Al-Raqqah: population and official figures
What is the population of Al-Raqqah?
Al-Raqqah had 865,000 inhabitants (city proper) on 1 July 2008, according to an official estimate (people present) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Al-Raqqah rank among cities in Syria?
Of the 13 cities the UN table lists for Syria (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is 11th largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Al-Raqqah?
Women and girls made up 47.3% of residents (409,000 female, 456,000 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyThe UN marks this figure as an estimate of lower reliability.
Who runs Al-Raqqah?
In Syria, cities and towns are run by cities, towns and villages: Under the 2011 law, councils elected for four years (last held in 2022); since 2025 many are run by councils or executive offices appointed by governors. Local services, planning, permits.
How local power works in Syria
Cities of a similar size in Syria
- Aleppo 4,450,000
- Damasus rural 2,529,000
- Damascus 1,680,000
- Homs 1,667,000
- Hama 1,508,000
- Al-Hasakeh 1,392,000
- Idleb 1,376,000
- Deir El-Zor 1,111,000
- Lattakia 951,000
- Dra'a 930,000
- Tartous 756,000
- Al-Sweida 349,000
Up a level: all cities in Syria · Syria · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, technical notes to Table 8, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b0d2d6d8ccd6…)
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