Syria Population Pyramid (2026)
Syria has a population of 26,472,497 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 57th-largest population in the world and 0.32% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 27.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.0%, with 100.4 males for every 100 females.
Syria Demographics
Syria has 26.5 million people in 2026, up 314.9% from 6.4 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 499,239 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 23.8 — the 61st-lowest of 194 countries.
65+ share 5.0% — the 64th-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 35.3% (9,354,088)
All generations in Syria →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Syria's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Syria has 100.4 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 46,777 (0.2% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:13,259,637
- Percentage:50.1%
Female Statistics
- Population:13,212,860
- Percentage:49.9%
- Ratio Format:1:0.996
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Syria indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 625,121 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 457,916 | 21.2 | 2.80 | estimate |
| 2022 | 476,966 | 21.2 | 2.75 | estimate |
| 2023 | 521,601 | 22.1 | 2.71 | estimate |
| 2024 | 571,460 | 23.2 | 2.70 | projection |
| 2025 | 601,433 | 23.5 | 2.66 | projection |
| 2026 | 625,121 | 23.6 | 2.62 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (625,121 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Syria's median age is 23.8 years
Half the population is younger than 23.8 years, half is older — indicating a very young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 2,808,776 | 10.6% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 2,153,651 | 8.1% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 2,424,329 | 9.2% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 2,986,066 | 11.3% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 2,978,517 | 11.3% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 2,784,282 | 10.5% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 1,971,408 | 7.4% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 1,566,017 | 5.9% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 1,438,866 | 5.4% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 1,297,782 | 4.9% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 1,105,438 | 4.2% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 921,616 | 3.5% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 725,181 | 2.7% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 540,170 | 2.0% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 376,000 | 1.4% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 228,977 | 0.9% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 109,680 | 0.4% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 42,827 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 11,223 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 1,606 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 82 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 3 (falling birth rate): 2.62 children per woman and 23.6 births per 1,000, with a low death rate (4.8). Read more about Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Syria Total Fertility Rate: 2.62 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.80 | 21.2 | |
| 2022 | 2.75 | 21.2 | ↓0.05 |
| 2023 | 2.71 | 22.1 | ↓0.04 |
| 2024 | 2.70 | 23.2 | ↓0.01 |
| 2025 | 2.66 | 23.5 | ↓0.04 |
| 2026 | 2.62 | 23.6 | ↓0.04 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 2.48
Syria's total fertility rate is 2.62 children per woman in 2026 (above replacement), above the replacement level of 2.1. Syria ranks 66 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −65.6% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Syria's population has increased by 632.9%.
The median age has increased from 19.2 in 1950 to 23.8 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Syria's Demographics
Syria has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 27.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.0%.
The largest five-year age band is 15–19, at 11.3% of the population, compared with 10.6% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Syria's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Syria's working-age share is projected to peak in 2028 at 67.5%.
Fertility Transition Stage
Syria is in a period of above replacement, with a total fertility rate of 2.62 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Syria's median age changed by +5.4 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 26,472,497 |
| Male Population | 13,259,637(50.1%) |
| Female Population | 13,212,860(49.9%) |
| Median Age | 23.8 years |
| Sex Ratio | 100.4 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 7,386,756(27.9%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 17,775,176(67.1%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 1,310,565(5.0%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 48.9 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 41.6 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 7.4 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Syria
How long the average person in Syria is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Syria is projected to grow to 37.8 million people by 2050 (+42.8% from 2026).
The median age rises from 23.8 in 2026 to 32.1 by 2050.
Syria's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 40.4%, growing from 6.4 million in 1970 to 9.0 million by 1980
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion declined by 0.6 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 6.4M to 9.0M
- • Growth rate of 40.4% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 14.8 to 14.5 years (−0.3y)
- • 65+ share changed by −0.6 points; under-15 share by +0.6 points
How Does Syria Compare to Its Neighbors?
Syria has a younger population than Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia. Syria has an older population than Iraq.
Syria
Turkey
Iran
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syria (Current) | 26,472,497 | 23.8 | 27.9% | 5.0% | stationary |
| Turkey | 87,926,082 | 33.9 | 20.6% | 10.9% | stationary |
| Iran | 93,168,497 | 34.5 | 21.6% | 8.9% | stationary |
| Iraq | 48,007,437 | 21.1 | 35.4% | 3.5% | expansive |
| Saudi Arabia | 35,165,787 | 29.7 | 23.4% | 3.2% | stationary |
Frequently Asked Questions About Syria
How does Syria rank globally by population?
Syria ranks 57th in the world by population with 26.5 million people as of 2026, representing 0.32% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Syria's age structure reveal about its development?
Syria's age structure — 27.9% under 15, 67.1% working-age (15–64) and 5.0% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 3 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 23.8 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Syria?
Syria has 48.9 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Syria experiencing a demographic dividend?
Syria is at the peak of its demographic-dividend window. Syria's working-age share is projected to peak in 2028 at 67.5%. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Syria's population?
Syria has more males than females, with 100.4 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Syria Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/syria
View UN World Population Prospects Data →