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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Syria was 25,620,427 in 2025 vs 85,878,556 people in Turkey in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Syria's population is 26,956,472 people compared to 86,225,430 in Turkey.

Population statistics:

  • Turkey's population is 3.2 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Syria is ranked the 56th most populous country in the world, while Turkey is the 18th.
  • The countries together account for 1.36% of the world: 0.32% for Syria vs 1.04% for Turkey.
  • For the last 10 years, Syria has had an average growth rate of +2.19% per year vs +0.98% in Turkey.
  • Since 2006, the population of Syria has increased from 19.6M people to 27M (37.3% growth), while Turkey has grown from 70M to 86.2M (23.1% growth).

Syria vs Turkey: population by year and forecast

Syria
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Syria Turkey
2100 44,500,028 64,394,191
2099 44,570,009 65,045,868
2098 44,629,837 65,690,351
2097 44,692,566 66,342,622
2096 44,747,012 66,990,674
2095 44,774,686 67,642,188
2094 44,824,294 68,296,562
2093 44,853,295 68,963,773
2092 44,882,700 69,625,957
2091 44,895,349 70,290,255
2090 44,926,869 70,960,483
2089 44,925,891 71,623,547
2088 44,920,667 72,281,102
2087 44,928,298 72,928,397
2086 44,947,658 73,576,610
2085 44,913,669 74,223,570
2084 44,878,845 74,853,312
2083 44,850,592 75,483,067
2082 44,790,014 76,111,533
2081 44,723,244 76,726,689
2080 44,624,321 77,339,541
2079 44,567,127 77,938,889
2078 44,529,618 78,532,577
2077 44,484,155 79,120,573
2076 44,400,339 79,705,459
2075 44,306,882 80,277,544
2074 44,209,517 80,848,141
2073 44,102,028 81,396,237
2072 43,965,642 81,938,080
2071 43,821,617 82,465,112
2070 43,678,154 82,981,973
2069 43,530,683 83,480,362
2068 43,348,487 83,963,140
2067 43,154,741 84,428,242
2066 42,944,885 84,886,666
2065 42,695,249 85,336,225
2064 42,445,036 85,771,285
2063 42,198,056 86,187,013
2062 41,949,014 86,587,114
2061 41,695,586 86,962,577
2060 41,410,547 87,319,314
2059 41,097,942 87,663,392
2058 40,815,606 87,973,789
2057 40,534,091 88,264,809
2056 40,224,053 88,534,755
2055 39,918,930 88,764,080
2054 39,584,624 88,972,362
2053 39,242,144 89,151,673
2052 38,940,206 89,310,785
2051 38,629,604 89,437,110
2050 38,307,069 89,541,520
2049 37,986,965 89,614,107
2048 37,682,780 89,651,068
2047 37,391,752 89,659,415
2046 37,081,479 89,634,354
2045 36,744,441 89,608,012
2044 36,428,225 89,557,421
2043 36,090,851 89,493,042
2042 35,729,021 89,404,193
2041 35,352,033 89,303,546
2040 34,947,817 89,187,952
2039 34,533,772 89,051,669
2038 34,091,760 88,901,719
2037 33,612,993 88,727,471
2036 33,134,445 88,537,927
2035 32,608,669 88,343,153
2034 32,062,309 88,139,515
2033 31,477,500 87,918,397
2032 30,883,996 87,687,495
2031 30,248,264 87,437,150
2030 29,592,787 87,166,904
2029 28,871,638 86,903,490
2028 28,141,821 86,627,469
2027 27,355,002 86,350,539
2026 26,535,554 86,093,293
2025 25,620,427 85,878,556
2024 24,672,760 85,518,661
2023 23,594,623 85,325,965
2022 22,462,173 84,979,913
2021 21,628,839 84,147,318
2020 21,049,429 83,384,680
2019 20,353,534 82,579,440
2018 19,577,845 81,407,204
2017 19,224,668 80,312,698
2016 19,193,834 79,277,962
2015 19,424,618 78,218,479
2014 20,273,659 77,181,884
2013 21,666,917 76,147,624
2012 22,759,763 75,175,827
2011 22,878,098 74,223,629
2010 22,482,421 73,142,150
2009 21,976,969 72,039,206
2008 21,636,564 71,051,678
2007 20,884,125 70,158,112
2006 19,637,022 70,045,349
2005 18,814,091 69,329,557
2004 18,336,875 68,592,617
2003 17,889,296 67,831,730
2002 17,468,332 67,048,795
2001 17,051,338 66,245,128
2000 16,637,888 65,425,961
1999 16,228,061 64,591,923
1998 15,820,413 63,734,383
1997 15,417,542 62,852,966
1996 15,018,104 61,951,134
1995 14,616,801 61,024,503
1994 14,208,583 60,033,836
1993 13,795,686 58,999,167
1992 13,385,571 57,990,118
1991 12,980,821 57,009,887
1990 12,579,208 56,015,628
1989 12,179,060 54,976,723
1988 11,782,264 53,909,626
1987 11,388,923 52,843,670
1986 11,002,844 51,777,772
1985 10,625,672 50,687,115
1984 10,258,398 49,574,069
1983 9,904,809 48,447,410
1982 9,572,511 47,322,096
1981 9,260,189 46,321,190
1980 8,957,663 45,408,815
1979 8,661,909 44,510,429
1978 8,372,759 43,645,306
1977 8,090,501 42,773,298
1976 7,817,320 41,899,984
1975 7,554,364 41,053,126
1974 7,302,160 40,210,234
1973 7,060,321 39,329,533
1972 6,826,024 38,430,221
1971 6,598,094 37,518,611
1970 6,380,609 36,638,465
1969 6,175,166 35,787,774
1968 5,978,742 34,921,684
1967 5,790,198 34,050,421
1966 5,609,047 33,177,672
1965 5,435,267 32,345,220
1964 5,269,087 31,543,072
1963 5,110,467 30,726,841
1962 4,959,340 29,916,147
1961 4,815,466 29,119,238
1960 4,673,500 28,329,898

