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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Syria was 25,620,427 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Syria's population is 26,956,472 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 2.6 times bigger than Syria's.
  • Syria is ranked the 56th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.17% of the world: 0.32% for Syria vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Syria has had an average growth rate of +2.19% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Syria has increased from 19.6M people to 27M (37.3% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Syria vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Syria
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Syria United Kingdom
2100 44,500,028 74,517,005
2099 44,570,009 74,647,273
2098 44,629,837 74,766,073
2097 44,692,566 74,879,923
2096 44,747,012 74,991,940
2095 44,774,686 75,102,041
2094 44,824,294 75,198,597
2093 44,853,295 75,296,704
2092 44,882,700 75,390,038
2091 44,895,349 75,480,137
2090 44,926,869 75,566,962
2089 44,925,891 75,649,353
2088 44,920,667 75,721,067
2087 44,928,298 75,791,990
2086 44,947,658 75,859,854
2085 44,913,669 75,918,647
2084 44,878,845 75,969,065
2083 44,850,592 76,018,614
2082 44,790,014 76,059,464
2081 44,723,244 76,086,593
2080 44,624,321 76,118,679
2079 44,567,127 76,147,352
2078 44,529,618 76,165,841
2077 44,484,155 76,183,437
2076 44,400,339 76,185,828
2075 44,306,882 76,198,349
2074 44,209,517 76,209,676
2073 44,102,028 76,218,781
2072 43,965,642 76,211,187
2071 43,821,617 76,200,495
2070 43,678,154 76,190,801
2069 43,530,683 76,184,140
2068 43,348,487 76,183,288
2067 43,154,741 76,175,881
2066 42,944,885 76,168,987
2065 42,695,249 76,168,193
2064 42,445,036 76,165,129
2063 42,198,056 76,165,534
2062 41,949,014 76,158,910
2061 41,695,586 76,156,587
2060 41,410,547 76,157,104
2059 41,097,942 76,157,593
2058 40,815,606 76,139,384
2057 40,534,091 76,119,478
2056 40,224,053 76,086,799
2055 39,918,930 76,047,952
2054 39,584,624 75,980,524
2053 39,242,144 75,907,047
2052 38,940,206 75,815,200
2051 38,629,604 75,709,173
2050 38,307,069 75,591,218
2049 37,986,965 75,460,140
2048 37,682,780 75,313,837
2047 37,391,752 75,153,802
2046 37,081,479 74,986,563
2045 36,744,441 74,808,886
2044 36,428,225 74,623,687
2043 36,090,851 74,424,133
2042 35,729,021 74,224,922
2041 35,352,033 74,020,934
2040 34,947,817 73,812,680
2039 34,533,772 73,600,788
2038 34,091,760 73,378,310
2037 33,612,993 73,155,497
2036 33,134,445 72,921,995
2035 32,608,669 72,671,687
2034 32,062,309 72,418,766
2033 31,477,500 72,145,065
2032 30,883,996 71,869,259
2031 30,248,264 71,581,519
2030 29,592,787 71,267,237
2029 28,871,638 70,948,992
2028 28,141,821 70,609,246
2027 27,355,002 70,248,858
2026 26,535,554 69,883,746
2025 25,620,427 69,487,000
2024 24,672,760 69,281,000
2023 23,594,623 68,526,000
2022 22,462,173 67,636,000
2021 21,628,839 66,978,000
2020 21,049,429 66,740,000
2019 20,353,534 66,628,000
2018 19,577,845 66,287,000
2017 19,224,668 65,964,000
2016 19,193,834 65,606,000
2015 19,424,618 65,087,000
2014 20,273,659 64,619,000
2013 21,666,917 64,138,000
2012 22,759,763 63,711,000
2011 22,878,098 63,258,810
2010 22,482,421 62,766,365
2009 21,976,969 62,276,270
2008 21,636,564 61,806,995
2007 20,884,125 61,322,463
2006 19,637,022 60,846,820
2005 18,814,091 60,401,206
2004 18,336,875 59,987,905
2003 17,889,296 59,647,577
2002 17,468,332 59,370,479
2001 17,051,338 59,119,673
2000 16,637,888 58,892,514
1999 16,228,061 58,682,466
1998 15,820,413 58,487,141
1997 15,417,542 58,316,954
1996 15,018,104 58,166,950
1995 14,616,801 58,019,030
1994 14,208,583 57,865,745
1993 13,795,686 57,718,614
1992 13,385,571 57,580,402
