Iraq vs Syria
Iraq vs Syria: Population growth
Population growth in 2023: 2.15% a year in Iraq and 4.92% a year in Syria, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Syria, by 2.77 percentage points, or 2.29 times that in Iraq.
% a year · UN
What the numbers say
- Syria has been higher since 2018, when it overtook Iraq.
- In 2023, Iraq ranked 45 and Syria ranked 3 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Iraq at 0.17% a year and Syria at -0.15% a year in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 0.87% a year in 2023.
Every year
% a year · UN
| Year | Iraq | Syria | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.15 | 4.92 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 2.36 | 4.92 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 2.23 | 2.6 | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 2.26 | 2.84 | 0.9 |
| 2019 | 2.18 | 3.91 | 1.03 |
| 2018 | 2.37 | 3.87 | 1.07 |
| 2017 | 2.29 | -0.26 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | 2.17 | 0.58 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 2.62 | -2.95 | 1.18 |
| 2014 | 2.83 | -5.55 | 1.22 |
| 2013 | 4.25 | -7.67 | 1.23 |
| 2012 | 5.21 | -2.3 | 1.27 |
| 2011 | 3.83 | 1.26 | 1.26 |
| 2010 | 3.22 | 2.24 | 1.27 |
| 2009 | 3.25 | 2.31 | 1.28 |
| 2008 | 4.14 | 0.81 | 1.28 |
| 2007 | -0.14 | 6.37 | 1.28 |
| 2006 | -1.43 | 5.93 | 1.28 |
| 2005 | 2.91 | 2.56 | 1.27 |
| 2004 | 3.02 | 2.58 | 1.28 |
| 2003 | 2.68 | 2.37 | 1.29 |
| 2002 | 3.36 | 2.4 | 1.3 |
| 2001 | 2.95 | 2.44 | 1.33 |
| 2000 | 3.29 | 2.48 | 1.35 |
| 1999 | 3.27 | 2.51 | 1.35 |
| 1998 | 3.2 | 2.58 | 1.37 |
| 1997 | 3.08 | 2.58 | 1.39 |
| 1996 | 3.11 | 2.67 | 1.42 |
| 1995 | 3.28 | 2.75 | 1.45 |
| 1994 | 3.42 | 2.92 | 1.47 |
| 1993 | 6.19 | 2.98 | 1.52 |
| 1992 | 3.35 | 3.05 | 1.57 |
| 1991 | 2.56 | 3.09 | 1.63 |
| 1990 | -0.47 | 3.2 | 1.76 |
| 1989 | 2.97 | 3.27 | 1.78 |
| 1988 | 2.34 | 3.36 | 1.79 |
| 1987 | 2.3 | 3.43 | 1.84 |
| 1986 | 3.2 | 3.47 | 1.83 |
| 1985 | 1.71 | 3.51 | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 3.12 | 3.53 | 1.8 |
| 1983 | 3.12 | 3.49 | 1.78 |
| 1982 | 2.82 | 3.33 | 1.86 |
| 1981 | 2.81 | 3.3 | 1.82 |
| 1980 | 3.2 | 3.34 | 1.8 |
| 1979 | 3.1 | 3.37 | 1.79 |
| 1978 | 3.34 | 3.42 | 1.74 |
| 1977 | 3.39 | 3.44 | 1.75 |
| 1976 | 3.26 | 3.43 | 1.78 |
| 1975 | 3.29 | 3.41 | 1.8 |
| 1974 | 3.33 | 3.38 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 3.44 | 3.36 | 1.94 |
| 1972 | 3.45 | 3.39 | 1.97 |
| 1971 | 3.42 | 3.4 | 1.97 |
| 1970 | 3.49 | 3.3 | 2.06 |
| 1969 | 3.46 | 3.25 | 2.06 |
| 1968 | 3.43 | 3.22 | 2.09 |
| 1967 | 3.43 | 3.19 | 2 |
| 1966 | 3.38 | 3.17 | 2.04 |
| 1965 | 3.4 | 3.13 | 2.09 |
| 1964 | 3.36 | 3.08 | 2.16 |
| 1963 | 3.36 | 3.03 | 2.28 |
| 1962 | 3.38 | 2.98 | 2.11 |
| 1961 | 2.61 | 2.91 | 1.67 |
| 1960 | 2.24 | 3.08 | 1.58 |
| 1959 | 2.13 | 3 | 1.73 |
| 1958 | 1.65 | 2.9 | 2 |
| 1957 | 1.59 | 2.82 | 2.07 |
| 1956 | 2.25 | 2.73 | 1.98 |
| 1955 | 2.14 | 2.63 | 2.01 |
| 1954 | 2.53 | 2.5 | 1.99 |
