2015 Edition

Background

Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability and experienced a series of military coups. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights region to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 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 May 2007, Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was approved by popular referendum.

Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 with protesters calling for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. Since then, demonstrations and violent unrest spread to nearly every city in Syria with the size and intensity of protests fluctuating. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law, new laws permitting new political parties, and liberalizing local and national elections - and military force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD's resignation, and the government's ongoing violence to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity has led to extended clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the US expanded economic sanctions against the regime. In December 2012, the Syrian National Coalition, was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Peace talks between the Coalition and Syrian regime at the UN-sponsored Geneva II conference in 2014 failed to produce a resolution of the conflict. Unrest continues in Syria, and according to a January 2015 UN estimate, the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians had reached 220,000. So far, the conflict has displaced 11.6 million people, including 7.6 million people internally, making the situation in Syria the largest humanitarian crisis worldwide.

Area

land

183,630 sq km

note

includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

total

185,180 sq km

water

1,550 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania

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

Coastline

193 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Hermon 2,814 m

lowest point

unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

867.4 cu m/yr (2005)

total

16.76 cu km/yr (9%/4%/88%)

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note

the capital of Damascus - located at an oasis fed by the Barada River - is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2014 est.)

Irrigated land

13,410 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Iraq 599 km, Israel 83 km, Jordan 379 km, Lebanon 403 km, Turkey 899 km

total

2,363 km

Land use

arable land 25.4%; permanent crops 5.8%; permanent pasture 44.6%

agricultural land

75.8%

forest

2.7%

other

21.5% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

16.8 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

32.49% (male 2,841,760/female 2,701,998)

15-24 years

19.85% (male 1,713,286/female 1,673,560)

25-54 years

38.57% (male 3,283,267/female 3,298,387)

55-64 years

5.07% (male 427,655/female 438,105)

65 years and over

4.02% (male 309,947/female 376,889) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

22.17 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

4% (2006 est.)

total number

192,915

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.1% (2009)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

53.9% (2009/10)

Death rate

4 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.9%

potential support ratio

14.5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

70%

youth dependency ratio

63.1%

Drinking water source

urban: 92.3% of population

rural: 87.2% of population

total: 90.1% of population

urban: 7.7% of population

rural: 12.8% of population

total: 9.9% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

13.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

17.95 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.21 years (2015 est.)

male

72.31 years

total population

74.69 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

81% (2015 est.)

male

91.7%

total population

86.4%

Major urban areas - population

Aleppo 3.562 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.566 million; Hims 1.641 million; Hamah 1.237 million; Lattakia 781,000 (2015)

Median age

female

23.7 years (2014 est.)

male

22.9 years

total

23.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Syrian

noun

Syrian(s)

Net migration rate

-19.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.6% (2014)

Physicians density

1.46 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

17,064,854 (July 2014 est.)

note

approximately 18,900 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2012) (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.16% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian) 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%, Jewish (few remaining in Damascus and Aleppo)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.2% of population

rural: 95.1% of population

total: 95.7% of population

urban: 3.8% of population

rural: 4.9% of population

total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2012)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.82 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

40.2% (2010 est.)

male

15.3%

total

19.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.37% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

57.7% of total population (2015)

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, Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March; ends at midnight on the first Friday in November

geographic coordinates

33 30 N, 36 18 E

name

Damascus

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest issued 15 February 2012, passed by referendum 26 February 2012 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Syrian Arab Republic

conventional short form

Syria

former

United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah

local short form

Suriyah

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

ambassador (vacant); Special Envoy to Syria Daniel RUBINSTEIN (since March 2014); note - on 6 February 2012, the US closed its embassy in Damascus

embassy

Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus

FAX

[963] (11) 3391-3999

mailing address

P. O. Box 29, Damascus

telephone

[963] (11) 3391-4444

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mounir KOUDMANI

FAX

[1] (202) 234-9548

note

Embassy ceased operation on 18 March 2014

telephone

[1] (202) 232-6313

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 21 February 2006); Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)

election results

Bashar al-ASAD approved as 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%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 June 2014 (next to be held in June 2021); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers

head of government

Prime Minister Wael al-HALQI (since 9 August 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Fahd Jasim al-FURAYJ, Lt. Gen. Walid al-MUALEM

