All following population figures refer to the situation before begin of the civil war. Since 2011, many Syrians fled within Syria or left the country. About 4 million Syrians were internally displaced. According to the UNHCR, 1.159 million Syrian refugees live end of 2014 in Lebanon, 1.165 million in Turkey, 622.4 thousand in Jordan, 233.6 thousand in Iraq, and 138.2 thousand in Egypt. 209.7 thousand Syrians applied for asylum in Europe (54.6 thousand in Germany, 53.8 thousand in Sweden). About 200 thousand people died in the civil war.
Governorates
The population of the governorates of Syria according to census results and official estimates.
| Name | Abbr. | Status | Native | Capital | Area A (km²) | Population Census (C) 1981-09-08 | Population Census (C) 2004-09-22 | Population Estimate (E) 2011-12-31 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syria | SYR | سوريا | Dimashq | 185,180 | 9,052,628 | 17,920,844 | 21,377,000 | |||
| Al-Ḥasakah {Al-Hasakah} | HAS | Gov | الحسكة | Al-Ḥasakah | 23,334 | 669,756 | 1,275,118 | 1,512,000 | 2333400 | |
| Al-Lādhiqīyah [Latakia] {Al-Ladhiqiyah} | LAT | Gov | اللاذقية | Al-Lādhiqīyah | 2,297 | 554,384 | 879,551 | 1,008,000 | 229700 | |
| Al-Qunayṭirah [Quneitra] {Al-Qunaytirah} | QUN | Gov | القنيطرة | Al-Qunayṭirah | 685 | 26,258 | 66,627 | 90,000 | 68500 | |
| Ar-Raqqah | RAQ | Gov | الرقة | Ar-Raqqah | 19,616 | 348,383 | 793,514 | 944,000 | 1961600 | |
| As-Suwaydā' {As-Suwayda} | SUW | Gov | السويداء | As-Suwaydā' | 5,550 | 199,114 | 313,231 | 370,000 | 555000 | |
| Dar'ā [Daraa] {Dara} | DAR | Gov | درعا | Dar'ā | 3,730 | 362,969 | 843,478 | 1,027,000 | 373000 | |
| Dayr az-Zawr [Deir ez-Zor] | DAY | Gov | دير الزور | Dayr az-Zawr | 33,060 | 409,130 | 1,004,747 | 1,239,000 | 3306000 | |
| Dimashq [Damascus] | DIM | Cap | دمشق | Dimashq | 105 | 1,112,214 | 1,552,161 | 1,754,000 | 10500 | |
| Ḥalab [Aleppo] {Halab} | HAL | Gov | حلب | Ḥalab | 18,500 | 1,878,701 | 4,045,166 | 4,868,000 | 1850000 | |
| Ḥamāh [Hama] {Hamah} | HAM | Gov | حماة | Ḥamāh | 8,883 | 736,452 | 1,384,953 | 1,628,000 | 888300 | |
| Ḥimṣ [Homs] {Hims} | HIM | Gov | حمص | Ḥimṣ | 42,223 | 815,103 | 1,529,402 | 1,803,000 | 4222300 | |
| Idlib | IDL | Gov | ادلب | Idlib | 6,097 | 579,510 | 1,258,427 | 1,501,000 | 609700 | |
| Rif Dimashq [Damascus Rural] | RDM | Gov | ريف دمشق | Dimashq | 18,032 | 917,364 | 2,273,074 | 2,836,000 | 1803200 | |
| Ṭarṭūs {Tartus} | TAR | Gov | طرطوس | Ṭarṭūs | 1,892 | 443,290 | 701,395 | 797,000 | 189200 | |
| ... [Golan Heights annexed by Israel] | - | 1,176 | ... | ... | ... | 117600 |
- (1981) UN Demographic Yearbook 1988.
(2004) (2011) Central Bureau of Statistics, Syrian Arab Republic (web).