| 1953 | 2.52 | 2.37 | 1.9 |
| 1952 | 2.53 | 2.23 | 1.94 |
| 1951 | 2.22 | 2.09 | 1.75 |
| 1950 | 2.01 | 1.9 | 1.74 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Iraq | Syria | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2.10.24–3.86 | 4.041.59–6.49 | 0.86 |
| 2025 | 2.10.21–4.02 | 3.510.35–6.46 | 0.84 |
| 2026 | 2.05-0–3.82 | 3.04-0.51–6.47 | 0.83 |
| 2027 | 1.990.05–3.82 | 2.84-0.92–6.69 | 0.81 |
| 2028 | 1.94-0–3.8 | 2.56-1.56–6.28 | 0.8 |
| 2029 | 1.95-0.01–3.88 | 2.47-1.51–6.24 | 0.78 |
| 2030 | 1.91-0.02–3.78 | 2.19-1.78–6.01 | 0.76 |
| 2031 | 1.89-0.18–3.75 | 2.08-1.97–6.15 | 0.75 |
| 2032 | 1.92-0.11–3.82 | 1.9-2.06–6 | 0.73 |
| 2033 | 1.87-0.22–3.67 | 1.84-2.08–5.85 | 0.72 |
| 2034 | 1.84-0.3–3.72 | 1.69-2.32–5.64 | 0.7 |
| 2035 | 1.78-0.33–3.65 | 1.6-2.57–5.8 | 0.69 |
| 2036 | 1.82-0.16–3.74 | 1.43-2.63–5.66 | 0.67 |
| 2037 | 1.73-0.28–3.51 | 1.41-2.77–5.45 | 0.65 |
| 2038 | 1.71-0.31–3.63 | 1.29-2.87–5.35 | 0.64 |
| 2039 | 1.73-0.31–3.63 | 1.19-3.12–5.24 | 0.62 |
| 2040 | 1.67-0.43–3.59 | 1.15-3.22–5.18 | 0.61 |
| 2041 | 1.6-0.52–3.6 | 1.06-3.26–5.12 | 0.59 |
| 2042 | 1.57-0.43–3.5 | 1.01-3.18–5.34 | 0.57 |
| 2043 | 1.51-0.61–3.43 | 0.93-3.48–5.19 | 0.56 |
| 2044 | 1.48-0.51–3.45 | 0.86-3.52–5.04 | 0.54 |
| 2045 | 1.42-0.61–3.29 | 0.91-3.5–4.87 | 0.52 |
| 2046 | 1.38-0.7–3.26 | 0.83-3.23–4.84 | 0.5 |
| 2047 | 1.39-0.82–3.33 | 0.78-3.61–4.83 | 0.48 |
| 2048 | 1.35-0.78–3.3 | 0.8-3.55–4.8 | 0.46 |
| 2049 | 1.34-0.76–3.42 | 0.84-3.68–5.04 | 0.44 |
| 2050 | 1.26-0.83–3.29 | 0.84-3.43–4.98 | 0.42 |
| 2051 | 1.25-0.77–3.31 | 0.8-3.48–4.88 | 0.4 |
| 2052 | 1.18-0.9–3.16 | 0.77-3.77–4.96 | 0.38 |
| 2053 | 1.2-0.9–3.18 | 0.87-3.65–5.03 | 0.36 |
| 2054 | 1.16-0.95–3.2 | 0.84-3.65–5.05 | 0.34 |
| 2055 | 1.13-0.96–3.09 | 0.76-3.69–4.95 | 0.33 |
| 2056 | 1.11-0.9–3.15 | 0.77-3.87–4.7 | 0.31 |
| 2057 | 1.07-1.09–3.13 | 0.69-4.05–4.68 | 0.3 |
| 2058 | 1.03-1.15–3.07 | 0.69-3.91–4.84 | 0.28 |
| 2059 | 1.01-1.04–2.97 | 0.76-3.55–5.07 | 0.27 |
| 2060 | 1.04-0.9–3.08 | 0.69-3.72–4.71 | 0.25 |
| 2061 | 0.98-1.14–3 | 0.61-3.93–4.6 | 0.24 |
| 2062 | 0.94-1.22–3.07 | 0.59-3.9–4.71 | 0.23 |
| 2063 | 0.96-1.3–3.05 | 0.58-4.01–4.73 | 0.22 |
| 2064 | 0.92-1.18–2.92 | 0.59-3.9–4.73 | 0.21 |
| 2065 | 0.89-1.23–3.01 | 0.58-4–4.43 | 0.2 |
| 2066 | 0.91-1.36–2.97 | 0.49-4.1–4.67 | 0.19 |
| 2067 | 0.81-1.36–2.89 | 0.45-4.27–4.41 | 0.18 |
| 2068 | 0.79-1.35–2.81 | 0.42-4.11–4.61 | 0.17 |
| 2069 | 0.78-1.27–2.9 | 0.34-4.54–4.57 | 0.16 |
| 2070 | 0.75-1.28–3.01 | 0.33-4.92–4.57 | 0.15 |
| 2071 | 0.73-1.39–2.91 | 0.33-4.4–4.34 | 0.14 |
| 2072 | 0.72-1.54–2.96 | 0.31-4.56–4.66 | 0.13 |
| 2073 | 0.72-1.55–2.73 | 0.24-4.48–4.65 | 0.12 |
| 2074 | 0.65-1.58–2.85 | 0.22-4.78–4.25 | 0.1 |
| 2075 | 0.58-1.59–2.71 | 0.21-4.46–4.44 | 0.09 |
| 2076 | 0.59-1.58–2.82 | 0.19-4.42–4.67 | 0.08 |
| 2077 | 0.55-1.62–2.59 | 0.1-4.59–4.36 | 0.07 |
| 2078 | 0.58-1.79–2.76 | 0.08-4.75–4.24 | 0.06 |
| 2079 | 0.58-1.71–2.78 | 0.13-4.5–4.52 | 0.05 |
