Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Somalia was 19,009,151 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Somalia's population is 20,503,678 people compared to 26,829,400 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 +3.61% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Somalia has increased from 11M people to 20.5M (86.8% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Somalia vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Somalia
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Somalia Syria
2100 68,384,185 44,620,090
2099 68,040,371 44,690,260
2098 67,702,230 44,750,249
2097 67,362,336 44,813,148
2096 66,972,933 44,867,740
2095 66,585,659 44,895,489
2094 66,179,819 44,945,231
2093 65,760,590 44,974,311
2092 65,324,261 45,003,795
2091 64,852,843 45,016,478
2090 64,362,727 45,048,083
2089 63,922,797 45,047,102
2088 63,464,036 45,041,864
2087 62,987,028 45,049,516
2086 62,447,029 45,068,928
2085 61,873,597 45,034,847
2084 61,318,916 44,999,929
2083 60,761,800 44,971,600
2082 60,187,980 44,910,859
2081 59,676,722 44,843,908
2080 59,100,915 44,744,718
2079 58,477,428 44,687,371
2078 57,852,528 44,649,760
2077 57,211,821 44,604,175
2076 56,602,463 44,520,132
2075 56,005,600 44,426,423
2074 55,330,165 44,328,795
2073 54,651,918 44,221,016
2072 53,978,548 44,084,262
2071 53,284,016 43,939,848
2070 52,573,210 43,795,999
2069 51,878,214 43,648,130
2068 51,197,653 43,465,442
2067 50,493,028 43,271,173
2066 49,779,172 43,060,752
2065 49,024,665 42,810,442
2064 48,265,876 42,559,554
2063 47,522,361 42,311,907
2062 46,785,920 42,062,193
2061 46,037,526 41,808,082
2060 45,220,507 41,522,274
2059 44,397,936 41,208,825
2058 43,659,021 40,925,728
2057 42,897,422 40,643,453
2056 42,121,542 40,332,578
2055 41,318,179 40,026,632
2054 40,513,141 39,691,425
2053 39,744,995 39,348,020
2052 38,992,177 39,045,268
2051 38,228,872 38,733,827
2050 37,471,735 38,410,423
2049 36,739,905 38,089,455
2048 35,984,999 37,784,449
2047 35,218,863 37,492,636
2046 34,462,403 37,181,526
2045 33,717,596 36,843,579
2044 32,977,674 36,526,509
2043 32,247,710 36,188,225
2042 31,537,272 35,825,419
2041 30,794,853 35,447,414
2040 30,032,324 35,042,107
2039 29,312,883 34,626,945
2038 28,583,386 34,183,740
2037 27,838,646 33,703,682
2036 27,114,453 33,223,843
2035 26,385,421 32,696,648
2034 25,687,629 32,148,814
2033 25,018,509 31,562,427
2032 24,338,597 30,967,322
2031 23,657,353 30,329,874
2030 22,965,742 29,672,629
2029 22,299,610 28,949,535
2028 21,651,582 28,217,748
2027 20,991,860 27,428,807
2026 20,322,668 26,607,148
2025 19,666,990 25,689,551
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% 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 82.8% to 37,471,735 people with a rank change from 66th to 57th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M people compared to the peak of 45.1M 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 3.46% 4.12%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Somalia grew by 3.54%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Somalia Syria
Current population
20503678
26829400
Population rank 66/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.25% 0.32%
One net population change
48.5 seconds
29.3 seconds
One birth every
40 seconds
1.01 minutes
One death every
2.91 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,782 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +650,536 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +3.54% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 8/197 6/197
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 - 26,859 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.4% of the population change in Somalia is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 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, 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 (1960–2024, 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/somalia/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.