Quick Data on Syria
Short Name | Syria |
Capital | Damascus |
Long Name | Syrian Arab Republic |
Country Code | SY |
Continent | Middle East |
Total Area | 187,437 sq km |
Population | 19,398,448 |
Language | Arabic |
Nationality | Syrian(s) |
Geography of Syria
As a country in Middle East, with coordinates at 35 00 N, 38 00 E, Syria neighbors Iraq 599 km, Israel 79 km, Jordan 362 km, Lebanon 394 km, Turkey 909 km. The terrain in Syria is described as primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west, with an average elevation point of 514 m. The climate of Syria: 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.
Surface Total | 187,437 sq km |
Land Surface | 185,887 sq km |
Water Surface | 1,550 sq km |
Land Boundaries | 2,343 km |
Neighbor Countries | Iraq 599 km, Israel 79 km, Jordan 362 km, Lebanon 394 km, Turkey 909 km |
Coastline | 193 km |
Lowest Elevation Point | unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -208 m |
Highest Elevation Point | Mount Hermon (Jabal a-Shayk) 2,814 m |
Resources of Syria
The country enjoys many types of natural resources, with the main ones being petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower. The agricultural land occupies 75.80% of Syria, while the land covered with forests is estimated at 2.70%.
Percent of Total Land | Surface Sq km | Data | |
Agricultural Land | 75.80% | 140,902 sq km | 2011 est. |
Irrigated Land | 14,280 sq km | 2012 | |
Forest Land | 2.70% | 5,019 sq km | 2011 est. |
Other Land | 21.50% | 39,966 sq km | 2011 est. |
Population of Syria
The population of the country is estimated at 19,398,448 people, with the biggest urban area having 2.392 million DAMASCUS (capital), 1.917 million Aleppo, 1.336 million Hims (Homs), 922,000 Hamah (2020). Known as Syrian(s), the people from Syria come from diversified ethnic groups such as Arab ~50%, Alawite ~15%, Kurd ~10%, Levantine ~10%, other ~15% (includes Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrian, Turkoman, Armenian). The official language is Arabic. Religions: Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%, Jewish (few remaining in Damascus and Aleppo).
Population | 19,398,448 |
Nationality | Syrian(s) |
Official Language | Arabic |
Other Languages | Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English |
Birth Rate | 23.8 births / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Death Rate | 4.5 deaths / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Urban Population | 55.50% of total population (2020) |
Physicians Density | 1.29 physicians/1,000 population (2016) |
Hospital Beds Density | 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
Governing Type of Syria
Syria is a presidential republic; highly authoritarian regime. The legal system makes use of mixed legal system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts).
Governing Type | presidential republic; highly authoritarian regime |
Citizenship by Birth | no |
Citizenship by Descent | the father must be a citizen of Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria |
Dual Citizenship | yes |
Residency Requirement for Naturalization | 10 years |
Suffrage Vote | 18 years of age; universal |
Economy of Syria
From a population total of 19,398,448, the labor force is 3.767 million (2017 est.). The main products in agriculture are: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk. Among the main industries considerable for the economy are: petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, automobile assembly. Its exports cover crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat. The main import products are: machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper.
Exports | $1.85 billion (2017 est.) |
Imports | $6.279 billion (2017 est.) |
Export Partners | Lebanon 31.5%, Iraq 10.3%, Jordan 8.8%, China 7.8%, Turkey 7.5%, Spain 7.3% (2017) |
Import Partners | Russia 32.4%, Turkey 16.7%, China 9.5% (2017) |
GDP / Capita | $2,900 (2015 est.) |
Electricity Production | 17.07 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electrification Rate | population without electricity: 1 million (2017) |
Internet Users | 5,476,850 |
Internet Penetration Rate | 31.90% (July 2016 est.) |
For latest imports and exports data we recommend checking the website for the National Bank of Syria, statistics sectio