Population by labor force status in Syria
Syria: Population by labor force status was 7.29 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
7.29 million people
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
54th
of 186 countries
All-time high
8.31 million people
in 2012
All-time low
5.99 million people
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Syria, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by labor force status in Syria is 7.29 million people, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Syria peaked at 8.31 million people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 5.99 million people, in 1991.
That places Syria 54th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Population by labor force status in Syria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.99 million people | — |
| 1992 | 6.11 million people | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 6.23 million people | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 6.35 million people | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 6.47 million people | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 6.58 million people | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 6.68 million people | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 6.78 million people | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 6.88 million people | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 6.96 million people | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 7.04 million people | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 7.12 million people | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 7.19 million people | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 7.27 million people | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 7.35 million people | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 7.47 million people | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 7.67 million people | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 7.84 million people | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 7.98 million people | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 8.13 million people | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 8.25 million people | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 8.31 million people | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 8.23 million people | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 8.06 million people | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 7.88 million people | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 7.71 million people | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 7.56 million people | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 7.43 million people | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 7.35 million people | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 7.28 million people | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 7.21 million people | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 7.17 million people | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 7.16 million people | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 7.20 million people | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 7.29 million people | +1.3% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 7.29 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 9.15 million people, 80% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 7.29 million people is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.91 million people, 2.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.45 million people | 5.99 million people | 6.88 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.39 million people | 6.96 million people | 7.98 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.89 million people | 7.35 million people | 8.31 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.22 million people | 7.16 million people | 7.29 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More work & labour data for Syria
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 12,499 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 36.74 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 7,259 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 13.9 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 3.36 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 14,788 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 2,364 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 31.63 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 3.65 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Syria?
- Population by labor force status in Syria was 7.29 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.31 million people in 2012.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.99 million people in 1991.
- How does Syria rank for population by labor force status?
- Syria ranks 54th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).