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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Syria was 24,672,760 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Syria's population is 26,829,400 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 1.18 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Syria is ranked the 56th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.6% of the world: 0.32% for Syria vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Syria has had an average growth rate of +1.25% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Syria has increased from 19.6M people to 26.8M (36.6% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Syria vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Syria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Syria Zambia
2100 44,620,090 65,217,429
2099 44,690,260 64,871,545
2098 44,750,249 64,515,891
2097 44,813,148 64,148,736
2096 44,867,740 63,777,313
2095 44,895,489 63,393,169
2094 44,945,231 62,992,652
2093 44,974,311 62,590,327
2092 45,003,795 62,175,930
2091 45,016,478 61,750,591
2090 45,048,083 61,321,399
2089 45,047,102 60,880,148
2088 45,041,864 60,434,676
2087 45,049,516 59,970,107
2086 45,068,928 59,499,234
2085 45,034,847 59,023,040
2084 44,999,929 58,535,857
2083 44,971,600 58,040,512
2082 44,910,859 57,538,672
2081 44,843,908 57,027,491
2080 44,744,718 56,506,421
2079 44,687,371 55,983,242
2078 44,649,760 55,449,777
2077 44,604,175 54,906,771
2076 44,520,132 54,361,075
2075 44,426,423 53,806,856
2074 44,328,795 53,246,777
2073 44,221,016 52,677,348
2072 44,084,262 52,101,139
2071 43,939,848 51,519,691
2070 43,795,999 50,931,614
2069 43,648,130 50,334,700
2068 43,465,442 49,737,479
2067 43,271,173 49,135,488
2066 43,060,752 48,530,443
2065 42,810,442 47,918,592
2064 42,559,554 47,299,740
2063 42,311,907 46,677,439
2062 42,062,193 46,048,819
2061 41,808,082 45,416,657
2060 41,522,274 44,777,347
2059 41,208,825 44,137,306
2058 40,925,728 43,494,451
2057 40,643,453 42,851,923
2056 40,332,578 42,206,898
2055 40,026,632 41,558,284
2054 39,691,425 40,906,492
2053 39,348,020 40,255,629
2052 39,045,268 39,603,888
2051 38,733,827 38,949,958
2050 38,410,423 38,294,607
2049 38,089,455 37,634,194
2048 37,784,449 36,971,309
2047 37,492,636 36,309,749
2046 37,181,526 35,645,868
2045 36,843,579 34,981,812
2044 36,526,509 34,316,981
2043 36,188,225 33,652,420
2042 35,825,419 32,990,657
2041 35,447,414 32,329,447
2040 35,042,107 31,664,262
2039 34,626,945 31,001,305
2038 34,183,740 30,335,662
2037 33,703,682 29,668,561
2036 33,223,843 29,000,264
2035 32,696,648 28,333,498
2034 32,148,814 27,671,195
2033 31,562,427 27,011,974
2032 30,967,322 26,356,580
2031 30,329,874 25,702,812
2030 29,672,629 25,055,216
2029 28,949,535 24,414,405
2028 28,217,748 23,780,809
2027 27,428,807 23,151,479
2026 26,607,148 22,529,742
2025 25,689,551 21,918,187
2024 24,672,760 21,314,956
2023 23,594,623 20,723,965
2022 22,462,173 20,152,938
2021 21,628,839 19,603,607
2020 21,049,429 19,059,395
2019 20,353,534 18,513,839
2018 19,577,845 17,973,569
2017 19,224,668 17,441,320
2016 19,193,834 16,914,423
2015 19,424,618 16,399,089
2014 20,273,659 15,895,315
2013 21,666,917 15,398,997
2012 22,759,763 14,913,629
2011 22,878,098 14,437,796
2010 22,482,421 13,965,594
2009 21,976,969 13,490,389
2008 21,636,564 13,021,324
2007 20,884,125 12,565,085
2006 19,637,022 12,129,553
2005 18,814,091 11,718,819
2004 18,336,875 11,338,198
2003 17,889,296 10,983,595
2002 17,468,332 10,647,949
2001 17,051,338 10,325,185
2000 16,637,888 10,017,631
1999 16,228,061 9,740,005
1998 15,820,413 9,482,408
1997 15,417,542 9,237,063
1996 15,018,104 9,004,053
1995 14,616,801 8,785,763
1994 14,208,583 8,576,269
1993 13,795,686 8,373,921
