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Population in Syria compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Syria was 24,672,760 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Syria's population is 26,829,400 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 2.3 times bigger than the United Arab Emirates'.
  • Syria is ranked the 56th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.46% of the world: 0.32% for Syria vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Syria has had an average growth rate of +1.25% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Syria has increased from 19.6M people to 26.8M (36.6% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Syria vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Syria
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Syria UAE
2100 44,620,090 26,368,750
2099 44,690,260 26,130,374
2098 44,750,249 25,894,010
2097 44,813,148 25,660,062
2096 44,867,740 25,427,961
2095 44,895,489 25,197,670
2094 44,945,231 24,968,891
2093 44,974,311 24,741,434
2092 45,003,795 24,515,086
2091 45,016,478 24,289,496
2090 45,048,083 24,064,404
2089 45,047,102 23,839,033
2088 45,041,864 23,613,963
2087 45,049,516 23,388,786
2086 45,068,928 23,163,641
2085 45,034,847 22,938,169
2084 44,999,929 22,711,804
2083 44,971,600 22,484,154
2082 44,910,859 22,255,625
2081 44,843,908 22,026,183
2080 44,744,718 21,796,073
2079 44,687,371 21,565,118
2078 44,649,760 21,333,574
2077 44,604,175 21,101,274
2076 44,520,132 20,868,733
2075 44,426,423 20,636,203
2074 44,328,795 20,404,044
2073 44,221,016 20,171,659
2072 44,084,262 19,940,853
2071 43,939,848 19,710,934
2070 43,795,999 19,483,026
2069 43,648,130 19,256,572
2068 43,465,442 19,032,681
2067 43,271,173 18,811,331
2066 43,060,752 18,593,017
2065 42,810,442 18,377,364
2064 42,559,554 18,164,584
2063 42,311,907 17,955,352
2062 42,062,193 17,749,596
2061 41,808,082 17,547,827
2060 41,522,274 17,349,620
2059 41,208,825 17,153,273
2058 40,925,728 16,959,263
2057 40,643,453 16,767,893
2056 40,332,578 16,579,195
2055 40,026,632 16,392,558
2054 39,691,425 16,207,309
2053 39,348,020 16,024,789
2052 39,045,268 15,844,357
2051 38,733,827 15,665,362
2050 38,410,423 15,487,008
2049 38,089,455 15,309,031
2048 37,784,449 15,132,784
2047 37,492,636 14,958,209
2046 37,181,526 14,788,046
2045 36,843,579 14,620,902
2044 36,526,509 14,454,466
2043 36,188,225 14,289,021
2042 35,825,419 14,124,515
2041 35,447,414 13,961,010
2040 35,042,107 13,798,651
2039 34,626,945 13,637,499
2038 34,183,740 13,477,450
2037 33,703,682 13,319,346
2036 33,223,843 13,163,073
2035 32,696,648 13,009,160
2034 32,148,814 12,857,729
2033 31,562,427 12,709,520
2032 30,967,322 12,564,906
2031 30,329,874 12,424,286
2030 29,672,629 12,288,186
2029 28,949,535 12,148,661
2028 28,217,748 11,999,549
2027 27,428,807 11,831,082
2026 26,607,148 11,632,806
2025 25,689,551 11,367,504
2024 24,672,760 10,986,400
2023 23,594,623 10,483,751
2022 22,462,173 10,074,977
2021 21,628,839 9,575,152
2020 21,049,429 9,401,038
2019 20,353,534 9,445,785
2018 19,577,845 9,346,701
2017 19,224,668 9,223,225
2016 19,193,834 8,935,095
2015 19,424,618 8,505,237
2014 20,273,659 8,059,440
2013 21,666,917 7,693,031
2012 22,759,763 7,391,448
2011 22,878,098 7,104,538
2010 22,482,421 6,869,838
2009 21,976,969 6,707,058
2008 21,636,564 6,302,664
2007 20,884,125 5,624,635
2006 19,637,022 5,009,100
2005 18,814,091 4,664,790
2004 18,336,875 4,428,967
2003 17,889,296 4,192,457
2002 17,468,332 3,956,826
2001 17,051,338 3,723,590
2000 16,637,888 3,493,575
1999 16,228,061 3,266,009
1998 15,820,413 3,040,421
1997 15,417,542 2,817,410
1996 15,018,104 2,597,564
1995 14,616,801 2,434,662
1994 14,208,583 2,328,188
1993 13,795,686 2,222,093
1992 13,385,571 2,114,730
1991 12,980,821 2,006,626
1990 12,579,208 1,898,220
1989 12,179,060 1,789,851