Major Cities
| Name | Adm. | Population Census (C) 2004-09-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ḥalab | HAL | 2,132,100 |
| 2 | Dimashq | DIM | 1,414,913 |
| 3 | Ḥimṣ | HIM | 652,609 |
| 4 | Al-Lādhiqīyah | LAT | 383,786 |
| 5 | Ḥamāh | HAM | 312,994 |
| 6 | Ar-Raqqah | RAQ | 220,488 |
| 7 | Dayr az-Zawr | DAY | 211,857 |
| 8 | Al-Ḥasakah | HAS | 188,160 |
| 9 | Al-Qāmishlī | HAS | 184,231 |
Contents: Cities & Localities
The population of Syrian cities and localities with more than 20,000 inhabitants by census years.
| Name | Native | Adm. | Population Census (Cf) 1981-09-08 | Population Census (C) 1994-09-03 | Population Census (C) 2004-09-22 | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abū Ḥamām {Abu Hamam} | أبو حمام | DAY | ... | ... | 21,947 | 0 | |
| Abū Kamāl {Abu Kamal} | البوكمال | DAY | 17,507 | ... | 42,510 | 0 | |
| Aḍ-Ḍumayr [Dumeir] {Ad-Dumayr} | الضمير | RDM | ... | ... | 24,223 | 0 | |
| 'Adrā {Adra} | عدرا | RDM | ... | ... | 20,559 | 0 | |
| 'Afrīn (Efrîn) {Afrin} | عفرين | HAL | 11,914 | ... | 36,562 | 0 | |
| Al-Bāb {Al-Bab} | الباب | HAL | 30,008 | ... | 63,069 | 0 | |
| Al-Ḥajar al-Aswad {Al-Hajar al-Aswad} | الحجر الأسود | RDM | 23,563 | ... | 84,948 | 0 | |
| Al-Ḥarāk {Al-Harak} | الحراك | DAR | ... | ... | 20,760 | 0 | |
| Al-Ḥasakah (Hesîçe) {Al-Hasakah} | الحسكة | HAS | 73,426 | 119,798 | 188,160 | 0 | |
| Al-Kiswah | الكسوة | RDM | ... | ... | 43,456 | 0 | |
| Al-Lādhiqīyah [Latakia] {Al-Ladhiqiyah} | اللاذقية | LAT | 196,791 | 311,784 | 383,786 | 0 | |
| Al-Malīḥah (Dêrika Hemko) {Al-Malihah} | المليحة | RDM | ... | ... | 23,034 | 0 | |
| Al-Mālikīyah {Al-Malikiyah} | المالكية | HAS | 13,225 | ... | 26,311 | 0 | |
| Al-Mayādīn {Al-Mayadin} | الميادين | DAY | 14,966 | ... | 44,028 | 0 | |
| Al-Qāmishlī (Qamişlo) {Al-Qamishli} | القامشلي | HAS | 92,990 | 144,286 | 184,231 | 0 | |
| Al-Qunayṭirah [Quneitra] {Al-Qunaytirah} | القنيطرة | QUN | ... | ... | 153 | 0 | |
| Al-Qūrīyah {Al-Quriyah} | القورية | DAY | ... | ... | 28,172 | 0 | |
| Al-Quṣayr {Al-Qusayr} | القصير | HIM | 14,801 | ... | 29,818 | 0 | |
| Al-Quṭayfah {Al-Qutayfah} | القطيفة | RDM | 12,259 | ... | 26,671 | 0 | |
| Al-Yarmūk [Yarmouk] {Al-Yarmuk} | اليرموك | DIM | ... | ... | 137,248 | 0 | |
| 'Amūda {Amuda} | عامودا | HAS | ... | ... | 26,821 | 0 | |
| An-Nabk | النبك | RDM | 19,521 | ... | 32,548 | 0 | |
| 'Arbīn {Arbin} | عربين | RDM | ... | ... | 44,934 | 0 | |
| Arīḥā {Ariha} | أريحا | IDL | 17,805 | ... | 39,501 | 0 | |