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980

note

similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band

Government type

republic under an authoritarian regime

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, 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, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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 4 members)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or 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 appointed for 4-year renewable terms

subordinate courts

courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law (for family courts)

Legislative branch

description

unicameral People's Assembly or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL

name

"Humat ad-Diyar" (Guardians of the Homeland)

note

adopted 1936, restored 1961; between 1958 and 1961, while Syria was a member of the United Arab Republic with Egypt, the country had a different anthem

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 April (1946)

National symbol(s)

hawk; national colors: red, white, black, green

Political parties and leaders

Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr al-DIN]

Syrian Arab Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI]

Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]

Syrian Social Nationalist Party [As'ad HARDAN]

Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL])

Kurdish Democratic Accord Party (al Wifaq)

Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Ibrahim wing)

Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Mustafa wing)

Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria or KDP-S

Kurdish Democratic Patriotic/National Party

Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Darwish

Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Muhammad

Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD [Salih Muslim MOHAMMAD]

Kurdish Democratic Unity Party

Kurdish Democratic Yekiti Party

Kurdish Future Party or KFP

Kurdish Future Party [Rezan HASSAN]

Kurdish Left Party

Kurdish Yekiti (Union) Party

Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party

Kurdish parties (considered illegal)

Kurdish Azadi Party

legal parties

National Progressive Front or NPF [President Bashar al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH] (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD]

other

Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Free Syrian Army

Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH] (operates in exile in London)

Syrian Opposition Coalition or National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces [al-Asi- al-JARBAL]

note

there are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk

Budget

expenditures

$5.5 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$1.73 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2014)

5% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2014 est.)

16% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$4.575 billion (2014 est.)

-$5.205 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$11.64 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$9.904 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Syria's economy continues to deteriorate amid the ongoing conflict that began in 2011. The economy further contracted in 2014 because of international sanctions, widespread infrastructure damage, diminished domestic consumption and production, reduced subsidies, and high inflation. The government has struggled to address the effects of economic decline, which include dwindling foreign exchange reserves, rising budget and trade deficits, and the decreasing value of the Syrian pound and household purchasing power. During 2014, the ongoing conflict and continued unrest and economic decline worsened the humanitarian crisis and elicited a greater need for international assistance, as the number of people in need inside Syria increased from 9.3 million to 12.2 million, and the number of Syrian refugees increased from 2.2 million to more than 3.3 million. Prior to the turmoil, Damascus began liberalizing economic policies, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange, but the economy remains highly regulated. Long-run economic constraints include foreign trade barriers, declining oil production, high unemployment, rising budget deficits, increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, water pollution, and widespread infrastructure damage.

Exchange rates

Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -

152.9 (2014 est.)

108.426 (2013 est.)

64.39 (2012 est.)

48.371 (2011 est.)

11.225 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.031 billion (2014 est.)

$1.939 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

Exports - partners

Iraq 59.9%, Saudi Arabia 10%, Kuwait 6.5%, UAE 5.6%, Libya 4.3% (2013)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

7.5%

government consumption

19.4%

household consumption

67.8%

imports of goods and services

-22.4%

investment in fixed capital

18.2%

investment in inventories

9.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

16.4%

industry

22.7%

services

60.9% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,100 (2011 est.)

$5,100 (2010 est.)

$5,200 (2010 est.)

note

data are in 2011 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

NA% (2012 est.)

-2.3% (2011 est.)

3.4% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$64.7 billion (2011 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$107.6 billion (2011 est.)

$110.1 billion (2010 est.)

$97.03 billion (2009 est.)

the war driven deterioration of the economy resulted in a disappearance of quality national level statistics in 2012-13

note

data are in 2011 US dollars

Gross national saving

13.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

10.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

12.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$7.657 billion (2014 est.)

