Country Guide

Syria Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey


Geographic coordinates:
35 00 N, 38 00 E


Map references:
Middle East


Area:
total:185,180 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 89
land:183,630 sq km
water:1,550 sq km
note:includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:2,253 km
border countries:Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km


Coastline:
193 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm


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 extremes:
lowest point:unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point:Mount Hermon 2,814 m


Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:24.9%
permanent crops:5.69%
other:69.41% (2011)


Irrigated land:
13,410 sq km (2010)


Total renewable water resources:
16.8 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
16.8 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:Environmental Modification


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 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective:Syrian


Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%


Languages:
Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian (widely understood); French, English (somewhat understood)


Religions:
Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian) 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%, Jewish (few remaining in Damascus and Aleppo)


Population:
17,951,639country comparison to the world: 61
note:approximately 18,900 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2012) (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:33.1% (male 3,046,922/female 2,898,060)
15-24 years:20.2% (male 1,833,802/female 1,789,854)
25-54 years:37.9% (male 3,406,744/female 3,396,756)
55-64 years:4.8% (male 429,644/female 440,980)
65 years and over:3.9% (male 320,946/female 387,931) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:63.9 %
youth dependency ratio:57 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.9 %
potential support ratio:14.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:23.3 years
male:22.9 years
female:23.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
-9.73% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 233


Birth rate:
22.76 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 74


Death rate:
6.51 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 151


Net migration rate:
-113.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 222


Urbanization:
urban population:56.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Aleppo 3.164 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.65 million; Hims 1.369 million; Hamah 933,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.85 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:15.79 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 103
male:18.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female:13.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:68.41 yearscountry comparison to the world: 161
male:61.4 years
female:75.84 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.68 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 73


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
58.3% (2006)


Health expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2008)


Hospital bed density:
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 92.3% of population
rural: 87.2% of population
total: 90.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7.7% of population
rural: 12.8% of population
total: 9.9% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 96.2% of population
rural: 95.1% of population
total: 95.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.8% of population
rural: 4.9% of population
total: 4.3% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)country comparison to the world: 146


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)country comparison to the world: 158


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)country comparison to the world: 110


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
27.1% (2008)country comparison to the world: 41


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
10.1% (2009)country comparison to the world: 70


Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2009)country comparison to the world: 70

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:84.1%
male:90.3%
female:77.7% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:12 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:19.2%country comparison to the world: 63
male:15.3%
female:40.2% (2010)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form:Syria
local long form:Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form:Suriyah
former:United Arab Republic (with Egypt)


Government type:
republic under an authoritarian regime


Capital:
name:Damascus
geographic coordinates:33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March; ends at midnight on the first Friday in November


Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab, Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus


Independence:
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)


Constitution:
several previous; latest issued 15 February 2012, passed by referendum 26 February 2012 (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law (for family courts)


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 21 February 2006); Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)
head of government:Prime Minister Wael al-HALQI (since 9 August 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Fahd Jasim al-FURAYJ, Lt. Gen. Walid al-MUALEM
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - new Council appointed on 14 April 2011
elections:president approved by popular referendum (the 2012 constitution allows for two successive 7-year terms); referendum last held in 3 June 2014 (next to be held in June 2021); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results:Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 88.7%, Hassan al-NOURI 4.3%, Maher HAJJER 3.2%, other/invalid 3.8%


Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 members)
judge selection and term of office:Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts:courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court


    Political parties and leaders:
Free Syrian Army
Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH] (operates in exile in London)
Syrian Opposition Coalition or National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces [al-Asi- al-JARBAL]
note:there are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks


International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)


Diplomatic representation in the US:
note:embassy ceased operation since 18 March 2014
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mounir KOUDMANI
chancery:2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 232-6313
FAX:[1] (202) 265-4585


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Robert Stephen FORD (since 7 January 2011); note - on 6 February 2012, the US closed its embassy in Damascus
embassy:Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address:P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone:[963] (11) 3391-4444
FAX:[963] (11) 3391-3999


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 and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980


National symbol(s):
hawk


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 was a member of the United Arab Republic with Egypt, the country had a different anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
Despite modest economic growth and reform prior to the outbreak of unrest, Syria's economy continues to deteriorate amid the ongoing conflict that began in 2011. The economy further contracted in 2013 because of international sanctions, widespread infrastructure damage, reduced domestic consumption and production, and sharply rising inflation. The government has struggled to address the effects of economic decline, which include dwindling foreign exchange reserves, rising budget and trade deficits, and the decreasing value of the Syrian pound. The ongoing conflict and economic decline have created a humanitarian crisis, prompting widespread need for international aid. Prior to the unrest, Damascus began liberalizing economic policies, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange. The economy remains highly regulated by the government. Long-run economic constraints include foreign trade barriers, declining oil production, high unemployment, rising budget deficits, increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$107.6 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$110.1 billion (2010 est.)
$106.5 billion (2009 est.)
note:data are in 2011 US dollars
the war driven deterioration of the economy resulted in a disappearance of quality national level statistics in 2012-13