1988 11,782,264 1,681,788
1987 11,388,923 1,574,244
1986 11,002,844 1,467,383
1985 10,625,672 1,377,911
1984 10,258,398 1,305,996
1983 9,904,809 1,235,305
1982 9,572,511 1,166,370
1981 9,260,189 1,099,855
1980 8,957,663 1,015,700
1979 8,661,909 912,010
1978 8,372,759 809,274
1977 8,090,501 710,209
1976 7,817,320 615,866
1975 7,554,364 542,856
1974 7,302,160 489,087
1973 7,060,321 436,399
1972 6,826,024 385,014
1971 6,598,094 335,027
1970 6,380,609 286,536
1969 6,175,166 239,660
1968 5,978,742 199,416
1967 5,790,198 179,700
1966 5,609,047 173,976
1965 5,435,267 167,103
1964 5,269,087 159,692
1963 5,110,467 152,211
1962 4,959,340 144,946
1961 4,815,466 137,989
1960 4,673,500 131,334

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/syria/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Syria decreased by 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Syria gained 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Syria was ranked 58th most populous country in 2006 and is 56th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Syria's population will grow by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people with a rank change from 56th to 53rd. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 45.1M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Syria
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Syria UAE
2100 -0.16% 0.91%
2099 -0.13% 0.91%
2098 -0.14% 0.91%
2097 -0.12% 0.91%
2096 -0.06% 0.91%
2095 -0.11% 0.92%
2094 -0.06% 0.92%
2093 -0.07% 0.92%
2092 -0.03% 0.93%
2091 -0.07% 0.94%
2090 0.002% 0.95%
2089 0.01% 0.95%
2088 -0.02% 0.96%
2087 -0.04% 0.97%
2086 0.08% 0.98%
2085 0.08% 1%
2084 0.06% 1.01%
2083 0.14% 1.03%
2082 0.15% 1.04%
2081 0.22% 1.06%
2080 0.13% 1.07%
2079 0.08% 1.09%
2078 0.1% 1.1%
2077 0.19% 1.11%
2076 0.21% 1.13%
2075 0.22% 1.14%
2074 0.24% 1.15%
2073 0.31% 1.16%
2072 0.33% 1.17%
2071 0.33% 1.17%
2070 0.34% 1.18%
2069 0.42% 1.18%
2068 0.45% 1.18%
2067 0.49% 1.17%
2066 0.58% 1.17%
2065 0.59% 1.17%
2064 0.59% 1.17%
2063 0.59% 1.16%
2062 0.61% 1.15%
2061 0.69% 1.14%
2060 0.76% 1.14%
2059 0.69% 1.14%
2058 0.69% 1.14%
2057 0.77% 1.14%
2056 0.76% 1.14%
2055 0.84% 1.14%
2054 0.87% 1.14%
2053 0.78% 1.14%
2052 0.8% 1.14%
2051 0.84% 1.15%
2050 0.84% 1.16%
2049 0.81% 1.16%
2048 0.78% 1.17%
2047 0.84% 1.15%
2046 0.92% 1.14%
2045 0.87% 1.15%
2044 0.93% 1.16%
2043 1.01% 1.16%
2042 1.07% 1.17%
2041 1.16% 1.18%
2040 1.2% 1.18%
2039 1.3% 1.19%
2038 1.42% 1.19%
2037 1.44% 1.19%
2036 1.61% 1.18%
2035 1.7% 1.18%
2034 1.86% 1.17%
2033 1.92% 1.15%
2032 2.1% 1.13%
2031 2.21% 1.11%
2030 2.5% 1.15%
2029 2.59% 1.24%
2028 2.88% 1.42%
2027 3.09% 1.7%
2026 3.57% 2.33%
2025 4.12% 3.47%
2024 4.57% 4.79%
2023 5.04% 4.06%
2022 3.85% 5.22%
2021 2.75% 1.85%
2020 3.42% -0.47%
2019 3.96% 1.06%
2018 1.84% 1.34%
2017 0.16% 3.22%
2016 -1.19% 5.05%
2015 -4.19% 5.53%
2014 -6.43% 4.76%
2013 -4.8% 4.08%
2012 -0.52% 4.04%
2011 1.76% 3.42%
2010 2.3% 2.43%
2009 1.57% 6.42%
2008 3.6% 12.1%
2007 6.35% 12.3%
2006 4.37% 7.38%
2005 2.6% 5.32%
2004 2.5% 5.64%
2003 2.41% 5.96%
2002 2.45% 6.26%
2001 2.48% 6.58%
2000 2.53% 6.97%
1999 2.58% 7.42%
1998 2.61% 7.92%
1997 2.66% 8.46%
1996 2.75% 6.69%
1995 2.87% 4.57%
1994 2.99% 4.77%
1993 3.06% 5.08%
1992 3.12% 5.39%
1991 3.19% 5.71%
1990 3.29% 6.05%
1989 3.37% 6.43%
1988 3.45% 6.83%
1987 3.51% 7.28%
1986 3.55% 6.49%
1985 3.58% 5.51%
1984 3.57% 5.72%
1983 3.47% 5.91%
1982 3.37% 6.05%
1981 3.38% 8.29%
1980 3.41% 11.4%
1979 3.45% 12.7%
1978 3.49% 13.9%
1977 3.49% 15.3%
1976 3.48% 13.4%
1975 3.45% 11%
1974 3.43% 12.1%
1973 3.43% 13.3%
1972 3.45% 14.9%
1971 3.41% 16.9%
1970 3.33% 19.6%
1969 3.29% 20.2%
1968 3.26% 11%
1967 3.23% 3.29%
1966 3.2% 4.11%
1965 3.15% 4.64%
1964 3.1% 4.91%
1963 3.05% 5.01%
1962 2.99% 5.04%
1961 3.04% 5.07%

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/syria/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Syria grew by 4.57%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Syria UAE
