Urban population in Syria
Syria: Urban population was 18.47 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Syria, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Syria recorded 18.47 million for urban population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Syria peaked at 18.47 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.87 million, in 1960.
Syria ranks 46th 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 in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.87 million | — |
| 1961 | 1.94 million | +4.0% |
| 1962 | 2.02 million | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 2.10 million | +3.9% |
| 1964 | 2.18 million | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 2.27 million | +4.0% |
| 1966 | 2.36 million | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 2.45 million | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 2.55 million | +4.1% |
| 1969 | 2.66 million | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 2.77 million | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 2.89 million | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 3.01 million | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 3.14 million | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 3.27 million | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 3.41 million | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 3.56 million | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 3.71 million | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 3.86 million | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 4.02 million | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 4.19 million | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 4.35 million | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 4.52 million | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 4.70 million | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 4.89 million | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 5.09 million | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 5.29 million | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 5.50 million | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 5.71 million | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 5.93 million | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 6.14 million | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 6.37 million | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 6.59 million | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 6.83 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 7.07 million | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 7.32 million | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 7.56 million | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 7.82 million | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 8.08 million | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 8.35 million | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 8.63 million | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 8.92 million | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 9.21 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 9.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 9.81 million | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 10.13 million | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 10.62 million | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 11.34 million | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 11.81 million | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 12.09 million | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 12.52 million | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 13.38 million | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 14.81 million | +10.7% |
| 2013 | 15.83 million | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 15.41 million | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 14.71 million | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 14.42 million | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 14.33 million | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 14.50 million | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 15.03 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 15.45 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 15.79 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 16.31 million | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 17.03 million | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 17.78 million | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 18.47 million | +3.9% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 18.47 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 2.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 18.47 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 1.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.24 million | 1.87 million | 2.66 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.36 million | 2.77 million | 4.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.02 million | 4.19 million | 5.93 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.21 million | 6.14 million | 8.35 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.20 million | 8.63 million | 12.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.49 million | 12.52 million | 15.83 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.81 million | 15.45 million | 18.47 million | 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 in Syria?
- Urban population in Syria was 18.47 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 18.47 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.87 million in 1960.
- How does Syria rank for urban population?
- Syria ranks 46th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.