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Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic
Population
24.7M
Rank #57Source: World Bank
Capital
Damascus
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$23.62B
Source: World Bank
Land Area
185.2K km²
Rank #88Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
72.12 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 185,180 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Elevation: mean elevation: 514 m lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -208 m highest point: Mount Hermon (Jabal a-Shayk) 2,814 m
Natural Hazards: dust storms, sandstormsvolcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries
Environmental Issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; depletion of water resources; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
Land Use: agricultural land: 75.8% (2011 est.) forest: 2.7% (2011 est.) other: 21.5% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: the capital of Damascus - located at an oasis fed by the Barada River - is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land...
Natural Resources
petroleumphosphateschrome and manganese oresasphaltiron orerock saltmarblegypsumhydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.71
Population
24.7M
Religions
Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni (74%)and Shia (13%)Christian (10%)Druze (3%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$1,051.671
GDP per Capita PPP
4,772.462
(2022)
(2022)
GNI per Capita
710
(2022)
(2022)
Gini Index
26.6
(2022)
(2022)
Unemployment
13.359%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
13.418%
(2019)
(2019)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
88.4%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
1.1%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
31.45 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
Not Available
Renewable Electricity
3.906%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
2.843% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
34.65%
(2019)
(2019)
Mobile Penetration
72.441%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
6.861%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
1.554 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
243,348 TEU
(2020)
(2020)
Airports
5,131
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Naval Forces, Syrian Air Forces, Syrian Air Defense Forces, National Defense Forces (pro-government militia and auxiliary forces) note: the Syrian...
Personnel Strength
N/A; the Syrian Armed Forces (SAF) are rebuilding and trying to integrate government-allied militias and auxiliary forces while continuing to engage in a civil war; prior to the start of the civil...
Military Expenditure (USD)
$2.49B
Equipment & Inventories
the SAF's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, Russia has supplied nearly all of Syria's imported weapons systems, although China and Iran have also provided...
Service Age & Obligation
18-42 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
5.549%
(2013)
(2013)
Primary Enrollment
81.411%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
38.737%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
43.761%
(2016)
(2016)
Education Spending
Not Available
Adult Literacy Rate
94.42%
(2021)
(2021)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Not Available
Health
Physicians per 1,000
1.521
(2021)
(2021)
Safe Water Access
94.126%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
20.6 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
18.349 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
70.561
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
70
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
73%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
16.5%
(2022)
(2022)
Food Insecurity
39%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
Not Available
Governance
Women in Government
9.6%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.85
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-2.75
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-1.79
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-1.81
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-2.04
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.75
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic; highly authoritarian regime
Legal System
mixed legal system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts)
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Hussein ARNOUS (since 30 August 2020); Deputy...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral People's Assembly or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority preferential vote to serve 4-year...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) judge selection and...
National Symbols
Flag Description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag...
National Symbols
hawk; national colors: red, white, black, green
National Anthem
name: "Humat ad-Diyar" (Guardians of the Homeland) lyrics/music: Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL note: adopted 1936, restored 1961; between 1958 and 1961, while Syria...
Travel Information
Language(s): Arabic
Currency: SYP (£)
Timezone(s): UTC+02:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +963
Car Sign: SYR
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data