Editing Demographics of Syria (section)

== Population ==
{{Update section|date=June 2023}}

This data is from [[CIA World Factbook]]:<ref name="SyriaTWF" /> In 2023, the Syrian population increased by 6.39%. This made Syria the country with the highest population growth. The birth rate was estimated at 22.19 births per 1000 people. The death rate is 4.07 deaths for 1000 people. The median age (estimated in 2020) for males is 23 years old, while for females, it is 24 years old. Overall, the Syrian median age is 23.5 years old. The migration rate is 45.78 migrants for 1,000 people. 

{{Historical populations
|align=right
|percentages = pagr
|0|2110000|200|2860000|500|2430000|900|2200000|1200|2700000|1500|1070000|1700|1250000|1850|1480000|1900|1720000|1937|2368000 |1950|3252000 |1960|4565000 |1970|6305000 |1980|8704000 |1990|12116000 |1995|14186000 |2004|17921000|2011|21124000|2016|17185000|2023|23,022,427|footnote = Source:<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Setton-A History of the Crusades|last=Russell|first=Josiah C.|chapter=The Population of the Crusader States|pages=295–314|volume=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Syria Population - Our World in Data |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/population?time=0..latest&country=~SYR |website=www.ourworldindata.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>Demographic Developments and Population Policies in Baʻthist Syria, Onn. Winkler, page 184,  1998.</ref> 2016 estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/syria/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=2011-05-02}}</ref> 2023 estimate<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syria Population 2023 (Live) |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/syria-population |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Population development of Syria.svg|thumb|Population history of Syria|230x230px]]
In 1200, the territories of modern-day Syria had an estimated population of 2.7 million.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Setton-A History of the Crusades|last=Russell|first=Josiah C.|chapter=The Population of the Crusader States|pages=295–314|volume=5}}</ref> This number sharply decreased due to the [[Black Death|Plague epidemic]] in 1348–1353, which killed off an estimated third of the [[Levant]]'s population. By 1937, the population reached an estimated 2,368,000, still considerably lower than 1200's estimated population.

Since 1960, censuses have been conducted in 1960, 1970, 1981, 1994, and 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://international.ipums.org/international/microdata_inventory.shtml|title=World Microdata Inventory|date=2009|work=IPUMS-International|publisher=University of Minnesota|access-date=27 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004221103/https://international.ipums.org/international/microdata_inventory.shtml|archive-date=4 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2014, 17,951,639, a massive decline due to nearly 4 million [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian refugees]] leaving the country because of the [[Syrian Civil War]] and furthermore because of the death in the war. This is a drop of 9.7% from the previous year.<ref name="SyriaIM">{{cite web|url=http://www.indexmundi.com/syria/demographics_profile.html|title=Syria Demographics Profile 2014|work=indexmundi.com|access-date=29 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108081118/http://www.indexmundi.com/syria/demographics_profile.html|archive-date=8 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, the head of the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs, Mohammad Akram al-Qash, said that the Syrian population was 28 million, of which, 21 million were living in Syria and that 7 million were refugees.<ref name="EnabBaladi">{{citation|script-title=ar:حكومة النظام السوري تحصي عدد سكان سوريا|url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/191247#ixzz5Lw82tbj2|year=2017|publisher=[[Enab Baladi]]|language=ar|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722041200/https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/191247#ixzz5Lw82tbj2|archive-date=22 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018,  the population was estimated to be 19,454,263 people.<ref name="SyriaTWF">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/syria/|title=The World Factbook|work=cia.gov|access-date=2019-04-07}} This data is from [[CIA World Factbook]]</ref> Ever since the [[Syrian Civil War]], the population has been steadily declining, however rebounded in 2023, with an estimated population of 23,022,427 people.

