Page last updated on January 31, 2014
Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah. In May 2007 Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was approved by popular referendum. Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 with protesters calling for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. Since then demonstrations and unrest have spread to nearly every city in Syria, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law and approving new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections - and force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD to step down, and the government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime. Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, in October 2012 began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in brokering a cease-fire. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unrest persists in 2013, and the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians has topped 100,000.
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
total: 185,180 sq km
country 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
slightly larger than North Dakota
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
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
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
arable land: 24.9%
permanent crops: 5.69%
other: 69.41% (2011)
total: 16.76 cu km/yr (9%/4%/88%)
per capita: 867.4 cu m/yr (2005)
dust storms, sandstorms
volcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
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
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.)
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian (widely understood); French, English (somewhat understood)
Sunni Muslim (Islam - official) 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
22,457,336 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
note: approximately 18,900 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2012)
0-14 years: 33.9% (male 3,900,073/female 3,707,117)
15-24 years: 20.8% (male 2,387,006/female 2,285,496)
25-54 years: 36.9% (male 4,214,621/female 4,075,181)
55-64 years: 4.6% (male 504,422/female 517,413)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 395,806/female 470,201) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 64.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 57.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 %
potential support ratio: 15 (2013)
total: 22.7 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 22.9 years (2013 est.)
0.15% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
23.01 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
3.67 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
-17.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
urban population: 56.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Aleppo 2.985 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.527 million; Hims 1.276 million; Hamah 854,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
total: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 16.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 75.14 years
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 72.74 years
female: 77.69 years (2013 est.)
2.77 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
3.7% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 172
1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
27.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
10.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
5.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.1%
male: 90.3%
female: 77.7% (2011 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2007)
total number: 192,915
percentage: 4 % (2006 est.)
total: 19.2%
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 15.3%
female: 40.2% (2010)
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)
republic under an authoritarian regime
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
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
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
several previous; latest issued 15 February 2012, passed by referendum 26 February 2012 (2013)
mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law (for family courts)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
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 for a second seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2014); 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 97.6%, other 2.4%
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
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
legal parties:
Kurdish parties (considered illegal):
other parties: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]
Free Syrian Army
note: there are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks
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)
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
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
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
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
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
Despite modest economic growth and reform prior to the outbreak of unrest, Syria's economy continues to suffer the effects of the ongoing conflict that began in 2011. The economy further contracted in 2012 because of international sanctions and reduced domestic consumption and production, and inflation has risen sharply. 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. 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, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.
$107.6 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
$64.7 billion (2011 est.)
$5,100 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
12.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
household consumption: 69.4%
government consumption: 17.2%
investment in fixed capital: 20.6%
investment in inventories: 8.4%
exports of goods and services: 13.9%
imports of goods and services: -29.4%
agriculture: 16.5%
industry: 22.8%
services: 60.7% (2012 est.)
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, car assembly
-32.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
5.327 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
agriculture: 17%
industry: 16%
services: 67% (2008 est.)
18% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $5.217 billion
expenditures: $12.59 billion (2012 est.)
8.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
-11.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
52.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
36.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
0.75% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
11.7% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$16.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$30.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$17.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$-6.706 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$3.876 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Iraq 58.4%, Saudi Arabia 9.7%, Kuwait 6.4%, UAE 5.5%, Libya 4.1% (2012)
$10.78 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper
Saudi Arabia 22.8%, UAE 11.2%, Iran 8.3%, China 7.3%, Iraq 6.8% (2012)
$4.793 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$8.394 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -
43.76 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
35.61 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
1.043 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
8.323 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
89.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
10.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
182,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
152,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 33
253,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
258,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
36,210 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
104,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
7.87 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
9.63 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
250 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 45
63.14 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
4.425 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36
12.928 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66
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)
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)
416 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 187
4.469 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
90 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 62
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)
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m:
gas 3,170 km; oil 2,029 km (2013)
total: 2,052 km
country comparison to the world: 72
standard gauge: 1,801 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
total: 69,873 km
country comparison to the world: 68
paved: 63,060 km
unpaved: 6,813 km (2010)
900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 69
total: 19
country 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)
major seaport(s): Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus
Syrian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (includes Air Defense Forces) (2013)
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)
males age 16-49: 5,889,837
females age 16-49: 5,660,751 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 5,055,510
females age 16-49: 4,884,151 (2010 est.)
male: 256,698
female: 244,712 (2010 est.)
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 (country of origin): 87,741 (Iraq) (2012); 499,189 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2013)
IDPs: 6.5 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2013)
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
current situation: due to Syria's political uprising and violent unrest, hundreds of thousands of Syrians, foreign migrant workers, and refugees have fled the country and are vulnerable to human trafficking; the lack of security and inaccessibility of the majority of the country makes it impossible to conduct a thorough analysis of the ongoing conflict and the scope and magnitude of Syria's human trafficking situation; prior to the uprising, Syria was principally a destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking; thousands of women - the majority from Indonesia, the Philippines, Somalia, and Ethiopia - were recruited to work as domestic servants but were subsequently subjected to forced labor; Filipina domestic workers continue to be sent to Syria and are vulnerable to forced labor; the Syrian armed forces and opposition forces are using Syrian children in combat and support roles and as human shields; Iraqi women and girls continue to be sexually exploited, and Syrian children still face conditions of forced labor
tier rating: Tier 3 - the government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government does not demonstrate evidence of increasing efforts to investigate and punish trafficking offenses, provide protective services to victims, inform the public about human trafficking, or provide much-needed anti-trafficking training to law enforcement and social welfare officials; the government does not refer any victims to NGO-operated shelters and has failed to institute procedures for the identification, interview, and referral of trafficking victims; the status of the national plan of action against trafficking is unknown (2013)
