MigrantoImmigrants in Syria
827K foreigners live in Syria — 3% of the country's population
Immigrants in Syria by country
The 3 largest groups make up 100% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Palestine | 615119 |
| Iraq | 209390 |
| Afghanistan | 1179 |
| Somalia | 1113 |
| Sudan | 216 |
By region of origin
100% of immigrants come from the Middle East
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Key facts
Immigrants in Syria in numbers
Palestinians are the largest group by a wide margin
74% of all immigrants were born in Palestine, while the next group accounts for just 25%.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 98% to 74%.
1 in 9 people born in Palestine lives in Syria
615.1K people born in Palestine live in Syria — 11.63% of the population of Palestine.
Immigrant population in Syria over time
Foreigners living in Syria, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 248732 |
| 1995 | 292985 |
| 2000 | 387734 |
| 2005 | 783075 |
| 2010 | 1612670 |
| 2015 | 771370 |
| 2020 | 801791 |
| 2024 | 827017 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Syria, by year
| Year | Palestinians | Iraqis | Afghans | Somalis | Sudanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 244707 | 3825 | 0 | 200 | 0 |
| 1995 | 289464 | 3036 | 92 | 345 | 48 |
| 2000 | 385199 | 1829 | 172 | 443 | 91 |
| 2005 | 442981 | 337785 | 629 | 1458 | 222 |
| 2010 | 495785 | 1110642 | 2605 | 3100 | 538 |
| 2015 | 573436 | 195204 | 1487 | 1040 | 203 |
| 2020 | 596357 | 203003 | 1143 | 1079 | 209 |
| 2024 | 615119 | 209390 | 1179 | 1113 | 216 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Syria
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Syria
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Syria?
Around 827K immigrants live in Syria — the world's #67 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Syria are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 3% of the population of Syria — that's 827K out of a total population of 24.7M.
Where do most immigrants in Syria come from?
Most immigrants in Syria come from Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan — these three countries account for about 100% of all immigrants.
How many Palestinians live in Syria?
Around 615.1K Palestinians live in Syria — about 74% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Syria growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Syria has grown from 771.4K to 827K, about 7%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Syria come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Syria. Their children born in Syria are not included.
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Living in Syria
See the full country overview