1998 Edition

Area

total: 185,180 sq km land: 184,050 sq km water: 1,130 sq km note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

Area-comparative

slightly larger than North Dakota

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

Coastline

193 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m

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

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography-note

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

Irrigated land

9,060 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,253 km border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km

Land use

arable land: 28% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 43% forests and woodland: 3% other: 22% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 41 nm territorial sea: 35 nm

Natural hazards

dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

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.)

Birth rate

37.83 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.76 years male: 66.48 years female: 69.11 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.8% male: 85.7% female: 55.8% (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

16,673,282 (July 1998 est.) 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.)

Population growth rate

3.23% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.55 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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

Constitution

13 March 1973

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

SY

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%

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

[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

Government type

republic under military regime since March 1963

Independence

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

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

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

National capital

Damascus

National holiday

National Day, 17 April (1946)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $3.9 billion expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Syrian pound (£S) = 100 piastres

Debt-external

$20 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: $4.2 billion (1990-92)

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.

Electricity-capacity

4.157 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

970 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

14.9 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

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

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.)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$106.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

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

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$6,600 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

4.6% (1997 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.)

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

15%-20% (1997 est.)

Labor force

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

3.392 million (1992 est.)

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

Telephones

541,465 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

17

Televisions

700,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

12% (1997 est.)

Airports

104 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 63 (1997 est.)

Heliports

2 (1997 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 376,903 GRT/555,679 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 110, livestock carrier 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km Ports and harbors: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Railways

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

Waterways

870 km; minimal economic importance

Military branches

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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$800 million-$1 billion (1997 est.); note-based on official budget data that understate actual spending

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

8% (1995 est.)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 3,899,714 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,182,608 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

19 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 177,946 (1998 est.)

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