Syria Population

Syria's demographics have been defined by more than a decade of war, which displaced over half the pre-war population and sent millions abroad as refugees. Fertility remains relatively high, but the age structure and geographic distribution have been scrambled by mass flight and partial return. Any projection rests on deeply uncertain assumptions about peace and the return of the displaced.

Syria is home to about 26.1 million people in 2026, the 57th largest population of any country. A country of Western Asia, its trajectory to 2100 is governed by how births, deaths and migration play out. It packs in roughly 144 people per square kilometre.

Growth continues for Syria until around 2086, the year its population is set to crest at about 44.2 million. From there a slow fall takes it to roughly 43.7 million by century's end.

The median age is set to climb from about 23 today to roughly 43 by 2100, even as life expectancy improves from about 73 years. An older population gradually reshapes the labour force, pension systems and healthcare demand.

Fertility is around 2.70 births per woman, above the replacement level, which keeps natural growth positive for now. Net inward migration adds to the population each year and partly offsets the low birth rate.

The trajectory above is the UN's medium scenario. Wars, policy shifts, economic change and migration can all move the numbers, but the broad shape, growth followed by an eventual peak, is robust across the main variants.