Updated
Overview
Syria has 4.4 times the population of Lebanon: 25.62 million people against 5.85 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $23.74B for Syria and $25.97B for Lebanon.
Per person, Lebanon is the wealthier of the two: $4,473 against $1,057 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Syria | Lebanon | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $23.74B | Higher: $25.97B | 2022 / 2024 | — / $20.08B |
| GDP per capita | $1,057 | Higher: $4,473 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: -0.2% | -7.1% | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 13.4% | 14.6% | 2019 / 2025 | — / 45.2% |
| Unemployment | 13.6% | Lower: 11.0% | 2025 / 2023 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 38 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $780 | — / 2019 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $4 | Higher: $201 | 2022 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.36 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 25.62 million | 5.85 million | 2025 | 24.26 million / 5.36 million |
| Population growth | 3.8% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 23.3 yrs | 28.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.66 | 2.21 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.6 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 72% | 91% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 34% | Higher: 81% | 2018 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 185,180 km² | 10,452 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 138.4/km² | 559.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 32 Mt | Lower: 16 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.3 t | 2.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.49B | $635.47M | 2011 / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.1% | 2.6% | 2010 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 269,000 | 80,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies contracted, Syria far less sharply: -0.2% against -7.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 13.4% in Syria and 14.6% in Lebanon.
People and society
Syria is the younger society: median age 23.3 versus 28.8 years.
Life expectancy is 5.4 years longer in Lebanon (77.9 vs 72.6).
Lebanon is considerably more urbanized: 91% of people live in cities, against 72%.
Internet adoption is higher in Lebanon (81% vs 34% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Syria is 18 times the size of Lebanon: 185,180 km² versus 10,452 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Lebanon is far more densely settled: 560 people per km² against 138.
Military
Syria spends 3.9 times as much on defence as Lebanon: $2.49B versus $635.47M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Syria carries the heavier military burden: 4.1% of GDP versus 2.6%.
Syria fields the larger armed forces: 269,000 personnel against 80,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Syria bigger than Lebanon?
- Syria is larger by land area. Syria covers 185,180 km² while Lebanon covers 10,452 km², so Syria is 18 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Syria or Lebanon?
- Syria has the larger population: 25.62 million versus 5.85 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Syria richer than Lebanon?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Lebanon is richer: $4,473 against $1,057. Total GDP tells the same story: $23.74B for Syria versus $25.97B for Lebanon.
- Who spends more on their military, Syria or Lebanon?
- Syria spends more: $2.49B versus $635.47M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).