Syrian Refugee Demographics 2024: Large Proportion in Working Age

Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) shows that there were 4.81 million registered Syrian refugees as of November 30, 2024.

UNHCR further categorized these refugees by age and gender. The 0-4 age group comprised 7.4% males and 7% females of the total refugee population.

The 5-11 age group consisted of 10% males and 9.5% females.

The 12-17 age group comprised 7.2% males and 6.8% females.

The 18-59 age group, the largest, consisted of 25.1% males and 23.4% females.

Finally, the over-60 age group comprised 1.6% males and 1.9% females.

Based on the typology of residence, the population in suburban and rural areas, along with the total urban population, reached 4.54 million people. Those in refugee camps numbered 275,290.

UNHCR reported that this figure includes 1.9 million Syrian citizens registered by the agency in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. Additionally, there are 3.76 million Syrian citizens registered with the Turkish government and over 41,000 Syrian refugees registered in North Africa.

The refugee demographic data is based on available data from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

(Also read: [Link to article about the distribution of Syrian refugees])

The Collapse of Syria's Baath Regime After 61 Years in Power

According to *Katadata*, the 61-year rule of the Baath Party in Syria ended on Sunday, December 8, 2024, after the capital Damascus fell out of the Assad regime's control. Anti-regime groups successfully entered Damascus, marking the culmination of a series of dramatic developments since the end of the previous month.

In fact, a wave of popular protests demanding freedom began in 2011, but the Assad regime responded with violence against activists calling for change. This repressive action, which killed thousands, triggered a civil war in Syria.

Following the takeover by anti-regime groups in Damascus, the whereabouts of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are unknown.

The Arab Socialist Baath Party first came to power in Syria in 1963 through a military coup. In 1970, Hafez al-Assad, father of the recently ousted Bashar al-Assad, seized power through an internal party coup. He became president in 1971. After Hafez al-Assad's death in 2000, Bashar al-Assad continued the Baath regime's leadership.

(Read *Katadata*: [Link to article about the chronology of the collapse of the Syrian Baath regime])