Syria

Syrian Arab RepublicAl Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah

republic under military regime since March 1963

Syria as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 101 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDamascus

Position35 00 N, 38 00 E

Area185,180 sq km

LocationMiddle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

16.67 million July 1998 est. · 12.48m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.23% 1998 est. · 3.76% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

67.76 years 1998 est. · 66.12 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.55 children per woman 1998 est. · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

37.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 38 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,600 1997 est. · $2,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.6% 1997 est. · 9% in 1993

Geography

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between | Lebanon and Turkey

18 fields

Land useshare of 185,180 sq km

arable land 28%permanent crops 4%permanent pastures 43%forests and woodland 3%other 22% (1993 est.)irrigated 9,060 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

185,180sq km

land: 184,050 sq kmwater: 1,130 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territoryslightly larger than North Dakota

Coastline

193km

contiguous zone: 41 nmterritorial sea: 35 nm

Highest point

2,814m

Mount Hermonlowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m

Land boundaries

2,253km

border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km

Location

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

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 hitting Damascus

Terrain

primarily semiarid and desert plateau;
narrow coastal plain;
mountains in west

Natural resources

petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum

Environment-current issues

deforestation;
overgrazing;
soil erosion;
desertification;
water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and wastes from petroleum refining;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment-international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:: Environmental Modification

Geography-note

there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1997 est.)

People

15 fields

Population

16,673,282

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 3.23% (1998 est.)

Note

note: in addition, there are 35,150 people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights-18,150 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,650 Alawites) and 17,000 Israeli settlers (August 1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

37.83Death

5.55Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)67.76

66.48 · 69.11

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1997 est.)70.8%

85.7% · 55.8%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46% (male 3,937,575; female 3,748,881)
15-64 years:: 51% (male 4,342,022; female 4,157,268)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 240,603; female 246,933) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.97 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

37.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Syrian(s)
adjective:: Syrian

Ethnic groups

Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religions

Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Languages

Arabic (official);
Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood;
French, English somewhat understood

Government

Republic under military regime since March 1963; President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)

21 fields

Legislature, 83 seats, elected 24-25 August 1994one dot, one seat

independents 83

Country name

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)

Data code

Government type

republic under military regime since March 1963

National capital

Damascus

Administrative divisions

14 provinces (muhafazat, singular-muhafazah);
Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence

17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday

National Day, 17 April (1946)

Constitution

13 March 1973

Legal system

based on Islamic law and civil law system;
special religious courts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971);
note-President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national elections;
Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
head of government:: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1998);
vice presidents appointed by the president;
prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results:: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent of vote-Hafiz al-ASAD 99.98%

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 24-25 August 1994 (next to be held NA 1998)
election results:: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-National Progressive Front 167, independents 83

Judicial branch

Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president;
High Judicial Council;
Court of Cassation;
State Security Courts

National Progressive Front includes

the ruling Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, president of the republic, secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National Progressive Front;
Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), Ghassan 'Abd-al-Aziz UTHMAN;
Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Fayiz ISMAIL;
Syrian Communist Party (SCP), Yusuf FAYSAL;
Arab Socialist Unionist Party, Safwan QUDSI;
Socialist Union Democratic Party, Ahmad al-ASAD

Political pressure groups and leaders

non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence;
Communist party ineffective;
conservative religious leaders;
Muslim Brotherhood

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Walid MUALEM
chancery:: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 232-6313

FAX

[1] (202) 234-9548

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador-designate Ryan CROCKER
embassy:: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address:: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone:: [963] (11) 333-2814, 333-0788, 332-0783

FAX

[963] (11) 224-7938

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band;
also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

Economy

Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky | footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic | reform.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$106.1billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$6,600

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

4.6%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 0.2% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

15%

-20% (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 28%industry 14%services 58% (1995)

Budget

Revenues

$3.9 billionExpenditures

$4.3 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion

Fixed lines

541,465

(1992 est.)

Economy-overview

Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. Although Syria has sufficient water supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance between major water supplies and population centers poses serious distribution problems.

The water problem is exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Private investment is critical to the modernization of the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to penetrate international markets have fallen short.

Syria's inadequate infrastructure, outmoded technological base, and weak educational system make it vulnerable to future shocks and hamper competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel.

Labor force

total:: 4.7 million (1995 est.)
by occupation:: services 40%, agriculture 40%, industry 20% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

12% (1997 est.)

Industries

petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining

Electricity-capacity

4.157 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

14.9 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

970 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas; beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk

Exports

total value:: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
commodities:: petroleum 70%, textiles 12%, food and live animals 10%, manufactures 5% (1997 est.)
partners:: EU 57% (Germany 17%, Italy 16%, France 11%), Lebanon 14%, Saudi Arabia 7% (1995 est.)

Imports

total value:: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
commodities:: machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)
partners:: EU 33% (Italy 9%, Germany 8%, France 4%), South Korea 5%, US 4%, Japan 4% (1995 est.)

Debt-external

$20 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: $4.2 billion (1990-92)

Currency

1 Syrian pound (£S) = 100 piastres

Exchange rates

Syrian pounds (£S) per US$1-41.9 (January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology

domestic:: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international:: satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);
1 submarine cable;
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey;
participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

3.392 million (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

700,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 125 ships by type(1997 est.)

bulk 11cargo 110livestock carrier 3roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14

Networkskm

Highways

40,480Railways

1,998Waterways

870

Highways: paved: 9,310 km (including 866 km of expressways) · unpaved: 31,170 km (1996 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge · Waterways: ; minimal economic importance

Railways

total:: 1,998 km
broad gauge:: 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 232 km 1.050-m gauge

Highways

total:: 40,480 km
paved:: 9,310 km (including 866 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 31,170 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

870 km; minimal economic importance

Pipelines

crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km

Ports and harbors

Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Airports

104 (1997 est.)

Heliports

2 (1997 est.)

Military

Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air | Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force

7 fields

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

(1995 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes-international

Golan Heights is Israeli occupied;
Hatay question with Turkey;
dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers;
Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976

Illicit drugs

a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets TAIWAN

Central Intelligence Agency. “Syria.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/syria/1998.

How to cite ← 1997 edition 1999 edition →