Urban population growth (annual %) in Syria
Syria: Urban population growth (annual %) was 3.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Syria, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Syria is 3.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.9% on the previous year and up 182.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Syria peaked at 10.2% in 2012 and was at its lowest, -4.6%, in 2015.
Syria ranks 25th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth (annual %) in Syria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.9% | — |
| 1962 | 3.8% | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 3.8% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 3.9% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 3.9% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 3.9% | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 4.0% | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 4.0% | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 4.0% | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 4.1% | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 4.2% | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 4.2% | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 4.2% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 4.2% | -0.5% |
| 1975 | 4.2% | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 4.2% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 4.2% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 4.1% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 4.1% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 4.0% | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 3.9% | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 4.0% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 3.9% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 3.9% | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 3.8% | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 3.8% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 3.6% | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 3.5% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 3.5% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 3.3% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 3.2% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 3.1% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 3.2% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | +48.9% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +39.4% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -37.9% |
| 2009 | 2.4% | -42.0% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | +46.7% |
| 2011 | 6.6% | +90.5% |
| 2012 | 10.2% | +53.8% |
| 2013 | 6.6% | -34.9% |
| 2014 | -2.7% | -140.8% |
| 2015 | -4.6% | +70.3% |
| 2016 | -2.0% | -56.8% |
| 2017 | -0.7% | -66.8% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -278.2% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +203.0% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -21.4% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | -22.6% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | +49.0% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | +33.2% |
| 2024 | 4.3% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | -12.9% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 3.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.0%, 94% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 3.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.9%, 2.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban population growth (annual %) in Syria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +278.2% | -0.7% | 1.2% |
| 2019 | +203.0% | 1.2% | 3.6% |
| 2014 | -140.8% | 6.6% | -2.7% |
| 2011 | +90.5% | 3.5% | 6.6% |
| 2015 | -70.3% | -2.7% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | +66.8% | -2.0% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.7% | 2.4% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | -4.6% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.4% | 2.2% | 4.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More climate change data for Syria
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,493 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,423 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,070 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 16.69 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 288.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,428 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,330 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 97.62 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 12.57 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.49 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Syria?
- Urban population growth in Syria was 3.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2012.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.6% in 2015.
- How does Syria rank for urban population growth?
- Syria ranks 25th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 182.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.