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/syria/turkey | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Syria decreased by 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline), while Turkey gained 9,232,613 people (a 13.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Syria gained 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth), while Turkey's population increased by 6,947,468 people (a 8.76% growth).

Syria was ranked 58th most populous country in 2006 and is 56th in 2026. Turkey was ranked 18th in 2006 and still ranked 18th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Syria's population will grow by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people with a rank change from 56th to 53rd. The population of Turkey will increase by 3.85% to 89,541,520 people and rank change from 18th to 19th.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M people compared to the peak of 89.7M people in 2047 for Turkey.

Population growth rate by year

Syria
Factual

Projection
Turkey
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Syria Turkey
2100 -0.16% -1%
2099 -0.13% -0.98%
2098 -0.14% -0.98%
2097 -0.12% -0.97%
2096 -0.06% -0.96%
2095 -0.11% -0.96%
2094 -0.06% -0.97%
2093 -0.07% -0.95%
2092 -0.03% -0.95%
2091 -0.07% -0.94%
2090 0.002% -0.93%
2089 0.01% -0.91%
2088 -0.02% -0.89%
2087 -0.04% -0.88%
2086 0.08% -0.87%
2085 0.08% -0.84%
2084 0.06% -0.83%
2083 0.14% -0.83%
2082 0.15% -0.8%
2081 0.22% -0.79%
2080 0.13% -0.77%
2079 0.08% -0.76%
2078 0.1% -0.74%
2077 0.19% -0.73%
2076 0.21% -0.71%
2075 0.22% -0.71%
2074 0.24% -0.67%
2073 0.31% -0.66%
2072 0.33% -0.64%
2071 0.33% -0.62%
2070 0.34% -0.6%
2069 0.42% -0.57%
2068 0.45% -0.55%
2067 0.49% -0.54%
2066 0.58% -0.53%
2065 0.59% -0.51%
2064 0.59% -0.48%
2063 0.59% -0.46%
2062 0.61% -0.43%
2061 0.69% -0.41%
2060 0.76% -0.39%
2059 0.69% -0.35%
2058 0.69% -0.33%
2057 0.77% -0.3%
2056 0.76% -0.26%
2055 0.84% -0.23%
2054 0.87% -0.2%
2053 0.78% -0.18%
2052 0.8% -0.14%
2051 0.84% -0.12%
2050 0.84% -0.08%
2049 0.81% -0.04%
2048 0.78% -0.009%
2047 0.84% 0.03%
2046 0.92% 0.03%
2045 0.87% 0.06%
2044 0.93% 0.07%
2043 1.01% 0.1%
2042 1.07% 0.11%
2041 1.16% 0.13%
2040 1.2% 0.15%
2039 1.3% 0.17%
2038 1.42% 0.2%
2037 1.44% 0.21%