=== Forced displacement ===
{{See also|Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Internally displaced persons in Syria}}
More than six million refugees left the country during the civil war,<ref name="BBC News 2016">{{cite web | title=Syria: Five years into war, what is left of the country? | website=BBC News | date=15 March 2016 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-841ebc3a-1be9-493b-8800-2c04890e8fc9 | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617173849/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-841ebc3a-1be9-493b-8800-2c04890e8fc9 | archive-date=17 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> of whom over five million are registered as refugees by the [[UNHCR]] as of mid-2019.<ref name="Situations ">{{cite web| title=Situation Syria Regional Refugee Response| website=UNHCR| url=https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria| access-date=12 June 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611173834/https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria| archive-date=11 June 2019| url-status=live}}</ref> Most of them fled to neighboring countries such as [[Turkey]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/03/11/148327930/syrian-refugees-may-be-wearing-out-turks-welcome |title=Syrian Refugees May Be Wearing Out Turks' Welcome |publisher=NPR |date=11 March 2012 |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402005834/http://www.npr.org/2012/03/11/148327930/syrian-refugees-may-be-wearing-out-turks-welcome |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17635434 |title=Syria crisis: Turkey refugee surge amid escalation fear |work=BBC News |date=6 April 2012 |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408231033/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17635434 |archive-date=8 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/World/News/Syria-Refugees-brace-for-more-bloodshed-20120312 |title=Syria: Refugees brace for more bloodshed |work=News24 |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=10 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023184006/http://www.news24.com/World/News/Syria-Refugees-brace-for-more-bloodshed-20120312 |archive-date=23 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Iraq]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_131434512.htm|title=30 Syrian soldiers flees to Iraq's Kurdish region: official|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118205329/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_131434512.htm|archive-date=18 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as European nations like [[Greece]], [[Germany]] and [[Sweden]]. Since 2017, tens of thousands have returned.<ref name="ECFR.EU 2019">{{cite web | title=The displacement dilemma: Should Europe help Syrian refugees return home? | website=ECFR.EU | date=13 March 2019 | url=https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/the_displacement_dilemma_should_europe_help_syrian_refugees_return_home | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605215302/https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/the_displacement_dilemma_should_europe_help_syrian_refugees_return_home | archive-date=5 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The war resulted in large-scale displacement in the country. The UNHCR estimates [[Internally displaced persons in Syria|internally displaced people]] (IDPs) at seven million. A further 70,000 people were trapped on the border with Jordan at [[Rukban]] in 2016–18,<ref name="Human Rights Watch 2017">{{cite web | title=World Report 2017: Rights Trends in Syria | website=Human Rights Watch | date=12 January 2017 | url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/syria | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611171554/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/syria | archive-date=11 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Enab Baladi 2018">{{cite web | title=In 15 Days, Healthcare Deterioration Leads to 14 Civilians' Death in al-Rukban camp – Enab Baladi | website=Enab Baladi | date=10 October 2018 | url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/10/in-15-days-healthcare-deterioration-leads-to-14-civilians-death-in-al-rukban-camp/ | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330044739/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/10/in-15-days-healthcare-deterioration-leads-to-14-civilians-death-in-al-rukban-camp/ | archive-date=30 March 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> with up to 40,000 still there in 2019.<ref name="Al-Khalidi 2019">{{cite web | last=Al-Khalidi | first=Suleiman | title=Russian 'siege' chokes Syrian camp in shadow of U.S. base | website=U.K. | date=28 April 2019 | url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-security-camp-idUKKCN1S404T | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508205951/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-security-camp-idUKKCN1S404T | archive-date=8 May 2019 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

