0.33%
2071 1.35% 0.33%
2070 1.34% 0.34%
2069 1.33% 0.42%
2068 1.4% 0.45%
2067 1.43% 0.49%
2066 1.54% 0.58%
2065 1.57% 0.59%
2064 1.56% 0.59%
2063 1.57% 0.59%
2062 1.63% 0.61%
2061 1.81% 0.69%
2060 1.85% 0.76%
2059 1.69% 0.69%
2058 1.78% 0.69%
2057 1.84% 0.77%
2056 1.94% 0.76%
2055 1.99% 0.84%
2054 1.93% 0.87%
2053 1.93% 0.78%
2052 2% 0.8%
2051 2.02% 0.84%
2050 1.99% 0.84%
2049 2.1% 0.81%
2048 2.18% 0.78%
2047 2.2% 0.84%
2046 2.21% 0.92%
2045 2.24% 0.87%
2044 2.26% 0.93%
2043 2.25% 1.01%
2042 2.41% 1.07%
2041 2.54% 1.16%
2040 2.45% 1.2%
2039 2.55% 1.3%
2038 2.68% 1.42%
2037 2.67% 1.44%
2036 2.76% 1.61%
2035 2.72% 1.7%
2034 2.67% 1.86%
2033 2.79% 1.92%
2032 2.88% 2.1%
2031 3.01% 2.21%
2030 2.99% 2.5%
2029 2.99% 2.59%
2028 3.14% 2.88%
2027 3.29% 3.09%
2026 3.33% 3.57%
2025 3.4% 3.84%
2024 3.54% 4.57%
2023 3.13% 5.04%
2022 3.07% 3.85%
2021 3.72% 2.75%
2020 3.87% 3.42%
2019 3.74% 3.96%
2018 3.59% 1.84%
2017 3.96% 0.16%
2016 3.92% -1.19%
2015 3.5% -4.19%
2014 3.65% -6.43%
2013 3.28% -4.8%
2012 0.91% -0.52%
2011 0.71% 1.76%
2010 2.51% 2.3%
2009 2.56% 1.57%
2008 3.01% 3.6%
2007 3.16% 6.35%
2006 3.11% 4.37%
2005 3.53% 2.6%
2004 3.75% 2.5%
2003 3.76% 2.41%
2002 3.82% 2.45%
2001 4.07% 2.48%
2000 4.08% 2.53%
1999 4.13% 2.58%
1998 4.23% 2.61%
1997 3.57% 2.66%
1996 3.7% 2.75%
1995 3.67% 2.87%
1994 5.17% 2.99%
1993 2.87% 3.06%
1992 -4.68% 3.12%
1991 -3.8% 3.19%
1990 -0.45% 3.29%
1989 -1.67% 3.37%
1988 0.1% 3.45%
1987 3.63% 3.51%
1986 4.21% 3.55%
1985 4.12% 3.58%
1984 3.71% 3.57%
1983 3.24% 3.47%
1982 0.35% 3.37%
1981 0.79% 3.38%
1980 8.94% 3.41%
1979 13.2% 3.45%
1978 7.38% 3.49%
1977 2.71% 3.49%
1976 2.54% 3.48%
1975 2.55% 3.45%
1974 2.63% 3.43%
1973 2.69% 3.43%
1972 2.65% 3.45%
1971 2.65% 3.41%
1970 2.68% 3.33%
1969 2.66% 3.29%
1968 2.66% 3.26%
1967 2.66% 3.23%
1966 2.66% 3.2%
1965 2.66% 3.15%
1964 2.65% 3.1%
1963 2.65% 3.05%
1962 2.64% 2.99%
1961 2.63% 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/somalia/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Somalia grew by 3.4%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Somalia Syria
Current population
20653532
26956472
Population rank 66/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.32%
One net population change
49 seconds
33.4 seconds
One birth every
39.2 seconds
55.2 seconds
One death every
2.84 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,769 +2,596
Annual growth/decline +645,588 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate +3.4% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 5/197
One migration net change every
43.6 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +12,077 +421,693
Net migration rank 40/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 77,972 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 140/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.4% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 180/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Somalia
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Somalia Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 12,077 - 421,693
2024 619,793 26,859 449,784 546,494
2023 608,203 46,217 402,713 757,309
2022 551,450 -92,434 369,750 735,142
2021 566,399 35,506 350,560 211,220
2020 561,311 77,259 327,992 269,050
2019 548,756 53,124 293,762 500,985
2018 514,244 40,844 242,530 514,102
2017 478,556 38,067 237,214 -287,501
2016 495,132 124,017 236,007 -124,063
2015 481,573 -17,178 253,977 -827,496
2014 464,481 6,065 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 448,518 20,723 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 399,468 -51,833 475,520 -999,267
2011 203,213 -326,192 543,950 -256,888
2010 385,571 -88,448 558,666 -54,359
2009 405,784 -101,795 559,314 -52,703
2008 394,258 -102,035 576,593 -402,393
2007 380,303 8,476 529,162 801,514
2006 372,597 -67,200 480,616 682,911
2005 363,117 -5,955 468,960 13,382
2004 351,959 17,353 461,209 10,881
2003 341,192 33,174 457,000 -33,920
2002 331,215 12,603 453,967 -35,096
2001 319,059 40,274 451,503 -36,383
2000 306,651 53,580 446,211 -34,425
1999 295,523 37,548 439,261 -31,394
1998 284,779 55,426 433,447 -26,025
1997 271,894 49,692 429,887 -31,571
1996 264,807 -46,291 430,765 -30,197
1995 254,509 65,888 430,172 -28,122
1994 246,950 -50,921 426,996 -12,630
1993 232,960 261,815 420,244 -8,828
1992 57,495 -179,675 412,878 -4,063
1991 53,052 -568,166 410,830 -10,154
1990 225,162 -248,155 409,177 -6,620
1989 225,255 -266,281 406,111 -8,379
1988 215,599 -415,660 404,285 -8,426
1987 231,580 -17,391 399,159 -8,335
1986 218,416 74,424 390,821 -9,485
1985 207,960 62,183 379,231 -6,221
1984 199,017 60,630 366,768 -5,245
1983 190,775 9,505 355,375 -9,729
1982 182,793 6,115 319,664 -721
1981 185,211 -332,129 330,237 -24,536
1980 174,790 65,519 332,464 -33,114
1979 151,016 582,746 324,943 -32,793
1978 132,689 402,005 316,724 -30,567
1977 124,818 2,170 306,630 -28,275
1976 113,319 -3,831 294,267 -26,268
1975 108,998 -1,934 282,299 -24,389
1974 104,813 -495 270,735 -24,242
1973 108,038 143 254,687 -17,502
1972 104,493 -351 249,027 -17,610
1971 101,196 -1,850 239,610 -15,167
1970 98,025 1,104 230,117 -19,594
1969 95,045 690 219,114 -18,749
1968 92,208 906 209,454 -16,968
1967 89,497 1,498 199,223 -14,618
1966 86,930 941 191,122 -13,434
1965 84,448 2,142 182,560 -12,704
1964 82,042 1,518 174,549 -12,044
1963 79,859 1,449 166,555 -11,817
1962 77,737 1,496 159,155 -11,641
1961 75,513 1,336 151,485 -11,237
1960 73,850 750 143,687 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.2% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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, 77,972 residents or 0.4% of the population were not native-born in Somalia, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K
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/somalia/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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