1992 13,385,571 8,176,680
1991 12,980,821 7,981,650
1990 12,579,208 7,786,169
1989 12,179,060 7,589,216
1988 11,782,264 7,391,440
1987 11,388,923 7,191,282
1986 11,002,844 6,986,471
1985 10,625,672 6,780,953
1984 10,258,398 6,580,490
1983 9,904,809 6,381,038
1982 9,572,511 6,178,637
1981 9,260,189 5,983,289
1980 8,957,663 5,802,833
1979 8,661,909 5,631,728
1978 8,372,759 5,465,374
1977 8,090,501 5,302,480
1976 7,817,320 5,143,842
1975 7,554,364 4,990,086
1974 7,302,160 4,842,746
1973 7,060,321 4,702,693
1972 6,826,024 4,569,309
1971 6,598,094 4,442,525
1970 6,380,609 4,321,718
1969 6,175,166 4,197,116
1968 5,978,742 4,065,593
1967 5,790,198 3,936,343
1966 5,609,047 3,812,003
1965 5,435,267 3,692,086
1964 5,269,087 3,577,017
1963 5,110,467 3,465,907
1962 4,959,340 3,358,099
1961 4,815,466 3,254,086
1960 4,673,500 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Syria decreased by 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Syria gained 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Syria was ranked 58th most populous country in 2006 and is 56th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 45.1M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Syria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Syria Zambia
2100 -0.16% 0.53%
2099 -0.13% 0.55%
2098 -0.14% 0.57%
2097 -0.12% 0.58%
2096 -0.06% 0.61%
2095 -0.11% 0.64%
2094 -0.06% 0.64%
2093 -0.07% 0.67%
2092 -0.03% 0.69%
2091 -0.07% 0.7%
2090 0.002% 0.72%
2089 0.01% 0.74%
2088 -0.02% 0.77%
2087 -0.04% 0.79%
2086 0.08% 0.81%
2085 0.08% 0.83%
2084 0.06% 0.85%
2083 0.14% 0.87%
2082 0.15% 0.9%
2081 0.22% 0.92%
2080 0.13% 0.93%
2079 0.08% 0.96%
2078 0.1% 0.99%
2077 0.19% 1%
2076 0.21% 1.03%
2075 0.22% 1.05%
2074 0.24% 1.08%
2073 0.31% 1.11%
2072 0.33% 1.13%
2071 0.33% 1.15%
2070 0.34% 1.19%
2069 0.42% 1.2%
2068 0.45% 1.23%
2067 0.49% 1.25%
2066 0.58% 1.28%
2065 0.59% 1.31%
2064 0.59% 1.33%
2063 0.59% 1.37%
2062 0.61% 1.39%
2061 0.69% 1.43%
2060 0.76% 1.45%
2059 0.69% 1.48%
2058 0.69% 1.5%
2057 0.77% 1.53%
2056 0.76% 1.56%
2055 0.84% 1.59%
2054 0.87% 1.62%
2053 0.78% 1.65%
2052 0.8% 1.68%
2051 0.84% 1.71%
2050 0.84% 1.75%
2049 0.81% 1.79%
2048 0.78% 1.82%
2047 0.84% 1.86%
2046 0.92% 1.9%
2045 0.87% 1.94%
2044 0.93% 1.97%
2043 1.01% 2.01%
2042 1.07% 2.05%
2041 1.16% 2.1%
2040 1.2% 2.14%
2039 1.3% 2.19%
2038 1.42% 2.25%
2037 1.44% 2.3%
2036 1.61% 2.35%
2035 1.7% 2.39%
2034 1.86% 2.44%
2033 1.92% 2.49%
2032 2.1% 2.54%
2031 2.21% 2.58%
2030 2.5% 2.62%
2029 2.59% 2.66%
2028 2.88% 2.72%
2027 3.09% 2.76%
2026 3.57% 2.79%
2025 4.12% 2.83%
2024 4.57% 2.85%
2023 5.04% 2.83%
2022 3.85% 2.8%
2021 2.75% 2.86%
2020 3.42% 2.95%
2019 3.96% 3.01%
2018 1.84% 3.05%
2017 0.16% 3.12%
2016 -1.19% 3.14%
2015 -4.19% 3.17%
2014 -6.43% 3.22%
2013 -4.8% 3.25%
2012 -0.52% 3.3%
2011 1.76% 3.38%
2010 2.3% 3.52%
2009 1.57% 3.6%
2008 3.6% 3.63%
2007 6.35% 3.59%
2006 4.37% 3.5%
2005 2.6% 3.36%
2004 2.5% 3.23%
2003 2.41% 3.15%
2002 2.45% 3.13%
2001 2.48% 3.07%
2000 2.53% 2.85%
1999 2.58% 2.72%
1998 2.61% 2.66%
1997 2.66% 2.59%
1996 2.75% 2.48%
1995 2.87% 2.44%
1994 2.99% 2.42%
1993 3.06% 2.41%
1992 3.12% 2.44%
1991 3.19% 2.51%
1990 3.29% 2.6%
1989 3.37% 2.68%
1988 3.45% 2.78%
1987 3.51% 2.93%
1986 3.55% 3.03%
1985 3.58% 3.05%
1984 3.57% 3.13%
1983 3.47% 3.28%
1982 3.37% 3.26%
1981 3.38% 3.11%
1980 3.41% 3.04%
1979 3.45% 3.04%
1978 3.49% 3.07%
1977 3.49% 3.08%
1976 3.48% 3.08%
1975 3.45% 3.04%
1974 3.43% 2.98%
1973 3.43% 2.92%
1972 3.45% 2.85%
1971 3.41% 2.8%
1970 3.33% 2.97%
1969 3.29% 3.24%
1968 3.26% 3.28%
1967 3.23% 3.26%
1966 3.2% 3.25%
1965 3.15% 3.22%
1964 3.1% 3.21%
1963 3.05% 3.21%
1962 2.99% 3.2%
1961 3.04% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Syria grew by 4.57%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Syria Zambia