A significant part of the population lives in territory outside government sovereignty. At its peak in 2015, [[ISIL]] ruled over ten million people across Syria and Iraq.<ref name="BBC ISIL maps 2018">{{cite web | title=The war against 'Islamic State' in maps and charts | website=BBC News | date=28 March 2018 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034 | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616195731/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034 | archive-date=16 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES), commonly referred to as [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Rojava]], has a population of around two million.<ref name=washingtoninstitute1>{{cite web|author1=Fabrice Balanche|author-link=Fabrice Balanche|title=Sectarianism in Syria's Civil War|page=24|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/SyriaAtlasCOMPLETE-3.pdf|website=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|access-date=2019-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922063624/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/SyriaAtlasCOMPLETE-3.pdf|archive-date=2018-09-22|url-status=live}}</ref> Areas controlled by the opposition have had a population in the millions. In mid-2017, UN OCHA estimated that around 540,000 persons were trapped in besieged areas as of June 2017, the majority besieged by government forces in [[Siege of Eastern Ghouta|Eastern Ghouta]].<ref name="Human Rights Watch 2018">{{cite web | title=World Report 2018: Rights Trends in Syria | website=Human Rights Watch | date=2 January 2018 | url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/syria | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222103038/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/syria | archive-date=22 December 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> By the time the government retook Ghouta in April 2018, some 140,000 individuals had fled their homes and up to 50,000 were evacuated to Idlib and Aleppo governorates.<ref name="UN News 2018">{{cite web | title=Siege of Syria's eastern Ghouta 'barbaric and medieval', says UN Commission of Inquiry | website=UN News | date=20 June 2018 | url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1012632 | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530192352/https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1012632 | archive-date=30 May 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> The latter [[Idlib demilitarization (2018–present)|rebel areas]] had an estimated population of 3 million (40% of them displaced from defeated rebel areas).<ref name="BBC News 2019">{{cite web | title=Why does the battle for Idlib matter? | website=BBC News | date=4 June 2019 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45403334 | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606061005/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45403334 | archive-date=6 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect 2019">{{cite web | title=Syria : Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect | website=Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect | date=23 March 2019 | url=http://www.globalr2p.org/regions/syria | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602034206/http://www.globalr2p.org/regions/syria | archive-date=2 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Northwestern Syria offensive (April 2019–present)|Fighting in Idlib]] has led to further displacements, of up to 250,000 people, and generating new refugee outflows to neighbouring Turkey.<ref name="TRTWorld NGOs 2019">{{cite web | author=TRTWorld | title=Syria NGOs prepare for 'largest ever' surge in IDPs and refugees | website=Syria NGOs prepare for ‘largest ever’ surge in IDPs and refugees | date=13 May 2019 | url=https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/syria-ngos-prepare-for-largest-ever-surge-in-idps-and-refugees-26602 | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516081648/https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/syria-ngos-prepare-for-largest-ever-surge-in-idps-and-refugees-26602 | archive-date=16 May 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Displacement has led to demographic shifts. One example is the area in the North under control by Kurdish-led and US-backed [[Syrian Democratic Forces]] (SDF). Many human rights groups, including [[Amnesty International]]<ref>{{cite news |title= Syria: US ally's razing of villages amounts to war crimes |url= https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes/ |publisher= Amnesty International |date= 13 October 2015 |access-date= 9 June 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151014151034/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/syria-us-allys-razing-of-villages-amounts-to-war-crimes/ |archive-date= 14 October 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref> and international organizations<ref>{{cite news|title=Syria: Kurdish militias plan a demographic change in Manbij|url=https://www.middleeastobserver.org/2016/08/14/syria-kurdish-militias-plan-a-demographic-change-in-manbij/|publisher=Middle East Observer|date=14 August 2016|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526223319/https://www.middleeastobserver.org/2016/08/14/syria-kurdish-militias-plan-a-demographic-change-in-manbij/|archive-date=26 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tal Abyad: Achilles Heel of the Syrian Kurdish Belt|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/tal-abyad-achilles-heel-of-the-syrian-kurdish-belt|publisher=Middle East Observer|date=21 December 2018|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217084951/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/tal-abyad-achilles-heel-of-the-syrian-kurdish-belt|archive-date=17 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> have accused SDF forces of committing ethnic cleansing in Arab areas they were capturing from other war factions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syrian Kurds accused of ethnic cleansing and killing opponents|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/18/syrian-kurds-accused-of-ethnic-cleansing-and-killing-opponents/|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=18 May 2016|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617144708/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/18/syrian-kurds-accused-of-ethnic-cleansing-and-killing-opponents/|archive-date=17 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The accusation was repeated on 8 May 2019 by Russia's foreign minister [[Sergey Lavrov]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lavrov: US attempts to resettle Kurds in Arab areas might trigger Syria's breakup|url=http://tass.com/politics/1057531|publisher=Tass Agency|date=8 May 2019|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516023441/http://tass.com/politics/1057531|archive-date=16 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> NGOs and the opposition have also accused the government of using the conflict to affect demographic restructuring.<ref name="FILDH ReliefWeb 2019">{{cite web | author=Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de I'Homme | title=Assad's Syria: how he planned to transform Syria since 2011 - Syrian Arab Republic | website=ReliefWeb | date=15 March 2019 | url=https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/assad-s-syria-how-he-planned-transform-syria-2011 | access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Arfeh 2019">{{cite web | last=Arfeh | first=Hasan | title=The Institutionalization of Demographic Change in Syria | website=Atlantic Council | date=4 April 2019 | url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/syriasource/the-institutionalization-of-demographic-change-in-syria | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606005711/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/syriasource/the-institutionalization-of-demographic-change-in-syria | archive-date=6 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Dajani Sheff 2018">{{cite web | last1=Dajani | first1=Mohammed S. | last2=Sheff | first2=Marcus | title=Assad's Law 10: Reshaping Syria's Demographics | website=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | date=17 September 2018 | url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/assads-law-10-reshaping-syrias-demographics | access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="TRTWorld 2019">{{cite web | author=TRTWorld | title=Bashar al Assad's bet on permanent demographic change in Syria | website=Bashar al Assad’s bet on permanent demographic change in Syria | date=10 April 2019 | url=https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/bashar-al-assad-s-bet-on-permanent-demographic-change-in-syria-25728 | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717095317/https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/bashar-al-assad-s-bet-on-permanent-demographic-change-in-syria-25728 | archive-date=17 July 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Casualties of the civil war ===
{{Human toll of Syrian Civil War}}
{{See also|Casualties of the Syrian Civil War}}
In April 2016, the UN estimated that 400,000 people had died in the war,<ref name="Al Jazeera 2016">{{cite web | title=Syria death toll: UN envoy estimates 400,000 killed | website=Al Jazeera | date=23 April 2016 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/staffan-de-mistura-400000-killed-syria-civil-war-160423055735629.html | access-date=12 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613102827/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/staffan-de-mistura-400000-killed-syria-civil-war-160423055735629.html | archive-date=13 June 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> and casualties have continued since, with estimates for the total dead by mid-2019 of up to 220,000 civilians, 175,000 government combatants, and 174,000 anti-government combatants  (see [[Casualties of the Syrian Civil War]]).