$7.552 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 24.6%, UAE 12.1%, Iran 8.9%, Iraq 7.3%, Turkey 6%, China 4.6%, Ukraine 4.1% (2013)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2014 est.)

Industries

petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, automobile assembly

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

34.8% (2014 est.)

89.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.022 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

17%

industry

16%

services

67% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

11.9% (2006 est.)

Public debt

57.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

54.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.725 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.895 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$11.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$6.966 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.738 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.001 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.056 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

2.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

33% (2014 est.)

35% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

50.92 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

152,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

74,820 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

35.37 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.192 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

89.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

10.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

8.323 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

38.78 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

6.442 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

250 million cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.442 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

257,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

36,210 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

104,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

253,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and a satellite channel; roughly two-thirds of Syrian homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2007)

Internet country code

.sy

Internet users

percent of population

26.7% (2014 est.)

total

4.8 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 14, FM 15, shortwave 26 (2010)

Telephone system

domestic

the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephone subscribership nearly 60 per 100 persons in 2011

general assessment

fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology and expansion of the network to rural areas; the armed insurgency that began in 2011 has led to major disruptions to the network and has caused telephone and Internet outages throughout the country

international

country code - 963; submarine cable connection to Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

3.99 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

87 (2014 est.)

total

15.6 million

Television broadcast stations

44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)

Airports

90 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

16

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

5

total

29

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

48 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

12

total

61

Heliports

6 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, carrier 1

registered in other countries

166 (Barbados 1, Belize 4, Bolivia 4, Cambodia 22, Comoros 5, Dominica 4, Georgia 24, Lebanon 2, Liberia 1, Malta 4, Moldova 5, North Korea 4, Panama 34, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Sierra Leone 13, Tanzania 23, Togo 6, unknown 1) (2010)

total

19

Pipelines

gas 3,170 km; oil 2,029 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus

Railways

narrow gauge

251 km 1.050-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

1,801 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,052 km

Roadways

paved

63,060 km

total

69,873 km

unpaved

6,813 km (2010)

Waterways

900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

5,660,751 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

5,889,837

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

4,884,151 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

5,055,510

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

244,712 (2010 est.)

male

256,698

Military branches

Syrian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (includes Air Defense Forces) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve; re-enlistment obligation 5 years, with retirement after 15 years or age 40 (enlisted) or 20 years or age 45 (NCOs) (2012)

Disputes - international

Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force patrolling a buffer zone since 1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan

Illicit drugs

a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

7,632,500 (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2015)

note

the ongoing civil war has created more than 4 million Syrian refugees - dispersed in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of August 2015

refugees (country of origin)

526,744 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2014); undetermined (Iraq) (2015)

stateless persons

160,000 (2014); note - Syria's stateless population is composed of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian Government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war

Trafficking in persons

current situation

due to Syria’s political uprising and violent unrest, hundreds of thousands of Syrians, foreign migrant workers, and refugees have fled the country and are vulnerable to human trafficking; the lack of security and inaccessibility of the majority of the country makes it impossible to conduct a thorough analysis of the scope and magnitude of Syria’s human trafficking situation; Syria is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Syrian refugee women and girls are forced into exploitive marriages or prostitution in neighboring countries, while refugee children are forced into street begging domestically and abroad; the Syrian armed forces and opposition forces are using Syrian children in combat and support roles and as human shields

tier rating

Tier 3 - the government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; increasing violence undercut any law enforcement efforts in 2013; the government failed to protect and prevent children from recruitment by government forces and armed opposition groups; a new law passed in 2013 criminalizing the recruitment of children under 18 by armed forces was not enforced; authorities did not make efforts to investigate and punish trafficking offenders, including complicit government employees; no trafficking victims were identified or provided with protective services; the government did not attempt to inform the public about human trafficking or to provide anti-trafficking training to officials (2014)