Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.62 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-run TV has 2 networks and 5 satellite channels; roughly two-thirds of homes have a satellite dish with access to foreign TV; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2018)
Communications: Internet country code
.sy
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
33.77% (2018 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
2.816 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
71 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
17.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
wheat, barley, milk, sheep milk, tomatoes, olives, potatoes, maize, oranges, grapes (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$3.211 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.162 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$4.862 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$4.573 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
2505.747 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
108.733 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
154.130 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
237.029 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
460.276 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
492.611 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
436.500 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
436.500 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
877.945 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1256.000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
2505.747 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
olive oil, phosphates, spice seeds, cotton, tomatoes (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$13.082 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.509 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$2.353 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$2.731 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$3.166 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$3.207 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$2.938 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$1.649 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$2.227 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.609 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
6.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
2.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
114.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-28.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
4.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
43.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
12% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
44.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,772 (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.993 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$107.200 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
26.4 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
21.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
tobacco, plastics, wheat flours, plastic products, seed oils (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$19.549 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$6.059 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$5.723 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$6.828 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$7.684 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$6.547 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$3.751 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$6.56 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$6.803 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-13.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
38.46% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
47.71% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
18.08% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.94% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
13.42% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
114.2% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
98.3% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
94.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: Labor force
6.617 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
91.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$62.770 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$71.282 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$78.676 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$99.338 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$100.066 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$98.858 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-4.18% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-6.41% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-0.72% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.39% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.22% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-0.70% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
1.85% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.73% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-1.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,265 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$3,502 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$3,738 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$4,593 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$4,772 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,200 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
13.37% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
15.18% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
14.89% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
13.24% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
13.27% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
13.36% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
47.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
27.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
31.5% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
75%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
89% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
100%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
95.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
15.522 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
358.723 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
9.636 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
4.214 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
13.569 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
2.763 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
2.763 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
240.693 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
33,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
5.42 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
14.79 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
20.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: 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
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; depletion of water resources; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
74.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 44.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
2.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
23% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
144.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
519.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
1.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
138 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
25.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
16.802 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
14.67 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
615.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
1.475 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
5.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
72.08% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
4.5 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
2.5% (2010 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania
Geography: Area: land
185,887 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,550 sq km
Geography: Coastline
193 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Hermon (Jabal a-Shayk) 2,814 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Yarmuk River -66 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
514 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
35 00 N, 38 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
the capital of Damascus is located at an oasis fed by the Barada River and is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are Israeli settlements and civilian land-use sites in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (2017)
Geography: Irrigated land
9,820 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Iraq 599 km; Israel 83 km; Jordan 379 km; Lebanon 403 km; Turkey 899 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,363 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
74.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 44.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
2.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
23% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
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
Geography: Population distribution
significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of Halab, and the Euphrates River valley
Geography: Terrain
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Government: 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 (Aleppo), Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus
Government: Capital: etymology
the city has an ancient, pre-Semitic name of unknown origin
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
33 30 N, 36 18 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: history
Syria's 2012 constitution was rescinded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led government in January 2025; in March 2025, interim authorities announced a transitional constitution to remain in effect for up to five years
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Syria
Government: Country name: etymology
the source of the name is uncertain; the name appears as "Suri" in Babylonian cuneiform writings dating from about 4000 B.C.
Government: Country name: former
United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government: Country name: local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Government: Country name: local short form
Suriyah
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); note - on 6 February 2012, the US suspended operations at its embassy in Damascus; Czechia serves as a protecting power for US interests in Syria
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz https://sy.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6110 Damascus Place, Washington DC 20521-6110
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US
none note : operations at the embassy were suspended on 18 March 2014
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Ahmad al-Shara'; former President Bashar al-ASAD was overthrown by Islamist rebels on 8 December 2024
Government: Executive branch: election results
2021: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 95.2%, Mahmoud Ahmad MAREI (Democratic Arab Socialist Union) 3.3%, other 1.5% 2014: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 88.7%, Hassan al-NOURI (independent) 4.3%, Maher HAJJER (independent) 3.2%, other/invalid 3.8%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints the vice president and prime minister
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Muhammad al-BASHIR (since 8 December 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
26 May 2021
Government: Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black; three five-pointed red stars in a horizontal line, centered on the white band meaning: the design is the same as a previous Syrian national flag (in use 1932-58 and 1961-63), but it is still unclear if the elements will retain the same meanings; the bands formerly represented Syria’s past rulers: white (Umayyad Caliphate), black (Abbasid Caliphate), and green (Rashidun Caliphate); the first star represented Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor, the three administrative subdivisions in Syria in the 1930s; the second star stood for Jabal Druze (the Mountain of the Druze), and the third star for the Alawite Mountains history: in 2011, opponents to the Asad regime adopted the flag; in 2025, it became the new national flag, replacing the two-star design