1991 12,980,821 57,424,897
1990 12,579,208 57,247,586
1989 12,179,060 57,076,711
1988 11,782,264 56,928,327
1987 11,388,923 56,802,050
1986 11,002,844 56,681,396
1985 10,625,672 56,550,268
1984 10,258,398 56,422,072
1983 9,904,809 56,332,848
1982 9,572,511 56,313,641
1981 9,260,189 56,333,829
1980 8,957,663 56,314,216
1979 8,661,909 56,246,951
1978 8,372,759 56,196,504
1977 8,090,501 56,193,492
1976 7,817,320 56,211,968
1975 7,554,364 56,225,800
1974 7,302,160 56,229,974
1973 7,060,321 56,194,527
1972 6,826,024 56,086,065
1971 6,598,094 55,896,223
1970 6,380,609 55,663,250
1969 6,175,166 55,441,750
1968 5,978,742 55,211,700
1967 5,790,198 54,943,600
1966 5,609,047 54,648,500
1965 5,435,267 54,348,050
1964 5,269,087 54,000,000
1963 5,110,467 53,650,000
1962 4,959,340 53,250,000
1961 4,815,466 52,800,000
1960 4,673,500 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Syria decreased by 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Syria gained 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

Syria was ranked 58th most populous country in 2006 and is 56th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M people compared to the peak of 76.2M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Syria
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Syria United Kingdom
2100 -0.16% -0.17%
2099 -0.13% -0.16%
2098 -0.14% -0.15%
2097 -0.12% -0.15%
2096 -0.06% -0.15%
2095 -0.11% -0.13%
2094 -0.06% -0.13%
2093 -0.07% -0.12%
2092 -0.03% -0.12%
2091 -0.07% -0.11%
2090 0.002% -0.11%
2089 0.01% -0.09%
2088 -0.02% -0.09%
2087 -0.04% -0.09%
2086 0.08% -0.08%
2085 0.08% -0.07%
2084 0.06% -0.07%
2083 0.14% -0.05%
2082 0.15% -0.04%
2081 0.22% -0.04%
2080 0.13% -0.04%
2079 0.08% -0.02%
2078 0.1% -0.02%
2077 0.19% -0.003%
2076 0.21% -0.02%
2075 0.22% -0.01%
2074 0.24% -0.01%
2073 0.31% 0.01%
2072 0.33% 0.01%
2071 0.33% 0.01%
2070 0.34% 0.009%
2069 0.42% 0.001%
2068 0.45% 0.01%
2067 0.49% 0.009%
2066 0.58% 0.001%
2065 0.59% 0.004%
2064 0.59% -0%
2063 0.59% 0.009%
2062 0.61% 0.003%
2061 0.69% -0.001%
2060 0.76% -0.001%
2059 0.69% 0.02%
2058 0.69% 0.03%
2057 0.77% 0.04%
2056 0.76% 0.05%
2055 0.84% 0.09%
2054 0.87% 0.1%
2053 0.78% 0.12%
2052 0.8% 0.14%
2051 0.84% 0.16%
2050 0.84% 0.17%
2049 0.81% 0.19%
2048 0.78% 0.21%
2047 0.84% 0.22%
2046 0.92% 0.24%
2045 0.87% 0.25%
2044 0.93% 0.27%
2043 1.01% 0.27%
2042 1.07% 0.28%
2041 1.16% 0.28%
2040 1.2% 0.29%
2039 1.3% 0.3%
2038 1.42% 0.3%
2037 1.44% 0.32%
2036 1.61% 0.34%
2035 1.7% 0.35%
2034 1.86% 0.38%
2033 1.92% 0.38%
2032 2.1% 0.4%
2031 2.21% 0.44%
2030 2.5% 0.45%
2029 2.59% 0.48%
2028 2.88% 0.51%
2027 3.09% 0.52%
2026 3.57% 0.57%
2025 3.84% 0.3%
2024 4.57% 1.1%
2023 5.04% 1.32%
2022 3.85% 0.98%
2021 2.75% 0.36%
2020 3.42% 0.17%
2019 3.96% 0.51%
2018 1.84% 0.49%
2017 0.16% 0.55%
2016 -1.19% 0.8%
2015 -4.19% 0.72%
2014 -6.43% 0.75%
2013 -4.8% 0.67%
2012 -0.52% 0.71%
2011 1.76% 0.78%
2010 2.3% 0.79%
2009 1.57% 0.76%
2008 3.6% 0.79%
2007 6.35% 0.78%
2006 4.37% 0.74%
2005 2.6% 0.69%
2004 2.5% 0.57%
2003 2.41% 0.47%
2002 2.45% 0.42%
2001 2.48% 0.39%
2000 2.53% 0.36%
1999 2.58% 0.33%
1998 2.61% 0.29%
1997 2.66% 0.26%
1996 2.75% 0.25%
1995 2.87% 0.26%
1994 2.99% 0.25%
1993 3.06% 0.24%
1992 3.12% 0.27%
1991 3.19% 0.31%
1990 3.29% 0.3%
1989 3.37% 0.26%
1988 3.45% 0.22%
1987 3.51% 0.21%
1986 3.55% 0.23%
1985 3.58% 0.23%
1984 3.57% 0.16%
1983 3.47% 0.03%
1982 3.37% -0.04%
1981 3.38% 0.03%
1980 3.41% 0.12%
1979 3.45% 0.09%
1978 3.49% 0.005%
1977 3.49% -0.03%
1976 3.48% -0.02%
1975 3.45% -0.007%
1974 3.43% 0.06%
1973 3.43% 0.19%
1972 3.45% 0.34%
1971 3.41% 0.42%
1970 3.33% 0.4%
1969 3.29% 0.42%
1968 3.26% 0.49%
1967 3.23% 0.54%
1966 3.2% 0.55%
1965 3.15% 0.64%
1964 3.1% 0.65%
1963 3.05% 0.75%
1962 2.99% 0.85%
