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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.sy

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

416 (2012) country comparison to the world: 188

Internet users [time series]

4.469 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 52

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 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 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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

4.345 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 37

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

13.117 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 59

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $6.511 billion expenditures: $12.68 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-9.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Central bank discount rate [time series]

0.75% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

11.7% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 10.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$5.103 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 -$7.726 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$8.818 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $8.196 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Despite modest economic growth and reform prior to the outbreak of unrest, Syria's economy continues to suffer the effects of the ongoing conflict that began in 2011. The economy further contracted in 2012 because of international sanctions and reduced domestic consumption and production. The government has struggled to address the effects of economic decline, including dwindling foreign exchange reserves, rising budget and trade deficits, and the decreasing value of the Syrian pound. Prior to the unrest, 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. The economy remains highly regulated by the government. Long-run economic constraints include foreign trade barriers, declining oil production, high unemployment, rising budget deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.

Exchange rates [time series]

Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 63.94 (2012 est.) 48.371 (2011 est.) 11.225 (2010 est.) 46.708 (2009) 46.5281 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$4.981 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $10.29 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Iraq 38.8%, Italy 7.9%, Germany 7.1%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, Kuwait 4.2% (2011)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$64.7 billion (2011 est.)

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

$107.6 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $110.1 billion (2010 est.) $106.5 billion (2009 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

agriculture: 18.1% industry: 25.3% services: 56.6% (2012 est.)

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

$5,100 (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $5,100 (2010 est.) $5,200 (2009 est.) note: data are in 2011 US dollars

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

NA (2012 est.) -2.3% (2011 est.) 3.4% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$10.01 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $17.6 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 14.8%, China 10.3%, UAE 7.3%, Turkey 6.8%, Iran 5.4%, Italy 5.1%, Russia 4.6%, Iraq 4.4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

33.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 222 4.8% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Labor force [time series]

5.54 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 17% industry: 16% services: 67% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

11.9% (2006 est.)

Public debt [time series]

44% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$4.774 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $14.83 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$30.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $39.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$20.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $27.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$18.01 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $22.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

10.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Unemployment rate [time series]

18% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 14.9% (2011 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

63.1 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Crude oil - exports [time series]

144,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Crude oil - production [time series]

333,900 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

2.183 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Electricity - consumption [time series]

28.87 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

84.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

15.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

8.2 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - production [time series]

40.86 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

9.63 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas - imports [time series]

690 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - production [time series]

8.94 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

258,800 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

14,540 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

58,160 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

255,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 185,180 sq km country comparison to the world: 89 land: 183,630 sq km water: 1,550 sq km note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

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 in 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 [time series]

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

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

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 19.95 cu km/yr (3%/2%/95%) per capita: 1,048 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

35 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)

Irrigated land [time series]

13,560 sq km (2003)

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: 24.8% permanent crops: 4.47% other: 70.73% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

46.1 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

name: Damascus geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Friday in April; ends last Friday in October

Constitution [time series]

13 March 1973; amended February 2012

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. FORD; note - on 6 February 2012, the US closed its embassy in Damascus embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 3391-4444 FAX: [963] (11) 3391-3999

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4585

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 21 February 2006) oversees foreign policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) oversees cultural policy head of government: Prime Minister Wael al-HALQI (since 9 August 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - new Council appointed on 14 April 2011 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%, other 2.4%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic under an authoritarian regime

Independence [time series]

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

International law organization participation [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the president); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the president); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts - Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes); Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to marriage and divorce)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Humat ad-Diyar" (Guardians of the Homeland) lyrics/music: Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL 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 [time series]

Independence Day, 17 April (1946)

National symbol(s) [time series]

hawk

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

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]; 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 parties (considered illegal): Kurdish Azadi Party; 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 other parties: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]

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

Free Syrian Army; National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Oppositon Forces or Syrian Oppositon Coalition [Mu'aaz al-KHATIB] (operates in exile in Cairo); Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH] (operates in exile in London) note - there are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. 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 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. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. 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 unrest have spread to nearly every city in Syria, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law and approving new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections - and force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD to step down, and the government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent 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 United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime. Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, in October 2012 began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in brokering a cease-fire. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unrest persists in 2013,and the death toll among Syrian government forces, Opposition Forces, and civilians has topped 60,000.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,889,837 females age 16-49: 5,660,751 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,055,510 females age 16-49: 4,884,151 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 256,698 female: 244,712 (2010 est.)

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

Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Forces (includes Air Defense Command) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

5.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory male military service; conscript service obligation - 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) (2010)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 3,990,769/ female 3,793,859) 15-64 years: 61.6% (male 7,059,306/ female 6,828,799) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 393,984/ female 464,029) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.52 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

10% (2006) country comparison to the world: 66

Death rate [time series]

3.67 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.9% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 66

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

2.9% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 180

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 15.12 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 114 male: 17.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.92 years country comparison to the world: 95 male: 72.53 years female: 77.45 years (2012 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.6% male: 86% female: 73.6% (2004 census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

Aleppo 2.985 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.527 million; Hims 1.276 million; Hamah 854,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 88

Median age [time series]

total: 22.3 years male: 22.1 years female: 22.5 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian

Net migration rate [time series]

-27.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population [time series]

22,530,746 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 note: approximately 18,700 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2011)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.797% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 226

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim (Islam - official) 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 95% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 5% of population total: 4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 11 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.85 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 19.1% country comparison to the world: 61 male: 13.1% female: 49.1% (2007)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 56% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 101,244 (Iraq); 486,946 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) IDPs: more than 2 million (2011-2012 civil war) (2012)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Syria is principally a destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking; women from Indonesia, the Philippines, Somalia, and Ethiopia are recruited by employment agencies to work in Syria as domestic servants, but are subsequently subjected to conditions of forced labor; some economically desperate Syrian children are subjected to conditions of forced labor within the country, particularly by organized street begging rings; some Syrian women in Lebanon may be forced to engage in street prostitution and small numbers of Syrian girls are reportedly brought to Lebanon for the purpose of prostitution tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the government made modest anti-trafficking efforts, however, it did not demonstrate evidence of increasing efforts to investigate and punish trafficking offenses, inform the public about the practice of human trafficking, or provide much-needed anti-trafficking training to law enforcement and social welfare officials (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

99 (2012) country comparison to the world: 58

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 29 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 70 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 55 (2012)

Heliports [time series]

6 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 19 country comparison to the world: 95 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)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 3,161 km; oil 1,997 km (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus

Railways [time series]

total: 2,052 km country comparison to the world: 72 standard gauge: 1,801 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 68,157 km country comparison to the world: 67 paved: 61,514 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,643 km (2006)

Waterways [time series]

900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011) country comparison to the world: 69