Country Profile: Syria

Syria is a Middle Eastern country located along the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Lebanon and Turkey. Following a long history of political instability, including a civil war that began in 2011, the country is currently engaging in a transitional governance structure. It has a diverse population of over 24 million, predominantly Arab, with significant ethnic minorities including Kurds and Alawites. The economy has been severely impacted by the civil war, with sectors like agriculture and services struggling amid ongoing sanctions and hyperinflation.

Geography

Syria covers an area of 187,437 sq km, characterized by primarily desert terrain and a significant coastline of 193 km. The country has diverse geographic features, including mountains, plateaus, and fertile plains, notably around the Euphrates River valley. The climate predominantly features hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters along the coast.

2,363 km of land borders with Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
The highest point in Syria is Mount Hermon at 2,814 m.
74.1% of the land is classified as agricultural land (2023 est.).
Major rivers include the Euphrates and Tigris.
Significant cities include Damascus, Aleppo, and Homs.

People and Society

Syria's estimated population stands at 24,261,882 in 2025, with a relatively young median age of 24.5 years. The population is ethnically diverse, primarily consisting of 50% Arab and 10% Kurdish. The official language is Arabic, while the majority religion is Islam (87%). Ongoing conflict has displaced millions, with approximately 6.7 million Syrians internally displaced as of 2022.

57.4% of the population resides in urban areas (2023).
The literacy rate is 94.4% (2021 est.).
Life expectancy is 74.8 years (2024 est.).
21.26 births per 1,000 people (2025 est.).
The dependency ratio is 58.1 (2025 est.).

Economy

Syria's economy remains low-income and has been devastated by over a decade of civil war. As of 2023, the GDP (PPP) is approximately $98.858 billion, with a per capita GDP of $4,200. The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and services, which together comprise over 87% of the GDP.

43.1% of the GDP comes from agriculture (2022 est.).
Inflation reached 94.1% in 2022.
The unemployment rate is around 13% (2024 est.).
Agricultural products include wheat, barley, and olives.
Exports totaled $1.609 billion in 2022, primarily olive oil and phosphates.

Government

Syria is categorized as a transitional presidential republic, with its capital in Damascus. Following the civil unrest and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, new governance structures are being established, including a Ministry of Defense and Interior. The current constitutional framework is uncertain as a transitional document was announced in March 2025.

The national holiday is celebrated on 17 April, marking independence from French rule.
The People's Assembly comprises 210 members, with the next election expected in March 2030.
Political parties include the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party and numerous Kurdish groups.
Universal suffrage is granted from age 18.

Military and Security

The military landscape in Syria is fragmented, with numerous armed factions operating under shifting allegiances post-civil war. The interim government is working to unify these factions into a formal military structure. The military is heavily equipped with Russian-made arms.

Military expenditures were 6.5% of GDP in 2019.
Mandatory conscription policies are currently suspended.
UN peacekeeping forces monitor the Golan Heights area.
The Syrian military includes both state-linked and other armed groups, each controlling different regions.

Energy

Syria has a varied energy portfolio, primarily dependent on fossil fuels, which account for 95.6% of electricity generation capacity. As of 2023, electricity access stands at 89%, with rural access at 75%.

15,000 metric tons of coal is consumed annually (2023).
Total petroleum production is 65,000 bbl/day (2023).
Natural gas production is 2.763 billion cubic meters (2023).
The installed electricity generating capacity is 9.636 million kW (2023).

Environment

Environmental issues in Syria are compounded by overgrazing, deforestation, and water resource depletion. The country is a party to various international environmental agreements focused on biodiversity and climate change.

74.1% of land is used for agriculture (2023).
Urban population constitutes 57.4% of the total (2023).
16.802 billion cubic meters of renewable water resources were reported in 2022.

Transportation

Syria has various transportation infrastructures, including 42 airports and a railway network covering 2,052 km.

Civil aviation is identified by the prefix YK.
The merchant marine includes 24 vessels (2023).
Major ports include Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas, and Tartus.

Communications

Syria's communication sectors include a mix of state-run and private broadcasters, with about 35% of the population having internet access as of 2019.

17.6 million mobile phone subscriptions (2024).
2.816 million fixed-line subscriptions (2023).
State-run media dominates, with limited private news reporting allowed.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	24,261,882 (2025 est.)
Area	187,437 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$98.858 billion (2023)
Energy consumption per capita	13.569 million Btu/person (2023)
Birth rate	21.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Unemployment rate	13% (2024 est.)