2036 1.61% 0.22%
2035 1.7% 0.23%
2034 1.86% 0.25%
2033 1.92% 0.26%
2032 2.1% 0.29%
2031 2.21% 0.31%
2030 2.5% 0.3%
2029 2.59% 0.32%
2028 2.88% 0.32%
2027 3.09% 0.3%
2026 3.57% 0.25%
2025 3.84% 0.42%
2024 4.57% 0.23%
2023 5.04% 0.41%
2022 3.85% 0.99%
2021 2.75% 0.91%
2020 3.42% 0.98%
2019 3.96% 1.44%
2018 1.84% 1.36%
2017 0.16% 1.31%
2016 -1.19% 1.35%
2015 -4.19% 1.34%
2014 -6.43% 1.36%
2013 -4.8% 1.29%
2012 -0.52% 1.28%
2011 1.76% 1.48%
2010 2.3% 1.53%
2009 1.57% 1.39%
2008 3.6% 1.27%
2007 6.35% 0.16%
2006 4.37% 1.03%
2005 2.6% 1.07%
2004 2.5% 1.12%
2003 2.41% 1.17%
2002 2.45% 1.21%
2001 2.48% 1.25%
2000 2.53% 1.29%
1999 2.58% 1.35%
1998 2.61% 1.4%
1997 2.66% 1.46%
1996 2.75% 1.52%
1995 2.87% 1.65%
1994 2.99% 1.75%
1993 3.06% 1.74%
1992 3.12% 1.72%
1991 3.19% 1.77%
1990 3.29% 1.89%
1989 3.37% 1.98%
1988 3.45% 2.02%
1987 3.51% 2.06%
1986 3.55% 2.15%
1985 3.58% 2.25%
1984 3.57% 2.33%
1983 3.47% 2.38%
1982 3.37% 2.16%
1981 3.38% 2.01%
1980 3.41% 2.02%
1979 3.45% 1.98%
1978 3.49% 2.04%
1977 3.49% 2.08%
1976 3.48% 2.06%
1975 3.45% 2.1%
1974 3.43% 2.24%
1973 3.43% 2.34%
1972 3.45% 2.43%
1971 3.41% 2.4%
1970 3.33% 2.38%
1969 3.29% 2.48%
1968 3.26% 2.56%
1967 3.23% 2.63%
1966 3.2% 2.57%
1965 3.15% 2.54%
1964 3.1% 2.66%
1963 3.05% 2.71%
1962 2.99% 2.74%
1961 3.04% 2.79%

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/syria/turkey | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Syria grew by 3.84%, while Turkey's population grew by 0.42%.

Live population counters

Syria Turkey
Current population
26956472
86225430
Population rank 56/197 18/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 1.04%
One net population change
33.4 seconds
1.46 minutes
One birth every
55.2 seconds
33.5 seconds
One death every
4.32 minutes
1.08 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,596 +986
Annual growth/decline +947,667 +359,895
Annual growth/decline rate +3.84% +0.42%
Population growth rate rank 5/197 138/197
One migration net change every
1.25 minutes
2.04 minutes
Annual migration change +421,693 -258,205
Net migration rank 3/196 188/196
Foreign-born residents 896,042 7,083,501
Foreign-born residents rank 64/195 11/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 8.1%
Foreign-born share rank 110/195 75/195