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC
Government: International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WBG, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Government: 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 7 members)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (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 serve 4-year renewable terms
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court
Government: Legal system
mixed system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts)
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
March 2030
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
People's Assembly (Majlis Al-Chaab)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
10/5/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
210 (140 indirectly elected; 70 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
9.6%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1936, restored 1961; the country had a different anthem between 1958 and 1961, when Syria was part of the United Arab Republic
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL
Government: National color(s)
red, white, black, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient City of Damascus; Ancient City of Bosra; Site of Palmyra; Ancient City of Aleppo; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din; Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
6 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946)
Government: National symbol(s)
northern bald ibis
Government: Political parties
legal parties/alliances: Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Arab Socialist (Ba'ath) Party – Syrian Regional Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syrian Regional Branch, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party Arab Socialist Union of Syria or ASU Democratic Arab Socialist Union National Progressive Front or NPF Socialist Unionist Democratic Party Socialist Unionist Party Syrian Communist Party (two branches) Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP Unionist Socialist Party major political organizations: Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD Kurdish National Council or KNC Syriac Union Party Syrian Democratic Council or SDC Syrian Democratic Party Syrian Opposition Coalition de facto governance entities: Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria or DAANES Syrian Interim Government or SIG Syrian Salvation Government or SSG
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
After World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability and experienced a series of military coups. Syria united with Egypt in 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost control of the Golan Heights region to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional, albeit unsuccessful, peace talks over its return. In 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'ath Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. Following the death of al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in 2000. Syrian troops that were stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role were withdrawn in 2005. During the 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 2007, Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was again approved in a referendum. In the wake of major uprisings elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in 2011. Protesters called for the legalization of political parties, the removal of corrupt local officials, and the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge. Demonstrations and violent unrest spread across Syria, and the government responded with concessions, but also with military force and detentions that led to extended clashes and eventually civil war. International pressure on the Syrian Government intensified after 2011, as the Arab League, the EU, Turkey, and the US expanded economic sanctions against the ASAD regime and those entities that supported it. In 2012, more than 130 countries recognized the Syrian National Coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. In 2015, Russia launched a military intervention on behalf of the ASAD regime, and domestic and foreign-government-aligned forces recaptured swaths of territory from opposition forces. With foreign support, the regime continued to periodically regain opposition-held territory until 2020, when Turkish firepower halted a regime advance and forced a stalemate between regime and opposition forces. The government lacks territorial control over much of the northeastern part of the country, which the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold, and a smaller area dominated by Turkey. Since 2016, Turkey has conducted three large-scale military operations to capture territory along Syria's northern border. Some opposition forces organized under the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and Turkish forces have maintained control of northwestern Syria along the Turkish border with the Afrin area of Aleppo Province since 2018. The violent extremist organization Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Nusrah Front) emerged in 2017 as the predominant opposition force in Idlib Province, and still dominates an area also hosting Turkish forces. Negotiations have failed to produce a resolution to the conflict, and the UN estimated in 2022 that at least 306,000 people have died during the civil war. Approximately 6.7 million Syrians were internally displaced as of 2022, and 14.6 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance across the country. An additional 5.6 million Syrians were registered refugees in Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and North Africa. The conflict in Syria remains one of the two largest displacement crises worldwide (the other is the full-scale invasion of Ukraine). On 8 December 2024, Syrian Islamist rebels captured the capital city of Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-ASAD. The former president and his family fled to Moscow, where they were granted political asylum. The al-ASAD regime had ruled Syria for over 50 years.
Military and Security: Military - note
as of September 2025, the government did not exercise control over all of Syria; areas of the northeast were under the control of ethnic Kurdish-led forces and areas south of the capital Damascus were controlled by members of the Druze religious minority; Turkish forces remained in parts of the north, while Israeli forces had moved into formerly demilitarized areas between Syria and Israel and into some Syrian territory near the frontier the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has operated in the Golan between Israel and Syria since 1974 to monitor the ceasefire following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and supervise the areas of separation between the two countries; UNDOF has about 1,300 personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
the interim government authorities in Syria have established a Ministry of Defense and are attempting to unify the dozens of armed factions operating in Syria under a single, state-linked army; it has also established a Ministry of Interior to manage police and other security forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
not available
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military forces of Syria are equipped with Russian and Soviet-era armaments (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
7.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
6.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
6.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
6.7% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
6.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
under Bashar al-ASAD, Syrian men aged 18-38 were required to serve 18-21 months in the military; conscription continued until ASAD's fall when the interim government announced that mandatory conscription to Syria’s armed forces would be abolished and only be reinstated in extreme cases, such as national emergencies relating to war (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
33% (male 4,037,493/female 3,828,777)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.8% (male 7,475,355/female 7,522,797)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.2% (2024 est.) (male 468,730/female 532,271)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
21.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.71% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
3.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
14.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
58.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
51.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 92.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 7.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Arab ~50%, Alawite ~15%, Kurd ~10%, Levantine ~10%, other ~15% (includes Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrian, Turkoman, Armenian)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.28 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure
7.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
74.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
70.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
91.8% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
97.2% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
94.42% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
2.585 million DAMASCUS (capital), 2.203 million Aleppo, 1.443 million Hims (Homs), 996,000 Hamah (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
20 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
24.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
23.6 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Syrian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.52 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
People and Society: Population
24,672,760 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of Halab, and the Euphrates River valley
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.63% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
12,078,754
People and Society: Population: male
12,183,128
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.88 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.70 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
5.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
72.08% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1987 - first and only Syrian astronaut into space as part of a Soviet-crewed mission to the Mir Space Station under the Intercosmos program 2016 - signed a scientific cooperation agreement in the field of space technology and remote sensing with Russia 2018 - announced that developing a satellite would be a primary goal of the space program
Space: Space agency/agencies
Syrian Space Agency (created in 2014); status is unclear since the fall of the ASAD Government (2025)
Space: Space program overview
status unclear; has been handicapped by the impact of the civil war, including the loss of students and scientists who fled the country; had previously focused on satellite development and related space technologies, as well as scientific research; has relations with the space agency and space industries of Russia (2024)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Abdallah Azzam Brigades; Ansar al-Islam; Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq; Hizballah; Hurras al-Din; Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Kata'ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); al-Qa'ida; Palestine Liberation Front (PLF); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command (PLFP-GC)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
7,408,809 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
16,402 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
160,000 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 3 — Syria does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Syria remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/syria/
Transportation: Airports
42 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YK
Transportation: Heliports
13 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 13
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
24 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas, Tartus
Transportation: Ports: large
1
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
251 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
1,801 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
2,052 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.