Current population
26829400
22697916
Population rank 56/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
29.3 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
1.01 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
4.42 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,954 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +1,078,137 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +4.57% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 6/197 21/197
One migration net change every
1.25 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +421,693 +6,562
Net migration rank 3/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 896,042 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 64/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.6% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 110/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Syria
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Syria Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 421,693 - 6,562
2024 - 546,494 - 7,381
2023 402,713 757,309 577,660 9,521
2022 369,750 735,142 563,456 -8,566
2021 350,560 211,220 535,629 8,143
2020 327,992 269,050 536,484 8,156
2019 293,762 500,985 528,089 18,385
2018 242,530 514,102 515,644 18,431
2017 237,214 -287,501 504,630 25,789
2016 236,007 -124,063 497,521 25,860
2015 253,977 -827,496 491,021 16,261
2014 333,116 -1,457,679 483,663 16,574
2013 419,341 -2,081,303 476,846 15,542
2012 475,520 -999,267 469,406 8,958
2011 543,950 -256,888 459,743 13,569
2010 558,666 -54,359 448,337 22,761
2009 559,314 -52,703 434,458 44,867
2008 576,593 -402,393 419,560 39,249
2007 529,162 801,514 403,729 49,945
2006 480,616 682,911 387,891 29,517
2005 468,960 13,382 368,756 35,316
2004 461,209 10,881 349,352 7,819
2003 457,000 -33,920 331,189 20,845
2002 453,967 -35,096 316,041 3,206
2001 451,503 -36,383 302,682 23,582
2000 446,211 -34,425 293,186 -4,338
1999 439,261 -31,394 283,297 -16,888
1998 433,447 -26,025 275,568 -26,796
1997 429,887 -31,571 268,198 -26,276
1996 430,765 -30,197 262,468 -38,358
1995 430,172 -28,122 257,897 -45,423
1994 426,996 -12,630 252,023 -45,504
1993 420,244 -8,828 245,917 -47,739
1992 412,878 -4,063 239,953 -43,656
1991 410,830 -10,154 237,957 -44,203
1990 409,177 -6,620 235,835 -38,619
1989 406,111 -8,379 233,429 -36,736
1988 404,285 -8,426 230,118 -31,270
1987 399,159 -8,335 227,813 -26,338
1986 390,821 -9,485 224,768 -16,610
1985 379,231 -6,221 221,351 -18,474
1984 366,768 -5,245 216,695 -18,652
1983 355,375 -9,729 212,712 -11,849
1982 319,664 -721 207,621 -3,676
1981 330,237 -24,536 202,822 -16,072
1980 332,464 -33,114 198,817 -24,664
1979 324,943 -32,793 197,578 -29,515
1978 316,724 -30,567 194,933 -30,284
1977 306,630 -28,275 191,557 -30,423
1976 294,267 -26,268 186,762 -30,612
1975 282,299 -24,389 182,258 -30,886
1974 270,735 -24,242 174,484 -31,178
1973 254,687 -17,502 168,258 -31,472
1972 249,027 -17,610 161,648 -31,672
1971 239,610 -15,167 155,249 -31,651
1970 230,117 -19,594 149,380 -31,370
1969 219,114 -18,749 142,660 -11,469
1968 209,454 -16,968 137,315 -5,447
1967 199,223 -14,618 131,938 -5,298
1966 191,122 -13,434 127,164 -5,129
1965 182,560 -12,704 122,814 -5,023
1964 174,549 -12,044 117,197 -4,851
1963 166,555 -11,817 114,555 -4,676
1962 159,155 -11,641 110,173 -4,428
1961 151,485 -11,237 106,318 -4,043
1960 143,687 0 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/syria/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 896,042 residents or 3.6% of the population were not native-born in Syria, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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

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