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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Syria was 25,620,427 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Syria's population is 26,956,472 people compared to 22,844,606 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 +2.19% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Syria has increased from 19.6M people to 27M (37.3% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Syria vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Syria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Syria Zambia
2100 44,500,028 65,204,593
2099 44,570,009 64,858,778
2098 44,629,837 64,503,193
2097 44,692,566 64,136,110
2096 44,747,012 63,764,760
2095 44,774,686 63,380,692
2094 44,824,294 62,980,254
2093 44,853,295 62,578,008
2092 44,882,700 62,163,693
2091 44,895,349 61,738,437
2090 44,926,869 61,309,330
2089 44,925,891 60,868,166
2088 44,920,667 60,422,781
2087 44,928,298 59,958,303
2086 44,947,658 59,487,524
2085 44,913,669 59,011,423
2084 44,878,845 58,524,337
2083 44,850,592 58,029,088
2082 44,790,014 57,527,347
2081 44,723,244 57,016,267
2080 44,624,321 56,495,299
2079 44,567,127 55,972,223
2078 44,529,618 55,438,864
2077 44,484,155 54,895,964
2076 44,400,339 54,350,375
2075 44,306,882 53,796,265
2074 44,209,517 53,236,297
2073 44,102,028 52,666,980
2072 43,965,642 52,090,884
2071 43,821,617 51,509,551
2070 43,678,154 50,921,590
2069 43,530,683 50,324,793
2068 43,348,487 49,727,689
2067 43,154,741 49,125,817
2066 42,944,885 48,520,891
2065 42,695,249 47,909,160
2064 42,445,036 47,290,430
2063 42,198,056 46,668,252
2062 41,949,014 46,039,755
2061 41,695,586 45,407,718
2060 41,410,547 44,768,534
2059 41,097,942 44,128,619
2058 40,815,606 43,485,891
2057 40,534,091 42,843,489
2056 40,224,053 42,198,591
2055 39,918,930 41,550,105
2054 39,584,624 40,898,440
2053 39,242,144 40,247,706
2052 38,940,206 39,596,094
2051 38,629,604 38,942,292
2050 38,307,069 38,287,070
2049 37,986,965 37,626,787
2048 37,682,780 36,964,032
2047 37,391,752 36,302,603
2046 37,081,479 35,638,852
2045 36,744,441 34,974,927
2044 36,428,225 34,310,227
2043 36,090,851 33,645,797
2042 35,729,021 32,984,164
2041 35,352,033 32,323,084
2040 34,947,817 31,658,029
2039 34,533,772 30,995,204
2038 34,091,760 30,329,691
2037 33,612,993 29,662,721
2036 33,134,445 28,994,556
2035 32,608,669 28,327,922
2034 32,062,309 27,665,749
2033 31,477,500 27,006,658
2032 30,883,996 26,351,393
2031 30,248,264 25,697,754
2030 29,592,787 25,050,285
2029 28,871,638 24,409,600
2028 28,141,821 23,776,128
2027 27,355,002 23,146,922
2026 26,535,554 22,525,308
2025 25,620,427 21,913,874
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% 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 42.1% to 38,307,069 people with a rank change from 56th to 53rd. The population of Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M 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 3.84% 2.81%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Syria grew by 3.84%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Syria Zambia
Current population
26956472
22844606
Population rank 56/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.32% 0.27%
One net population change
33.4 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
55.2 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
4.32 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,596 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +947,667 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +3.84% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 5/197 19/197
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 449,784 546,494 587,419 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/syria/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 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 (1960–2025, 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/zambia | 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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