Current population
26829400
11686438
Population rank 56/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.14%
One net population change
29.3 seconds
1.05 minutes
One birth every
1.01 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
4.42 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,954 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +1,078,137 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +4.57% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 6/197 3/197
One migration net change every
1.25 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +421,693 +158,634
Net migration rank 3/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 896,042 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 64/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 110/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Syria
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Syria UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 421,693 - 158,634
2024 - 546,494 - 278,439
2023 402,713 757,309 92,698 300,004
2022 369,750 735,142 81,758 322,773
2021 350,560 211,220 76,802 421,663
2020 327,992 269,050 87,871 92,541
2019 293,762 500,985 86,296 -125,186
2018 242,530 514,102 86,840 14,611
2017 237,214 -287,501 89,382 34,155
2016 236,007 -124,063 87,028 195,317
2015 253,977 -827,496 85,044 342,468
2014 333,116 -1,457,679 84,277 360,174
2013 419,341 -2,081,303 82,977 279,269
2012 475,520 -999,267 78,682 225,921
2011 543,950 -256,888 73,496 215,183
2010 558,666 -54,359 69,907 161,842
2009 559,314 -52,703 66,521 163,643
2008 576,593 -402,393 55,426 523,207
2007 529,162 801,514 55,048 722,380
2006 480,616 682,911 54,338 399,306
2005 468,960 13,382 60,046 174,926
2004 461,209 10,881 60,344 176,319
2003 457,000 -33,920 59,118 177,237
2002 453,967 -35,096 55,922 178,988
2001 451,503 -36,383 52,789 178,779
2000 446,211 -34,425 49,993 178,469
1999 439,261 -31,394 46,198 180,469
1998 433,447 -26,025 41,176 183,329
1997 429,887 -31,571 38,207 183,310
1996 430,765 -30,197 37,886 180,296
1995 430,172 -28,122 38,685 68,938
1994 426,996 -12,630 42,976 62,352
1993 420,244 -8,828 41,324 65,545
1992 412,878 -4,063 42,119 65,739
1991 410,830 -10,154 41,409 66,943
1990 409,177 -6,620 41,339 67,118
1989 406,111 -8,379 40,148 68,132
1988 404,285 -8,426 38,861 68,991
1987 399,159 -8,335 37,741 69,493
1986 390,821 -9,485 36,829 69,655
1985 379,231 -6,221 34,855 37,605
1984 366,768 -5,245 33,250 38,124
1983 355,375 -9,729 31,480 38,536
1982 319,664 -721 29,585 38,276
1981 330,237 -24,536 27,560 37,600
1980 332,464 -33,114 25,005 78,148
1979 324,943 -32,793 21,987 82,238
1978 316,724 -30,567 18,879 82,359
1977 306,630 -28,275 15,787 81,111
1976 294,267 -26,268 12,876 78,903
1975 282,299 -24,389 11,859 42,380
1974 270,735 -24,242 10,835 42,474
1973 254,687 -17,502 9,822 42,243
1972 249,027 -17,610 8,818 41,888
1971 239,610 -15,167 7,839 41,425
1970 230,117 -19,594 6,922 40,792
1969 219,114 -18,749 6,138 39,902
1968 209,454 -16,968 5,588 28,866
1967 199,223 -14,618 5,264 -283
1966 191,122 -13,434 4,955 1,516
1965 182,560 -12,704 4,675 2,598
1964 174,549 -12,044 4,410 3,126
1963 166,555 -11,817 4,157 3,264
1962 159,155 -11,641 3,901 3,212
1961 151,485 -11,237 3,657 3,141
1960 143,687 0 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/syria/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91.3% of the population change in Syria is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people). In the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 896,042 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Syria, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/syria/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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