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Middle East :: Syria
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  • Introduction :: SYRIA

  • 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 and experienced a series of military coups. 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 the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights region to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. 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. 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 Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005.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 violent unrest spread to nearly every city in Syria with the size and intensity of protests fluctuating. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law, new laws permitting new political parties, and liberalizing local and national elections - and military force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD resignation, and the government's ongoing violence to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity has led to extended clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, European Union, Turkey, and the United States expanded economic sanctions against the regime. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, commonly referred to as the Syrian National Coalition, was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Peace talks between the Syrian Opposition Coalition and Syrian regime at the UN sponsored Geneva II conference in 2014 failed to produce progress toward a resolution of the conflict. Unrest continues in Syria, and according to the United Nations, the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians has reached 220,000. As of 2015, the conflict has displaced 11.6 million people, including 7.6 million people internally, making the situation in Syria the largest humanitarian crisis worldwide.
  • Geography :: SYRIA

  • Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
    35 00 N, 38 00 E
    Middle East
    total: 185,180 sq km
    land: 183,630 sq km
    water: 1,550 sq km
    note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
    country comparison to the world: 89
    slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania
    Area comparison map:
    total: 2,363 km
    193 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    contiguous zone: 24 nm
    lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
    highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
    arable land: 25.4%
    permanent crops: 5.81%
    other: 68.79% (2012 est.)
    13,410 sq km (2010)
    16.8 cu km (2011)
    total: 16.76 cu km/yr (9%/4%/88%)
    per capita: 867.4 cu m/yr (2005)
    dust storms, sandstorms
    signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
  • People and Society :: SYRIA

  • noun: Syrian(s)
    adjective: Syrian
    Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
    17,951,639 (July 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
    population pyramid:
    total dependency ratio: 63.9%
    youth dependency ratio: 57%
    elderly dependency ratio: 6.9%
    potential support ratio: 14.6% (2014 est.)
    total: 23.3 years
    male: 22.9 years
    female: 23.7 years (2014 est.)
    -9.73% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 233
    22.76 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 74
    6.51 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    country comparison to the world: 222
    urban population: 57.3% of total population (2014)
    Aleppo 3.519 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.574 million; Hims 1.604 million; Hamah 1.188 million; Lattakia 768,000 (2014)
    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.)
    49 deaths/100,000 live births (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    total: 15.79 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 18.14 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 13.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 103
    total population: 68.41 years
    male: 61.4 years
    female: 75.84 years (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    2.68 children born/woman (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 73
    53.9% (2009/10)
    3.3% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 176
    1.46 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
    1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
    urban: 92.3% of population
    rural: 87.2% of population
    total: 90.1% of population
    urban: 7.7% of population
    rural: 12.8% of population
    total: 9.9% of population (2012 est.)
    urban: 96.2% of population
    rural: 95.1% of population
    total: 95.7% of population
    urban: 3.8% of population
    rural: 4.9% of population
    total: 4.3% of population (2012 est.)
    21.6% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    10.1% (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    4.9% of GDP (2007)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 86.4%
    male: 91.7%
    female: 81% (2015 est.)
    total: 12 years
    male: 12 years
    female: 12 years (2012)
    total number: 192,915
    percentage: 4% (2006 est.)
    total: 19.2%
    male: 15.3%
    female: 40.2% (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 58
  • Government :: SYRIA

  • 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
    Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
    several previous; latest issued 15 February 2012, passed by referendum 26 February 2012 (2015)
    18 years of age; universal
    head of government: Prime Minister Wael al-HALQI (since 9 August 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Walid al-MUALEM
    cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
    election results: Bashar al-ASAD reelected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 88.7%, Hassan al-NOURI 4.5%, Maher HAJJER 3.3%, other/invalid 3.5%
    Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr al-DIN]
    Syrian Arab Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI]
    Syrian Social Nationalist Party [As'ad HARDAN]
    Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL])
    Kurdish parties (considered illegal): Kurdish Azadi Party
    Kurdish Democratic Accord Party (al Wifaq)
    Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Ibrahim wing)
    Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Mustafa wing)
    Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria or KDP-S
    Kurdish Democratic Patriotic/National Party
    Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Darwish
    Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Muhammad
    Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD [Salih Muslim MOHAMMAD]
    Kurdish Democratic Unity Party
    Kurdish Democratic Yekiti Party
    Kurdish Future Party or KFP
    Kurdish Future Party [Rezan HASSAN]
    Kurdish Left Party
    Kurdish Yekiti (Union) Party
    Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party
    other: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]
    Free Syrian Army
    note: Embassy ceased operation on 18 March 2014
    chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
    FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
    chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Special Envoy to Syria Daniel RUBINSTEIN (since March 2014); note - on 6 February 2012, the US closed its embassy in Damascus
    mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
    telephone: [963] (11) 3391-4444
    FAX: [963] (11) 3391-3999
    hawk; national colors: red, white, black, green
  • Economy :: SYRIA

