Rural population growth in Syria
Syria: Rural population growth was 3.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Syria, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population growth in Syria is 3.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 22.0% on the previous year and up 215.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Syria peaked at 6.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -30.8%, in 2013.
Syria ranks 2nd of 209 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Syria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.4% | — |
| 1962 | 2.4% | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 2.4% | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 2.5% | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 2.6% | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 2.6% | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 2.7% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 2.7% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 2.8% | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 2.8% | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 2.8% | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 2.8% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 2.8% | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 2.8% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 2.8% | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 3.0% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 3.1% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 3.0% | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 2.3% | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | -8.6% |
| 1997 | 1.9% | -7.0% |
| 1998 | 1.8% | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | +15.6% |
| 2006 | 3.8% | +101.1% |
| 2007 | 5.7% | +50.2% |
| 2008 | 2.9% | -49.0% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -79.9% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | +34.6% |
| 2011 | -4.7% | -708.9% |
| 2012 | -17.9% | +275.9% |
| 2013 | -30.8% | +72.8% |
| 2014 | -18.2% | -41.0% |
| 2015 | -3.3% | -82.1% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | -138.3% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | +109.2% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +41.4% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +30.2% |
| 2020 | 4.9% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | -14.5% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | +24.8% |
| 2023 | 6.5% | +24.4% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -26.6% |
| 2025 | 3.7% | -22.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 0.6% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.2% | -30.8% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.9% | 3.7% | 6.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 1 Oman 3.8% compare
- 3 United Arab Emirates 3.7% compare
- 4 Saudi Arabia 3.6% compare
- 5 Georgia 2.9% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Syria
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.3% (2010)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2792 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 42.9% (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 76.61 % change on previous year (2022)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 10.17 billion current US$ (2022)
- Rural population 7.15 million (2025)
- Rural population 27.9% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.7% (2010)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 42.9% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Syria?
- Rural population growth in Syria was 3.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.5% in 2023.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was -30.8% in 2013.
- How does Syria rank for rural population growth?
- Syria ranks 2nd out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 215.0%. 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 Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.