Natural population change vs migration

Syria
Natural

Migration
Turkey
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Syria Turkey
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 421,693 - -258,205
2024 449,784 546,494 453,249 -275,952
2023 402,713 757,309 426,630 -318,070
2022 369,750 735,142 535,373 -301,544
2021 350,560 211,220 521,713 20,283
2020 327,992 269,050 608,708 37,934
2019 293,762 500,985 751,472 -15,690
2018 242,530 514,102 830,353 187,570
2017 237,214 -287,501 875,408 659,846
2016 236,007 -124,063 895,841 352,063
2015 253,977 -827,496 930,799 1,063,140
2014 333,116 -1,457,679 957,055 1,033,384
2013 419,341 -2,081,303 921,386 438,618
2012 475,520 -999,267 917,145 258,623
2011 543,950 -256,888 875,839 68,849
2010 558,666 -54,359 892,334 55,532
2009 559,314 -52,703 900,491 24,276
2008 576,593 -402,393 868,749 47,915
2007 529,162 801,514 876,626 -186,402
2006 480,616 682,911 897,351 -190,194
2005 468,960 13,382 898,650 -174,177
2004 461,209 10,881 896,025 -146,574
2003 457,000 -33,920 893,683 -121,383
2002 453,967 -35,096 922,927 -129,444
2001 451,503 -36,383 980,560 -166,759
2000 446,211 -34,425 1,020,515 -195,996
1999 439,261 -31,394 1,063,312 -219,778
1998 433,447 -26,025 1,103,242 -231,744
1997 429,887 -31,571 1,099,738 -208,465
1996 430,765 -30,197 1,091,827 -179,423
1995 430,172 -28,122 1,090,630 -149,737
1994 426,996 -12,630 1,078,208 -37,762
1993 420,244 -8,828 1,064,168 -35,245
1992 412,878 -4,063 1,039,125 -49,923
1991 410,830 -10,154 1,041,229 -69,982
1990 409,177 -6,620 1,044,467 -27,193
1989 406,111 -8,379 1,094,036 -33,519
1988 404,285 -8,426 1,101,266 -27,659
1987 399,159 -8,335 1,099,042 -40,772
1986 390,821 -9,485 1,102,660 -29,134
1985 379,231 -6,221 1,098,846 8,960
1984 366,768 -5,245 1,096,529 21,787
1983 355,375 -9,729 1,095,106 39,871
1982 319,664 -721 1,091,863 23,728
1981 330,237 -24,536 1,100,082 -213,889
1980 332,464 -33,114 1,090,538 -151,969
1979 324,943 -32,793 1,076,707 -218,509
1978 316,724 -30,567 1,054,863 -182,818
1977 306,630 -28,275 1,023,779 -151,825
1976 294,267 -26,268 1,009,999 -135,377
1975 282,299 -24,389 1,012,904 -193,829
1974 270,735 -24,242 1,020,053 -153,311
1973 254,687 -17,502 1,025,675 -130,985
1972 249,027 -17,610 1,023,781 -119,850
1971 239,610 -15,167 1,014,165 -94,891
1970 230,117 -19,594 991,950 -150,924
1969 219,114 -18,749 970,958 -110,578
1968 209,454 -16,968 950,778 -78,973
1967 199,223 -14,618 936,727 -65,993
1966 191,122 -13,434 925,790 -50,999
1965 182,560 -12,704 904,016 -113,911
1964 174,549 -12,044 884,152 -69,978
1963 166,555 -11,817 862,626 -44,317
1962 159,155 -11,641 837,473 -34,353
1961 151,485 -11,237 816,911 -26,187
1960 143,687 0 773,009 14,948

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 58% of the population change in Syria is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people). In Turkey 82.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,829,546 people) and 17.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,409,580 people).

As of 2024, 896,042 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Syria, compared to 7,083,501 people or 8.1% in Turkey.

Biggest cities by population

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
Turkey
City Population
Istanbul 15.7M
Ankara 5.8M
Izmir 4.49M
Bursa 2.9M
Antalya 2.43M
Konya 2.23M
Urfa 1.99M
Kocaeli 1.85M
Adana 1.77M
Diyarbakir 1.73M

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/syria/turkey | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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