===Age structure===
{{Bar chart
| title       = [[CIA World Factbook]] (2018 est.)<ref name="SyriaTWF"/>
| bar_width   = 20
| width_units = em
| label_type  = [[Population pyramid]]
| label1  = 0–14
| label2  = 15–24
| label3  = 25–54
| label4  = 55–64
| label5  = 65+
| data_type = Male
| data_max  = 4000000
| data1  = 3,132,619
| data2  = 1,933,185
| data3  = 3,807,664
| data4  = 531,455
| data5  = 379,360
| col2_data_type = Female
| col2_data_max  = 4000000
| col2_data1  = 2,974,394
| col2_data2  = 1,863,991
| col2_data3  = 3,829,150
| col2_data4  = 542,738
| col2_data5  = 379,360
}}
{{Bar chart
| title       = [[UN]] inc [[Palestinian refugees#Syria|Palestinian refugees]] 2011-07-01 est.<ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |title=United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics |access-date=2016-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227194033/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |archive-date=2016-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| bar_width   = 20
| width_units = em
| label_type  = [[Population pyramid]]
| label1  = 0–14
| label2  = 15–64
| label3  = 65+
| data_type = Male
| data_max  = 7000000
| data1  = 4044000
| data2  = 6281000
| data3  = 469000
| col2_data_type = Female
| col2_data_max  = 7000000
| col2_data1  = 6281000
| col2_data2  = 6126000
| col2_data3  = 389000
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan=5|(2011-07-01) (Estimates, including Palestinian refugees)<ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |title=United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics |access-date=2016-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227194033/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |archive-date=2016-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 10 794 000
| align="right" | 10 330 000
| align="right" | 21 124 000
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0-4
| align="right" | 1 428 000
| align="right" | 1 347 000
| align="right" | 2 775 000
| align="right" | 13.14
|-
| align="right" | 5-9
| align="right" | 1 384 000
| align="right" | 1 270 000
| align="right" | 2 654 000
| align="right" | 12.56
|-
| align="right" | 10-14
| align="right" | 1 232 000
| align="right" | 1 198 000
| align="right" | 2 430 000
| align="right" | 11.50
|-
| align="right" | 15-19
| align="right" | 1 191 000
| align="right" | 1 088 000
| align="right" | 2 279 000
| align="right" | 10.79
|-
| align="right" | 20-24
| align="right" | 1 035 000
| align="right" | 944 000
| align="right" | 1 979 000
| align="right" | 9.37
|-
| align="right" | 25-29
| align="right" | 864 000
| align="right" | 873 000
| align="right" | 1 737 000
| align="right" | 8.22
|-
| align="right" | 30-34
| align="right" | 674 000
| align="right" | 697 000
| align="right" | 1 371 000
| align="right" | 6.49
|-
| align="right" | 35-39
| align="right" | 601 000
| align="right" | 628 000
| align="right" | 1 229 000
| align="right" | 5.82
|-
| align="right" | 40-44
| align="right" | 545 000
| align="right" | 551 000
| align="right" | 1 096 000
| align="right" | 5.19
|-
| align="right" | 45-49
| align="right" | 437 000
| align="right" | 433 000
| align="right" | 870 000
| align="right" | 4.12
|-
| align="right" | 50-54
| align="right" | 387 000
| align="right" | 405 000
| align="right" | 792 000
| align="right" | 3.75
|-
| align="right" | 55-59
| align="right" | 293 000
| align="right" | 280 000
| align="right" | 573 000
| align="right" | 2.71
|-
| align="right" | 60-64
| align="right" | 254 000
| align="right" | 227 000
| align="right" | 481 000
| align="right" | 2.28
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 469 000
| align="right" | 389 000
| align="right" | 858 000
| align="right" | 4.06
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 4 044 000
| align="right" | 3 815 000
| align="right" | 7 859 000
| align="right" | 37.20
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 6 281 000
| align="right" | 6 126 000
| align="right" | 12 407 000
| align="right" | 58.73
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 469 000
| align="right" | 389 000
| align="right" | 858 000
| align="right" | 4.06 
|-
|}

