School-age population (pre-primary level) in Syria
Syria: School-age population (pre-primary level) was 1.37 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1.37 million
Change on year
up 8.4%
World rank
13th
of 72 countries
All-time high
1.83 million
in 2013
All-time low
665,599
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
School-age population in Syria, 1970–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Syria recorded 1.37 million for school-age population in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school-age population in Syria peaked at 1.83 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 665,599, in 1970.
That places Syria 13th out of 72 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
School-age population (pre-primary level) in Syria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 665,599 | — |
| 1971 | 689,608 | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 715,007 | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 741,286 | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 769,772 | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 798,122 | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 826,557 | +3.6% |
| 1977 | 854,478 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 883,932 | +3.4% |
| 1979 | 915,097 | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 947,983 | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 982,632 | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 1.02 million | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 1.05 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 1.07 million | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.10 million | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 1.12 million | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 1.15 million | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 1.18 million | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 1.22 million | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.26 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 1.29 million | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 1.32 million | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 1.34 million | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 1.35 million | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 1.36 million | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 1.37 million | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 1.38 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.40 million | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 1.42 million | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 1.44 million | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 1.45 million | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 1.46 million | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 1.48 million | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 1.50 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 1.52 million | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 1.53 million | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1.56 million | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 1.60 million | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 1.61 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 1.64 million | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 1.71 million | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 1.79 million | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 1.83 million | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 1.80 million | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 1.73 million | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 1.67 million | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 1.60 million | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 1.46 million | -8.6% |
| 2019 | 1.32 million | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 1.20 million | -9.2% |
| 2021 | 1.14 million | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 1.13 million | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 1.19 million | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 1.26 million | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 1.37 million | +8.4% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 1.37 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 417,816, 3.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 785,946 | 665,599 | 915,097 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.08 million | 947,983 | 1.22 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.35 million | 1.26 million | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.52 million | 1.44 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.66 million | 1.32 million | 1.83 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.21 million | 1.13 million | 1.37 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 10 Saudi Arabia 1.59 million compare
- 11 Poland 1.52 million compare
- 12 United Kingdom 1.49 million compare
- 14 Kazakhstan 1.30 million compare
- 15 Italy 1.30 million compare
- 16 Iran 1.29 million compare
More education data for Syria
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 78.55 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 78.19 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 54,596 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 90,421 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 75,782 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 72,747 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.36 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.17 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0055 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school-age population in Syria?
- School-age population in Syria was 1.37 million in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest school-age population recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.83 million in 2013.
- What is the lowest school-age population recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 665,599 in 1970.
- How does Syria rank for school-age population?
- Syria ranks 13th out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school-age population rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Syria data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of School-age population (pre-primary level). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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