  • 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 2014 because of international sanctions, widespread infrastructure damage, diminished domestic consumption and production, reduced subsidies, and high 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 and household purchasing power. During 2014, the ongoing conflict and continued economic decline worsened the humanitarian crisis and elicited a greater need for international assistance, as the number of people in need inside Syria increased from 9.3 million to 12.2 million, and the number of Syrian refugees increased from 2.2 million to more than 3.3 million. 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, and the degree of war-damaged infrastructure.
    $107.6 billion (2011 est.)
    $110.1 billion (2010 est.)
    $97.03 billion (2009 est.)
    note: data are in 2011 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 81
    $64.7 billion (2011 est.)
    NA% (2012 est.)
    -2.3% (2011 est.)
    3.4% (2010 est.)
    $5,100 (2011 est.)
    $5,100 (2010 est.)
    $5,200 (2010 est.)
    note: data are in 2011 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 165
    13.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
    10.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
    12.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    household consumption: 67.8%
    government consumption: 19.4%
    investment in fixed capital: 18.2%
    investment in inventories: 9.5%
    exports of goods and services: 7.5%
    imports of goods and services: -22.4%
    (2014 est.)
    agriculture: 16.4%
    industry: 22.7%
    services: 60.9% (2014 est.)
    1% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    4.022 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    agriculture: 17%
    industry: 16%
    services: 67% (2008 est.)
    33% (2014 est.)
    35% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    11.9% (2006 est.)
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $1.73 billion
    expenditures: $5.5 billion (2014 est.)
    2.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    -5.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    57.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
    54.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
    calendar year
    34.8% (2014 est.)
    89.6% (2013 est.)
    0.75% (31 December 2014)
    5% (31 December 2013)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    17% (31 December 2014 est.)
    16% (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    $7.001 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $8.056 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 90
    $11.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $12.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    $6.966 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $7.738 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 114
    -$4.575 billion (2014 est.)
    -$5.205 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    $2.031 billion (2014 est.)
    $1.939 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
    Iraq 59.9%, Saudi Arabia 10%, Kuwait 6.5%, UAE 5.6%, Libya 4.3% (2013)
    $7.657 billion (2014 est.)
    $7.552 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    Saudi Arabia 24.5%, UAE 12.1%, Iran 8.9%, Iraq 7.3%, Turkey 6%, China 4.6%, Ukraine 4.1% (2013)
    $1.725 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $1.895 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 125
    $11.64 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $9.904 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -
    152.9 (2014 est.)
    108.426 (2013 est.)
    64.39 (2012 est.)
    48.371 (2011 est.)
    11.225 (2010 est.)
  • Energy :: SYRIA

  • 38.78 billion kWh (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    35.37 billion kWh (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    1.192 billion kWh (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 55
    0 kWh (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 205
    8.323 million kW (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 64
    89.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 183
    10.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 114
    0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    74,820 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 52
    2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 33
    253,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    257,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    36,210 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 65
    104,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    6.442 billion cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    6.442 billion cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 56
    0 cu m (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 185
    250 million cu m (2011 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 71
    240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    50.92 million Mt (2012 est.)
  • Communications :: SYRIA

  • 4.425 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 36
    12.928 million (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    AM 14, FM 15, shortwave 26 (2010)
    44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
    416 (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 187
    4.469 million (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 50
  • Transportation :: SYRIA

  • 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:
    48 (2013)
    6 (2013)
    gas 3,170 km; oil 2,029 km (2013)
    total: 2,052 km
    standard gauge: 1,801 km 1.435-m gauge
    narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
    country comparison to the world: 72
    total: 69,873 km
    paved: 63,060 km
    unpaved: 6,813 km (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 68
    total: 19
    by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, carrier 1
    country comparison to the world: 95
    major seaport(s): Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus
  • Military :: SYRIA

    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.)
  • Transnational Issues :: SYRIA

    note: the ongoing civil war has created almost 4 million Syrian refugees - dispersed in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of May 2015
    IDPs: 7.6 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2014)
    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 scope and magnitude of Syria’s human trafficking situation; Syria is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Syrian refugee women and girls are forced into exploitive marriages or prostitution in neighboring countries, while refugee children are forced into street begging domestically and abroad; the Syrian armed forces and opposition forces are using Syrian children in combat and support roles and as human shields
    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; increasing violence undercut any law enforcement efforts in 2013; the government failed to protect and prevent children from recruitment by government forces and armed opposition groups; a new law passed in 2013 criminalizing the recruitment of children under 18 by armed forces was not enforced; authorities did not make efforts to investigate and punish trafficking offenders, including complicit government employees; no trafficking victims were identified or provided with protective services; the government did not attempt to inform the public about human trafficking or to provide anti-trafficking training to officials (2014)