=== Population centers ===
{{main|List of cities in Syria|Cities and towns during the Syrian Civil War}}

{{Location map+ | Syria
| relief   = yes
| width    = 400
| caption  = [[List of cities in Syria|Population centers]] as of 2004<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbssyr.org/General%20census/census%202004/pop-man.pdf |title=2004 official census |access-date=2019-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310211017/http://www.cbssyr.org/General%20census/census%202004/pop-man.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref> '''6,133,652''' Syrians among '''17,921,000''' total population live in the first 10: (1) Aleppo 2,132,100 (2) Damascus 1,711,000 (3) Homs 652,609 (4) Latakia 383,786 (5) Hama 312,994 (6) Raqqa 220,488 (7) Deir ez-Zor 211,857 (8) Al-Hasakah 188,160 (9) Qamishli 184,231 (10) Sayyidah Zaynab 136,427
| float    = center
| places ={{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Aleppo]] 2,132,100</small>
 | marksize   = 21 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 36.216667 
 | lon_deg = 37.166667	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Damascus]] 1,711,000</small>
 | marksize   = 17 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 33.513056
 | lon_deg = 36.291944	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Homs]] 652,609</small>
 | marksize   = 6 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 34.730833
 | lon_deg = 36.709444	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Latakia]] 383,786</small>
 | marksize   = 3 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 35.516667
 | lon_deg = 35.783333	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Hama]] 312,994</small>
 | marksize   = 3 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 35.133333
 | lon_deg = 36.75	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Raqqa]] 220,488</small>
 | marksize   = 2 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 35.95
 | lon_deg = 39.0167	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Deir ez-Zor]] 211,857</small>
 | marksize   = 2 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 35.333333
 | lon_deg = 40.15	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Al-Hasakah]] 	188,160</small>
 | marksize   = 1 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 36.511667
 | lon_deg = 40.742222	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Qamishli]] 184,231</small>
 | marksize   = 1 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = left
 | lat_deg = 37.05
 | lon_deg = 41.22	}}
{{Location map~ | Syria
 | label = <small>[[Sayyidah Zaynab]] 136,427</small>
 | marksize   = 1 <!-- 1 -->
 | position   = right
 | lat_deg = 33.447222
 | lon_deg = 36.336111	}}
}}
60% of the population lives in the [[Aleppo Governorate]], the [[Euphrates]] valley or along the coastal plain; a fertile strip between the coastal mountains and the desert. Overall population density is about {{convert|118.3|PD/km2}}.

==== Urbanization ====
This data is from [[CIA World Factbook]]:<ref name="SyriaTWF"/>
Urban population: 54.2% of total population (2018)
Rate of [[urbanization]]: 1.43% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

==== Major urban areas ====
[[File:Syria pop.jpg|thumb|Population density, 1993]]
As of 2018; this data is from [[CIA World Factbook]]:<ref name="SyriaTWF"/>
Damascus (capital): 2.32 million
Aleppo: 1.754 million
Homs: 1.295 million
Hama: 894,000