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National Map
Of |
Syria |
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National Flag
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Syria |
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Flag Description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black,
colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small
green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in
the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic
where the two stars represented the constituent states of
Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a
plain white band, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an
Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the
white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of
Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates
to 1980
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Syria |
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National Anthem
Of |
Syria |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Syria |
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Background:
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Following
the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,
Syria was administered by the French until independence
in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the
Golan Heights to Israel. Syrian troops - stationed in
Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -
were withdrawn in April of 2005. Over the past decade,
Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over
the return of the Golan Heights. |
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Location:
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Middle
East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon
and Turkey |
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Geographic coordinates:
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35 00 N,
38 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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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 |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
larger than North Dakota |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km,
Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km |
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Coastline:
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193 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 41 nm |
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Climate:
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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
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Terrain:
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primarily
semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;
mountains in west |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores,
asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable
land: 25.22%
permanent crops: 4.43%
other: 70.35% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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12,130 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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dust
storms, sandstorms |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and
petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental
Modification |
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Geography - note:
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there are
42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)
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Population:
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18,448,752
note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs
(18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and about 20,000
Israeli settlers (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 37.4% (male 3,556,795/female 3,350,267)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 5,601,971/female
5,333,799)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 288,868/female
317,052) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
20.37 years
male: 20.24 years
female: 20.51 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.34%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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28.29
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.88
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
29.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 70.03 years
male: 68.75 years
female: 71.38 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.5
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than
0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than
500 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
200 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab
90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% |
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Religions:
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Sunni
Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,
Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities
in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo) |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian
widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 89.7%
female: 64% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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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) |
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Government type:
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republic
under military regime since March 1963 |
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Capital:
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Damascus
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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17 April
1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 17 April (1946) |
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Constitution:
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13 March
1973 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Islamic law and civil law system; special religious
courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July
2000); 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 Muhammad Naji
al-UTRI (since 10 September 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by popular vote for
a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 10 July
2000 - after the death of President Hafiz al-ASAD,
father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held 2007); vice
presidents appointed by the president; prime minister
and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected
president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%
note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20
June 2000, the Ba'th Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for
president and presented his name to the People's Council
on 25 June 2000 |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be
held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPF
67%, independents 33%; seats by party - NPF 167,
independents 83; note - the constitution guarantees that
the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receives
one-half of the seats |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for
four-year terms by the president); High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Arab
Socialist Unionist Movement [Ahmed al-AHMED]; National
Progressive Front or NPF (includes Arab Socialist
Renaissance (Ba'th) Party; the governing party)
[President Bashar al-ASAD, secretary general]; Socialist
Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallal Nasr Al-DIN];
Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan QUDSI];
Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha
BAKDASH, Yuusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National
Party [Jubran URAYJI]; Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez
ISMAIL] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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conservative religious leaders; Kurdish Democratic
Alliance [leader NA]; Kurdish Democratic Front [leader
NA]; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in London)
[Ali Badr Eddine al-BAYANOUNI]; National Democratic
Front [Hassan Abd al-AZIM] |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA,
AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFA
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2,
Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678 |
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Flag description:
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three
equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black,
colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two
small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line
centered in the white band; former flag of the United
Arab Republic where the two stars represented the
constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the
flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which
has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a
horizontal line centered in the white band, and that of
Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the
white band; the current design dates to 1980 |
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Economy - overview:
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Real GDP
growth rose to 2.3 percent in 2004, a slight increase
from 2003 when the predominantly statist economy
suffered from disruptions caused by the war in Iraq and
other developments in the region. Annual real GDP growth
has averaged 2.3 percent for the last seven years. The
Government of Syria has implemented modest economic
reforms in the last few years, including cutting
interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating
some of the multiple exchange rates, and raising prices
on some subsidized foodstuffs. Nevertheless, the economy
remains highly controlled by the government. Long run
economic constraints include declining oil production
and exports and pressure on water supplies caused by
rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and
increased water pollution. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$60.44
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.3%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 44% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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5.12
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 30%, industry 27%, services 43% (2002 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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20% (2002
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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20% (2004
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.1%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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16.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $6.58 billion
expenditures: $9.45 billion, including capital
expenditures of $4.67 billion (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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32% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat,
barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;
beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk |
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Industries:
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petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages,
tobacco, phosphate rock mining |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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7% (2002
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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26.15
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 57.6%
hydro: 42.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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24.32
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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525,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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240,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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285,000
bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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2.5
billion bbl (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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5.84
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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5.84
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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240.7
billion cu m (2004) |
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Current account balance:
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$1.1
billion (2003) |
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Exports:
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$6.086
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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crude
oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton
fiber, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat |
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Exports - partners:
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Italy
22.7%, France 18%, Turkey 12.9%, Iraq 9%, Saudi Arabia
6.2% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$5.042
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food
and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and
chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper |
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Imports - partners:
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Turkey
9.4%, Ukraine 8.7%, China 7.8%, Russia 5.4%, Saudi
Arabia 5.2%, US 4.7%, South Korea 4.6%, Italy 4.3%
(2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$5
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$4
billion (excludes military debt and debt to Russia)
(2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$180
million (2002 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Syrian
pound (SYP) |
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Currency code:
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SYP |
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Exchange rates:
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Syrian
pounds per US dollar - (official rate): 11.225 (2004),
11.225 (2003), 11.225 (2002), 11.225 (2001), 11.225
(2000), (parallel market rate in Amman and Beirut) NA
(2004), 52.8 (2003), 52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2002), 49.4
(2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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2,099,300
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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400,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: fair system currently undergoing
significant improvement and digital upgrades, including
fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
network
international: country code - 963; 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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 14, FM
2, shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Radios:
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4.15
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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44 (plus
17 repeaters) (1995) |
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Televisions:
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1.05
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.sy |
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Internet hosts:
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11 (2004)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2000)
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Internet users:
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220,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
2,711 km
standard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
45,697 km
paved: 6,489 km (including 1,001 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 39,208 km (2002) |
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Waterways:
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900 km
(not economically significant) (2002) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 2,300
km; oil 2,183 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Baniyas,
Latakia |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
120 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 446,981 GRT/636,620 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 105, container 1,
livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 1
foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Jordan 2,
Lebanon 7, Romania 1)
registered in other countries: 73 (2005) |
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Airports:
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92 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
26
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
66
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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7 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Syrian
Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force
(includes Air Defense Command), Police and Security
Force |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 30 months (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 4,356,413 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 3,453,888 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
225,113 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$858
million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget
data that may understate actual spending |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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5.9%
(FY00) |
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Disputes - international:
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Golan
Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong
UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a
buffer zone since 1964; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms in
Golan Heights; international pressure prompts the
removal of Syrian troops and intelligence personel
stationed in Lebanon since October 1976; Syria protests
Turkish hydrological projects regulating upper Euphrates
waters; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles
border dispute with Jordan |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 413,827 (Palestinian
Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 170,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights
during 1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2004) |
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Illicit drugs:
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a transit
point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and
Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls,
bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to
money-laundering |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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