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. 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.
Geography
Area
total : 187,437 sq km
land: 185,887 sq km
water: 1,550 sq km
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
Natural resources
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
People and Society
Population
total: 23,865,423
Ethnic groups
Arab ~50%, Alawite ~15%, Kurd ~10%, Levantine ~10%, other ~15% (includes Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrian, Turkoman, Armenian)
Languages
Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English
Religions
Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%
Population growth rate
1.67% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic; highly authoritarian regime
Capital
name: Damascus
Executive branch
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Hussein ARNOUS (since 30 August 2020)
Legislative branch
summary: unicameral People's Assembly (250 seats)
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
Economy
Economic overview
low-income Middle Eastern economy; prior infrastructure and economy devastated by 11-year civil war; ongoing US sanctions; sporadic trans-migration during conflict; currently being supported by World Bank trust fund; ongoing hyperinflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$62.151 billion (2021 est.)
$61.353 billion (2020 est.)
$61.465 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$2,900 (2021 est.)
$3,000 (2020 est.)
$3,100 (2019 est.)
Exports
$2.224 billion (2021 est.)
$1.649 billion (2020 est.)
$2.94 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Turkey 29%, Kuwait 15%, Lebanon 14%, Jordan 8%, Egypt 7% (2022)
Exports - commodities
pure olive oil, nuts, phosphates, cotton, garments (2022)
Imports
$6.553 billion (2021 est.)
$3.751 billion (2020 est.)
$6.552 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
Turkey 45%, UAE 10%, China 9%, Lebanon 8%, Egypt 7% (2022)
Imports - commodities
tobacco, plastics, wheat, seed oils, plastic products (2022)
Page last updated: Tuesday, August 20, 2024