| Ar-Raqqah [Ar-Rakka] | الرقة | RAQ | 87,138 | 165,195 | 220,488 | 0 | |
| Ar-Rastan | الرستن | HIM | 15,091 | ... | 39,834 | 0 | |
| Ar-Ruḥaybah {Ar-Ruhaybah} | الرحيبة | RDM | ... | ... | 30,450 | 0 | |
| Asharfīh Ṣaḥnāyā {Asharfih Sahnaya} | أشرفية صحنايا | RDM | ... | ... | 30,519 | 0 | |
| Ash-Shaykh Miskīn {Ash-Shaykh Miskin} | الشيخ مسكين | DAR | ... | ... | 24,057 | 0 | |
| As-Sabīnah {As-Sabinah} | السبينة | RDM | ... | ... | 62,509 | 0 | |
| As-Safīrah {As-Safirah} | السفيرة | HAL | 21,197 | ... | 63,708 | 0 | |
| As-Salamīyah {As-Salamiyah} | السلمية | HAM | 35,909 | ... | 66,724 | 0 | |
| Aṣ-Ṣanamayn {As-Sanamayn} | الصنمين | DAR | ... | ... | 26,268 | 0 | |
| As-Sīdah Zaynab {As-Sidah Zaynab} | السيدة زينب | RDM | ... | ... | 136,427 | 0 | |
| As-Suwaydā' {As-Suwayda} | السويداء | SUW | 43,414 | ... | 73,641 | 0 | |
| Ath-Thawrah | الثورة | RAQ | 44,782 | ... | 69,425 | 0 | |
| At-Tall | التل | RDM | 18,198 | ... | 44,597 | 0 | |
| 'Ayn al-'Arab (Kobanî, Kobanê) {Ayn al-Arab} | عين العرب | HAL | 12,393 | ... | 44,821 | 0 | |
| 'Ayn Tarmā {Ayn Tarma} | عين ترما | RDM | ... | ... | 35,722 | 0 | |
| A'zāz {Azaz} | أعزاز | HAL | 16,557 | ... | 31,623 | 0 | |
| Az-Zabadānī {Az-Zabadani} | الزبداني | RDM | 16,464 | ... | 26,285 | 0 | |
| Babīlā {Babila} | ببيلا | RDM | ... | ... | 50,880 | 0 | |
| Bāniyās {Baniyas} | بانياس | TAR | 19,506 | ... | 41,632 | 0 | |
| Binish | بنش | IDL | ... | ... | 21,848 | 0 | |
| Buṣra āsh-Shām {Busra ash-Sham} | بصرى الشام | DAR | ... | ... | 19,683 | 0 | |
| Dā'il {Dail} | داعل | DAR | ... | ... | 29,408 | 0 | |
| Dar'ā [Daraa] {Dara} | درعا | DAR | 49,534 | ... | 97,969 | 0 | |
| Dārayyā {Darayya} | داريا | RDM | 34,048 | ... | 78,763 | 0 | |
| Dayr az-Zawr [Deir ez-Zor] | دير الزور | DAY | 92,091 | 140,459 | 211,857 | 0 | |
| Dimashq [Damascus] | دمشق | DIM | 1,112,214 | 1,394,322 | 1,414,913 | 0 | |
| Dūmā [Douma] {Duma} | دوما | RDM | 51,337 | ... | 110,893 | 0 | |
| Gharānīj {Gharanij} | غرانيج | DAY | ... | ... | 23,009 | 0 | |
| Hajīn {Hajin} | هجين | DAY | ... | ... | 37,935 | 0 | |
| Ḥalab [Aleppo] {Halab} | حلب | HAL | 985,413 | 1,582,930 | 2,132,100 | 0 | |
| Ḥalfāyā {Halfaya} | حلفايا | HAM | ... | ... | 21,180 | 0 | |
| Ḥamāh [Hama] {Hamah} | حماة | HAM | 177,208 | 264,348 | 312,994 | 0 | |
| Ḥārasta al-Baṣal {Harasta al-Basal} | حرستا | RDM | 25,657 | ... | 68,708 | 0 | |
| Ḥimṣ [Homs] {Hims} | حمص | HIM | 346,871 | 540,133 | 652,609 | 0 | |
| Idlib | إدلب | IDL | 51,682 | ... | 98,791 | 0 | |
| Inkhil | أنخل | DAR | ... | ... | 31,258 | 0 | |
