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{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Syria.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Syria"}
{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Syria, click {z,"34.438409,32.114200,42.641983,38.355786",here}{4}!
{2}Location:{4} Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 185,180 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 184,050 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than North Dakota
{3}note:{4} includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,253 km
{3}border countries:{4} Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
{2}Coastline:{4} 193 km
{2}Maritime claims:{4}
contiguous zone: 41 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 35 nm
{2}International disputes:{4} Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; dispute over
Turkey's water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern,
central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
{2}Climate:{4} 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
{2}Terrain:{4} primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
{3}lowest point:{4} unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount Hermon 2,814 m
{2}Natural resources:{4} petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock
salt, marble, gypsum
{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 28%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 3%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 46%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 3%
{3}other:{4} 20%
{2}Irrigated land:{4} 10,000 sq km (1992)
{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from
dumping of raw sewage and wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
{2}natural hazards:{4} dust storms, sandstorms
{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental
Modification
{2}Geographic note:{4} there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights (August 1995 est.)
{1}People{4}
{2}Population:{4} 15,608,648 (July 1996 est.)
{3}note:{4} in addition, there are 31,300 people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 16,500
Arabs (15,000 Druze and 1,500 Alawites) and 14,800 Israeli settlers (August 1995 est.)
{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 47% (male 3,738,671; female 3,557,474)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 50% (male 4,013,355; female 3,843,466)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 3% (male 227,249; female 228,433) (July 1996 est.)
{2}Population growth rate:{4} 3.37% (1996 est.)
{2}Birth rate:{4} 39.56 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Death rate:{4} 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 1 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 67.13 years
{3}male:{4} 65.94 years
{3}female:{4} 68.38 years (1996 est.)
{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 5.91 children born/woman (1996 est.)
{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Syrian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Syrian
{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
{2}Religions:{4} Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various
sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
{2}Languages:{4} Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French widely understood
{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 70.8%
{3}male:{4} 85.7%
{3}female:{4} 55.8%
{1}Government{4}
{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Syrian Arab Republic
{3}conventional short form:{4} Syria
{3}local long form:{4} Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
{3}local short form:{4} Suriyah
{3}former:{4} United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
{2}Type of government:{4} republic under military regime since March 1963
{2}Capital:{4} Damascus
{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 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
{2}Independence:{4} 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
{2}National holiday:{4} National Day, 17 April (1946)
{2}Constitution:{4} 13 March 1973
{2}Legal system:{4} based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal
{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971; see note) was reelected for a
seven-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA
December 1998); results - President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year term
with 99.98% of the vote; 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 NA), Rifaat al-
ASAD (since NA), and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984) were appointed
by the president
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November 1987), Deputy Prime
Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Salim YASIN (since NA December
1981), and Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992) were appointed by the president
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August 1994 (next to be held NA
1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167,
independents 83
{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the
president; High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
{2}Political parties and leaders:{4}
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), 'Abd al-Ghani KANNUT; Arab Socialist
Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian Communist Party (SCP), Wisal FARHAH; Arab Socialist
Unionist Movement, Sami SOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, Ghassan UTHMAN
{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence;
Communist party ineffective; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
{2}International organization participation:{4} ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO,
G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Walid MUALEM
{3}chancery:{4} 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] (202) 232-6313
{3}FAX:{4} [1] (202) 234-9548
{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS
{3}embassy:{4} Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 29, Damascus
{3}telephone:{4} [963] (11) 333-2814, 333-0788, 332-0783
{3}FAX:{4} [963] (11) 224-7938
{2}Flag:{4} 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
{1}Economy{4}
{2}Economic overview:{4} During 1990-92 Syria's state-dominated economy benefited from the Gulf
war, increased oil production, good weather, and economic reform. Economic growth averaged
roughly 10%. The war led to a Syrian aid windfall of nearly $5 billion from Arab, European, and
Japanese donors. Most positive economic trends ended in 1993 due to the dissipation of the Gulf
war boom, a domestic financial crisis, and economic policy missteps. Economic growth has
dropped below 5%, income inequality is increasing, the government budget deficit is growing, and
international accounts are weakening. For the long run, Syria's economy is saddled with a large
number of poorly performing public sector firms and low industrial productivity. Oil production is
likely to ebb by the end of the decade. Unemployment will likely rise as the more than 60% of the
population under age 20 moves into the labor force. The economic benefits of any peace treaty
with Israel will depend in large part on the pace of economic reform.
{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $91.2 billion (1995 est.)
{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 4.4% (1995 est.)
{2}GDP per capita:{4} $5,900 (1995 est.)
{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 30%
{3}industry:{4} 25%
{3}services:{4} 45% (1994 est.)
{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 15.1% (1994 est.)
{2}Labor force:{4} 4.7 million (1995 est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} services 42%, industry 36%, agriculture 22% (1990 est.)
{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 8% (1994 est.)
{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $2.5 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
{2}Industries:{4} textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, petroleum
{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 5% (1994 est.)
{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 4,160,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 13.2 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 865 kWh (1993)
{2}Agriculture:{4} wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas; beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk
{2}Illicit drugs:{4} a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe and heroin
and hashish bound for regional and Western markets
{2}Exports:{4} $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} petroleum 66%, cotton, fruits and vegetables 14%, textiles 9%, animal products
4%, industrial products 3%
{3}partners:{4} EU 61%, Arab countries 24%, former CEMA countries, China, Yugoslavia 5%, US and
Canada 3% (1993 est.)
{2}Imports:{4} $5.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery 25%, metal products 16%, transport equipment 15%, foodstuffs 12%,
textiles 10%
{3}partners:{4} EU 37%, former CEMA countries, China, Yugoslavia 17%, US and Canada 7%, Arab
countries 6% (1993 est.)
{2}External debt:{4} $21.2 billion (1995 est.)
{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $259 million (1993)
{2}Currency:{4} 1 Syrian pound (úS) = 100 piastres
{2}Exchange rates:{4} Syrian pounds (úS) per US$1 - 11.225 (official fixed rate), 26.6 ("blended rate"
used by the UN and diplomatic missions), 42.0 ("neighboring country rate" - applies to most state
enterprise imports), 48.0 - 52.0 (offshore rate) (1994)
{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year
{1}Transportation{4}
{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,998 km
{3}broad gauge:{4} 1,766 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 31,569 km
{3}paved:{4} 24,308 km (including 712 km of expressways)
{3}unpaved:{4} 7,261 km (1991 est.)
{2}Waterways:{4} 870 km; minimal economic importance
{2}Pipelines:{4} crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
{2}Ports:{4} Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 294,355 GRT/454,990 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 12, cargo 85, livestock carrier 1, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)
{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 99
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 5
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 15
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 62
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 2
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 13 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
{1}Communications{4}
{2}Telephones:{4} 541,465 (1992 est.)
{2}Telephone system:{4} fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades,
including fiber-optic technology
{3}domestic:{4} coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
{3}international:{4} 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
{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0
{2}Radios:{4} 3.392 million (1992 est.)
{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 17
{2}Televisions:{4} 700,000 (1993 est.)
{1}Defense{4}
{2}Branches:{4} Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense
Forces, Police and Security Force
{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 3,590,557
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 2,011,610
males reach military age (19) annually: 164,598 (1996 est.)
{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $875 million, 8% of GDP (1994 est.); note -
based on official budget data that understate actual spending