GDP (official exchange rate):
$64.7 billion (2011 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
-2.3% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
3.4% (2010 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,100 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$5,100 (2010 est.)
$5,200 (2010 est.)
note:data are in 2011 US dollars


Gross national saving:
5.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
12.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
15% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:68.3%
government consumption:19.7%
investment in fixed capital:20.1%
investment in inventories:9.3%
exports of goods and services:11.3%
imports of goods and services:-28.6%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:17.6%
industry:22.2%
services:60.2% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk


Industries:
petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, automobile assembly


Industrial production growth rate:
-20.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Labor force:
5.014 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:17%
industry:16%
services:67% (2008 est.)


Unemployment rate:
17.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
18% (2012 est.)


    Population below poverty line:
11.9% (2006 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA%


Budget:
revenues:$2.38 billion
expenditures:$7.56 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
3.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194


Public debt:
58.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
52.4% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
59.1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
36.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
0.75% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
5% (31 December 2012 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
11.7% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$8.097 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$16.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$12.77 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$27.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$7.777 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$17.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$5.879 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
-$6.706 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$2.675 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$3.876 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat


Exports - partners:
Iraq 58.4%, Saudi Arabia 9.7%, Kuwait 6.4%, UAE 5.5%, Libya 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$8.917 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$10.78 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper


Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 22.8%, UAE 11.2%, Iran 8.3%, China 7.3%, Iraq 6.8% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.895 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$4.793 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$9.796 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$8.394 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -
105.3 (2013 est.)
64.392 (2012 est.)
11.225 (2010 est.)
46.708 (2009)
46.5281 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
43.76 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Electricity - consumption:
35.61 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57


Electricity - exports:
1.043 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
8.323 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
89.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
10.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125


Crude oil - production:
182,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Crude oil - exports:
152,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33


Refined petroleum products - production:
253,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
258,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Refined petroleum products - exports:
36,210 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Refined petroleum products - imports:
104,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50


Natural gas - production:
7.87 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Natural gas - consumption:
9.63 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187


Natural gas - imports:
250 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69


Natural gas - proved reserves:
240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
63.14 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.425 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36


Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.928 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66


Telephone system:
general assessment:fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology and expansion of the network to rural areas; the armed insurgency that began in 2011 has led to major disruptions to the network and has caused telephone and Internet outages throughout the country
domestic:the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephone subscribership nearly 60 per 100 persons in 2011
international:country code - 963; submarine cable connection to Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and a satellite channel; roughly two-thirds of Syrian homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2007)


Internet country code:
.sy


Internet hosts:
416 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 187


Internet users:
4.469 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52

Transportation

Airports
90 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 62


Airports - with paved runways
total:29
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:16
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:5 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:61
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:12
under 914 m:
48 (2013)


Heliports
6 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 3,170 km; oil 2,029 km (2013)


Railways
total:2,052 kmcountry comparison to the world: 72
standard gauge:1,801 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:69,873 kmcountry comparison to the world: 67
paved:63,060 km
unpaved:6,813 km (2010)


Waterways
900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 69


Merchant marine
total:19country comparison to the world: 95
by type:bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, carrier 1
registered in other countries:166 (Barbados 1, Belize 4, Bolivia 4, Cambodia 22, Comoros 5, Dominica 4, Georgia 24, Lebanon 2, Liberia 1, Malta 4, Moldova 5, North Korea 4, Panama 34, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Sierra Leone 13, Tanzania 23, Togo 6, unknown 1) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus

Military

Military branches
Syrian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (includes Air Defense Forces) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve; re-enlistment obligation 5 years, with retirement after 15 years or age 40 (enlisted) or 20 years or age 45 (NCOs) (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:5,889,837
females age 16-49:5,660,751 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:5,055,510
females age 16-49:4,884,151 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:256,698
female:244,712 (2010 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force patrolling a buffer zone since 1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):146,200 (Iraq) (2013); 517,255 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2014)
note:the ongoing civil war had created more than 2.8 million Syrian refugees - dispersed in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of February 2014
IDPs:6.5 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2014)
stateless persons:221,000 (2012); note - Syria's stateless population is composed of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian Government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war



    Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook