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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

3.392 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

541,465 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

54 (of which 36 are low-power stations and repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

700,000 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.5 billion expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$22 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$327.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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 - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

19.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

19.3 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 63.73% hydro: 36.27% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1--46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225

Exports [time series]

$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

petroleum 65%, textiles 16%, food and live animals 13%, manufactures 6% (1997 est.)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Italy 18%, Germany 13%, France 12%, Turkey 10%, Lebanon 7%, Spain 6% (1997 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$41.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 26% industry: 21% services: 53% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%, France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.2% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15%-20% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.7 million (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services 40%, agriculture 40%, industry 20% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

15%-25%

Unemployment rate [time series]

12%-15% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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 (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than North Dakota

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

193 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

35 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1998 est.)

Irrigated land [time series]

9,060 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 41 nm territorial sea: 35 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

dust storms, sandstorms

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Damascus

Constitution [time series]

13 March 1973

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

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; referendum/election last held 8 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic under military regime since March 1963

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%; seats by party--NPF 167, independents 83; note--the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receive one-half of the seats

National Progressive Front (NPF) includes [time series]

the ruling Arab Socialist secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 17 April (1946)

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in Jordan and Yemen)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

8% (1995 est.)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,060,995 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,271,539 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 188,546 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 4,032,620; female 3,840,431) 15-64 years: 51% (male 4,515,274; female 4,322,415) 65 years and over: 3% (male 246,812; female 256,319) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

36.95 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

36.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.09 years male: 66.75 years female: 69.48 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

17,213,871 (July 1999 est.) note: in addition, there are about 37,200 people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights--18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700 Alawites) and about 19,000 Israeli settlers (August 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.15% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

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: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; 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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

104 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 24 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 63 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 41,451 km paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,876 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,407 GRT/578,081 DWT ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 115, livestock carrier 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

870 km; minimal economic importance