Mercator
Conformal, cylindrical. Meridians and parallels form a rectangular grid, and the spacing between parallels grows toward the poles, so polar regions are hugely enlarged.
Asia · SYR · Country profile
Syria: true size, area and map scale
Explore the country's geographic outline, see it in different projections and compare it with a familiar scale.
Simplified outline · Natural Earth185,180 km²
- Total surface area
- 185,180 km² 2024 edition
- Population
- 25,620,427 2025 data
- Population density
- 139.5 per km² Population ÷ land area
- Land area
- 183,630 km² 2023 data
- Capital
- Damascus Asia
- Country code
- SYR ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 / UN M49
Explore the shape
Country shape under different projections
The same country, different ways to show the Earth. Each outline opens a map with this country selected.
Globe (Orthographic)
Neither equal-area nor conformal, perspective azimuthal. It looks like a photograph of the globe from space: only one hemisphere is visible, and areas near the edge of the disk are squeezed hard.
Equal Earth
Equal-area, pseudocylindrical. Parallels are straight lines, the poles are flat lines, and the sides of the map are gently rounded, much like Robinson.
Outlines fit their tiles. They show changes in shape, not areas at a shared scale. The Mercator value estimates area inflation at the country's centre.
Understand the scale
How large is Syria?
A familiar reference, a similar area and a different latitude. Both outlines in each preview share the same scale.
SyriaOther country
Compare outlines on the map
A familiar reference
Syria vs Poland
Area ratio (Poland / Syria): about 1.7.
Compare size 1:1Compare outlines on the map
Similar area
Syria vs Cambodia
Cambodia: 181,035 km². Compare their areas.
Compare size 1:1Compare outlines on the map
A different latitude
Syria vs Greenland
See how location affects the impression of size.
Compare size 1:1The numbers in context
Syria: true size, population, and map scale without illusions
Syria covers 185,180 km², ranking 89 out of 200 by area in this dataset. Its scale becomes clearer when placed beside neighbors or a familiar reference country, because a wall map can flatten our intuition. Within Asia, that places it 24 out of 47.
Syria covers about 59% of the area of Poland. This comparison is deliberately simple: Poland works as an easy reference point, and then it makes sense to move toward a similarly sized country. By area, the closest match is Cambodia.
More about area, population and location
The population is approximately 25,620,427 people, with an average density of 139.5/km². Syria ranks 57 out of 197 by population and 69 out of 197 by density. That is dense settlement, so comparing it with area helps explain how intensively space is used.
Within its continent, Syria represents about 0.58% of the area and about 0.53% of the population covered by this dataset. Its continental population rank is 22 out of 47, so area alone does not tell the full story.
Asia spans equatorial regions, deserts, mountains, and the far north, so one map projection can dramatically change the feeling of scale. That is why Syria is best read through several lenses: raw numbers, an equal-scale outline, a comparison with Poland, and a matchup with Cambodia. Then the map stops being a picture and starts becoming a tool for discovery.
If you want to remember the scale quickly, compare Syria with a country of similar area and a country of similar population. By population, Mali is a useful next clue.
#89AreaArea rank among 200 countries and territories with a verified area.
#24ContinentSyria covers about 0.58% of the area in Asia.
#57PopulationAbout 25,620,427 people; continental rank 22 of 47.
139.5/km²DensityAverage people per square kilometer; density rank: #69 of 197.CambodiaClosest scaleThe most natural same-area outline comparison.The numeric values are used as comparative references for learning scale. Rankings include only countries and territories with a verified value in the selected sources.
Test your intuition
From map to challenge
Questions and sources
Frequently asked questions about size and location
What is the actual area of Syria?
Syria covers 185,180 km². In this dataset, that ranks 89 out of 200 by area, and 24 out of 47 within its continent. Syria covers about 59% of the area of Poland.
How many people live in Syria, and how dense is it?
The population is approximately 25,620,427 people, with an average density of 139.5/km². Syria ranks 57 out of 197 by population and 69 out of 197 by density. That is dense settlement, so comparing it with area helps explain how intensively space is used.
What should I compare Syria with to understand its scale?
Two comparisons work especially well: Syria vs Poland as a familiar reference point, and Syria vs Cambodia because their areas are very close. For population, Mali is another useful comparison.
Do world maps show Syria at the right scale?
Asia spans equatorial regions, deserts, mountains, and the far north, so one map projection can dramatically change the feeling of scale. That is why a country's position on the map can mislead, while same-scale outline comparison usually gives a better intuition than a classic atlas.
Why can Syria look different in different map projections?
Every projection moves a globe onto a flat surface and must trade something away: shape, area, direction, or distance. On this page, you can compare the impression created by Mercator, orthographic, and equal-area views.
How should I use this page to remember the size of Syria?
Start with the numbers, open a 1vs1 comparison with a similar country, and then try the size-illusion quiz. That sequence combines facts, visuals, and play, making the scale easier to remember.
Take a closer look at the data
Each value keeps its own reference year or source edition. Boundaries are simplified and are not suitable for geodetic measurements.
Keep exploring
Choose another perspective
Geometry: Natural Earth / world-atlas, public domain. Outlines simplified and transformed into map projections. Sources, licences and data coverage.