1961 3.04% 0.76%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Syria grew by 3.84%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Syria United Kingdom
Current population
26956472
70071289
Population rank 56/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.84%
One net population change
33.4 seconds
2.56 minutes
One birth every
55.2 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
4.32 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,596 +564
Annual growth/decline +947,667 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +3.84% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 5/197 145/197
One migration net change every
1.25 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +421,693 +389,911
Net migration rank 3/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 896,042 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 64/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 110/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Syria
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Syria United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 421,693 - 389,911
2024 449,784 546,494 13,233 417,114
2023 402,713 757,309 34,606 445,523
2022 369,750 735,142 39,770 487,029
2021 350,560 211,220 30,609 462,967
2020 327,992 269,050 -4,272 144,221
2019 293,762 500,985 108,338 232,727
2018 242,530 514,102 119,317 259,744
2017 237,214 -287,501 145,121 272,311
2016 236,007 -124,063 177,136 324,649
2015 253,977 -827,496 175,735 347,839
2014 333,116 -1,457,679 206,781 306,091
2013 419,341 -2,081,303 198,827 237,272
2012 475,520 -999,267 248,473 172,088
2011 543,950 -256,888 259,361 228,773
2010 558,666 -54,359 251,066 274,811
2009 559,314 -52,703 230,422 249,639
2008 576,593 -402,393 216,325 263,390
2007 529,162 801,514 196,232 309,385
2006 480,616 682,911 176,455 288,923
2005 468,960 13,382 144,963 308,279
2004 461,209 10,881 131,974 276,077
2003 457,000 -33,920 89,471 211,846
2002 453,967 -35,096 65,308 203,577
2001 451,503 -36,383 65,032 175,133
2000 446,211 -34,425 70,671 153,917
1999 439,261 -31,394 64,551 152,653
1998 433,447 -26,025 87,730 125,541
1997 429,887 -31,571 99,138 59,723
1996 430,765 -30,197 98,884 54,964
1995 430,172 -28,122 87,028 61,385
1994 426,996 -12,630 127,304 45,339
1993 420,244 -8,828 103,893 27,403
1992 412,878 -4,063 149,709 17,846
1991 410,830 -10,154 143,562 27,601
1990 409,177 -6,620 154,569 57,132
1989 406,111 -8,379 119,861 49,586
1988 404,285 -8,426 136,628 13,952
1987 399,159 -8,335 136,325 8,266
1986 390,821 -9,485 90,690 41,836
1985 379,231 -6,221 79,170 83,164
1984 366,768 -5,245 84,633 71,107
1983 355,375 -9,729 61,966 27,063
1982 319,664 -721 56,314 -61,152
1981 330,237 -24,536 73,234 -83,876
1980 332,464 -33,114 95,734 -25,187
1979 324,943 -32,793 61,872 11,255
1978 316,724 -30,567 16,859 3,783
1977 306,630 -28,275 0 -21,636
1976 294,267 -26,268 -5,621 -19,135
1975 282,299 -24,389 33,735 -40,241
1974 270,735 -24,242 67,476 -65,710
1973 254,687 -17,502 112,389 -33,840
1972 249,027 -17,610 162,650 -1,406
1971 239,610 -15,167 257,123 1,175
1970 230,117 -19,594 244,918 -15,254
1969 219,114 -18,749 260,577 -60,655
1968 209,454 -16,968 292,622 -38,852
1967 199,223 -14,618 346,145 -39,659
1966 191,122 -13,434 333,356 -27,935
1965 182,560 -12,704 364,132 -24,955
1964 174,549 -12,044 405,000 -23,885
1963 166,555 -11,817 337,995 8,271
1962 159,155 -11,641 340,800 76,443
1961 151,485 -11,237 311,519 52,295
1960 143,687 0 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/syria/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 896,042 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Syria, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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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