| Izra' {Izra} | ازرع | DAR | ... | ... | 19,158 | 0 | |
| Jablah | جبلة | LAT | 24,784 | ... | 53,989 | 0 | |
| Jadīdah 'Arṭūz {Jadidah Artuz} | جديدة عرطوز | RDM | ... | ... | 45,000 | 0 | |
| Jaramānah {Jaramanah} | جرمانا | RDM | 64,305 | ... | 114,363 | 0 | |
| Jāsim {Jasim} | جاسم | DAR | ... | ... | 31,683 | 0 | |
| Jayrūd {Jayrud} | جيرود | RDM | ... | ... | 24,219 | 0 | |
| Jisr ash-Shughūr {Jisr ash-Shughur} | جسر الشغور | IDL | 21,461 | ... | 39,917 | 0 | |
| Kafr Baṭnā {Kafr Batna} | كفر بطنا | RDM | ... | ... | 22,535 | 0 | |
| Kafr Lāhā {Kafr Laha} | كفر لاها | HIM | ... | ... | 20,041 | 0 | |
| Khan Shaykhūn {Khan Shaykhun} | خان شيخون | IDL | ... | ... | 34,371 | 0 | |
| Ma'arrat an-Nu'mān {Maarrat an-Numan} | معرة النعمان | IDL | 25,579 | ... | 58,008 | 0 | |
| Manbij | منبج | HAL | 30,812 | ... | 99,497 | 0 | |
| Maṣyāf {Masyaf} | مصياف | HAM | 12,977 | ... | 22,508 | 0 | |
| Mu'aḍamīyat ash-Shām {Muadamiyat ash-Sham} | معضمية الشام | RDM | ... | ... | 52,738 | 0 | |
| Nawā {Nawa} | نوى | DAR | 20,309 | ... | 47,066 | 0 | |
| Nubl | نبل | HAL | ... | ... | 21,039 | 0 | |
| Qaṭanā {Qatana} | قطنا | RDM | 17,928 | ... | 33,996 | 0 | |
| Qudsayā {Qudsaya} | قدسيا | RDM | ... | ... | 33,571 | 0 | |
| Ra's al-'Ayn (Serê Kanîyê) {Ras al-Ayn} | رأس العين | HAS | 14,278 | ... | 29,347 | 0 | |
| Ṣāfītā {Safita} | صافيتا | TAR | 10,016 | ... | 20,301 | 0 | |
| Salqīn {Salqin} | سلقين | IDL | ... | ... | 23,700 | 0 | |
| Saqbā {Saqba} | سقبا | RDM | ... | ... | 25,696 | 0 | |
| Sarāqib {Saraqib} | سراقب | IDL | ... | ... | 32,495 | 0 | |
| Ṣubaykhān {Subaykhan} | صبيخان | DAY | ... | ... | 23,867 | 0 | |
| Ṣūrān {Suran} | صوران | HAM | ... | ... | 29,100 | 0 | |
| Ṭafas {Tafas} | طفس | DAR | ... | ... | 32,236 | 0 | |
| Talbīsah {Talbisah} | تلبيسة | HIM | ... | ... | 30,796 | 0 | |
| Tall Rif'at {Tall Rifat} | تل رفعت | HAL | ... | ... | 20,514 | 0 | |
| Ṭarṭūs [Tartous] {Tartus} | طرطوس | TAR | 52,589 | ... | 115,769 | 0 | |
| Ṭayyibat al-Imām {Tayyibat al-Imam} | طيبة الإمام | HAM | ... | ... | 24,105 | 0 | |
| Tudmur [Palmyra] | تدمر | HIM | 18,122 | ... | 51,323 | 0 | |
| Yabrūd {Yabrud} | يبرود | RDM | 17,064 | ... | 25,891 | 0 | |
| Yaldā {Yalda} | يلدا | RDM | ... | ... | 28,384 | 0 | |
| Zamalkā {Zamalka} | زملكا | RDM | ... | ... | 44,661 | 0 |
- (1981) Population Census Report 1981, Central Bureau of Statistics (provided by Clive Thornton).
(1994) UN Demographic Yearbook 1999.
(2004) Central Bureau of Statistics, Syrian Arab Republic (provided by Dariusz Gierczak).