| 2080 | 0.53-1.7–2.66 | 0.22-4.84–4.45 | 0.04 |
| 2081 | 0.53-1.8–2.66 | 0.15-5.07–4.43 | 0.03 |
| 2082 | 0.5-1.83–2.62 | 0.14-4.85–4.46 | 0.02 |
| 2083 | 0.48-1.9–2.62 | 0.06-4.97–4.32 | 0.01 |
| 2084 | 0.44-1.81–2.62 | 0.08-4.92–4.35 | -0 |
| 2085 | 0.47-1.89–2.63 | 0.08-4.79–4.3 | -0.01 |
| 2086 | 0.45-1.96–2.63 | -0.04-5.13–4.19 | -0.02 |
| 2087 | 0.38-1.91–2.5 | -0.02-5.08–4.18 | -0.03 |
| 2088 | 0.38-2.05–2.47 | 0.01-5.17–4.23 | -0.04 |
| 2089 | 0.38-1.8–2.52 | 0-5.1–4.26 | -0.05 |
| 2090 | 0.32-2.08–2.58 | -0.07-5.28–4.32 | -0.05 |
| 2091 | 0.33-2.09–2.42 | -0.03-5.37–4.23 | -0.06 |
| 2092 | 0.35-2.05–2.65 | -0.07-5.32–4.3 | -0.07 |
| 2093 | 0.32-2.26–2.37 | -0.07-5.43–4.1 | -0.07 |
| 2094 | 0.27-2.08–2.52 | -0.11-5.56–4.13 | -0.08 |
| 2095 | 0.26-2.25–2.5 | -0.06-5.67–4.19 | -0.09 |
| 2096 | 0.25-2.18–2.42 | -0.12-5.64–4.54 | -0.1 |
| 2097 | 0.23-2.13–2.41 | -0.14-5.74–4.45 | -0.11 |
| 2098 | 0.21-2.41–2.47 | -0.13-5.37–4.3 | -0.11 |
| 2099 | 0.21-2.35–2.5 | -0.16-5.71–4.21 | -0.12 |
| 2100 | 0.17-2.36–2.42 | -0.15-5.73–4.36 | -0.13 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How fast the population grew or shrank in a year: births minus deaths, plus people moving in minus people moving out.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Iraq vs Syria
Health
- Life expectancyIraq: 72.3 years in 2023Syria: 72.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIraq: 2.2 per 100 live births in 2024Syria: 1.8 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIraq: 19 per 1,000 live births in 2023Syria: 16.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionIraq: 3.89% in 2017Syria: 3.58% in 2017
- Suicide rateIraq: 4.1 per 100,000 people in 2017Syria: 3.1 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIraq: 45.1 million people in 2023Syria: 23.6 million people in 2023
- Fertility rateIraq: 3.25 births per woman in 2023Syria: 2.71 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIraq: 69.9% in 2025Syria: 72.1% in 2025
- Median ageIraq: 20.4 years in 2023Syria: 22.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIraq: 3.4% in 2023Syria: 4.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateIraq: -0.1 per 1,000 people in 2023Syria: 32.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIraq: 2.45% of GDP in 2025Syria: 4.06% of GDP in 2010
- Military spending per personIraq: $139 in 2025Syria: $110 in 2011
- Military share of state spendingIraq: 5.5% of government spending in 2025Syria: 13.6% of government spending in 2010
- Armed forces personnelIraq: 459,000 people in 2020Syria: 269,000 people in 2020
- National powerIraq: 0.54% of world capability in 2022Syria: 0.29% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIraq: 4.4% of the labour force in 2020Syria: 5.44% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIraq: 55 million TIV in 2025Syria: 2 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIraq: 20 million TIV in 1989Syria: 30 million TIV in 2010