| Glorioso Islands (2006) | Syria (2002) | |
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| Administrative divisions | - | 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 | 
| Age structure | - | 0-14 years: 39.3% (male 3,467,267; female 3,264,639) 
 15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,052,841; female 4,817,662) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 267,803; female 285,602) (2002 est.)  | 
				
| Agriculture - products | - | wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk | 
| Airports | 1 (2006) | 99 (2001) | 
| Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 24 
 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002)  | 
				
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1 
 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)  | 
				total: 68 
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 55 (2002)  | 
				
| Area | total: 5 sq km 
 land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock  | 
				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 | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly larger than North Dakota | 
| Background | A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. | 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. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights. | 
| Birth rate | - | 30.11 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) | 
| Budget | - | revenues: $5 billion 
 expenditures: $7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)  | 
				
| Capital | - | Damascus | 
| Climate | tropical | 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 | 35.2 km | 193 km | 
| Constitution | - | 13 March 1973 | 
| Country name | conventional long form: none 
 conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses  | 
				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)  | 
				
| Currency | - | Syrian pound (SYP) | 
| Death rate | - | 5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) | 
| Debt - external | - | $22 billion (2001 est.) | 
| Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | - | 
| Diplomatic representation from the US | - | chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF 
 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  | 
				
| Diplomatic representation in the US | - | chief of mission: Ambassador Rustum al-ZU'BI 
 chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313 FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548  | 
				
| Disputes - international | claimed by Madagascar | 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; Turkey is quick to rebuff any perceived Syrian claim to Hatay province | 
| Economic aid - recipient | - | $199 million (1997 est.) | 
| Economy - overview | no economic activity | Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing slower than its 2.5% annual population growth rate, causing a persistent decline in per capita GDP. President Bashar AL-ASAD has made little progress on the economic front after one year in office, but does appear willing to permit a gradual strengthening of the private sector. His most obvious accomplishment to this end was the recent passage of legislation allowing private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector will take years and further government cooperation to develop. ASAD's recent cabinet reshuffle may improve his chances of implementing further growth-oriented policies, although external factors such as the international war on terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and downturn in oil prices could weaken the foreign investment and government revenues Syria needs to flourish. A long-run economic constraint is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. | 
| Electricity - consumption | - | 17.671 billion kWh (2000) | 
| Electricity - exports | - | 650 million kWh (2000) | 
| Electricity - imports | - | 0 kWh (2000) | 
| Electricity - production | - | 19.7 billion kWh (2000) | 
| Electricity - production by source | - | fossil fuel: 64% 
 hydro: 36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2000)  | 
				
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m 
 highest point: unnamed location 12 m  | 
				lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m 
 highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m  | 
				
| Environment - current issues | NA | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water | 
| Environment - international agreements | - | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands 
 signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification  | 
				
| Ethnic groups | - | Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% | 
| Exchange rates | - | Syrian pounds per US dollar - 51 (December 2001), 46 (2000), 46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997) | 
| Executive branch | - | 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 Mustafa MIRU (since 13 March 2000), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Farouk al-SHARA (since 13 December 2001), Dr. Muhammad al-HUSAYN (since 13 December 2001) 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 Hafez al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held NA 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  | 
				
| Exports | - | $5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) | 
| Exports - commodities | - | crude oil 68%, textiles 7%, fruits and vegetables 6%, raw cotton 4% (1998 est.) | 
| Exports - partners | - | Germany 27%, Italy 12%, France 10%, Turkey 10%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2000 est.) | 
| Fiscal year | - | calendar year | 
| Flag description | the flag of France is used | 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 heraldic eagle centered in the white band | 
| GDP | - | purchasing power parity - $54.2 billion (2001 est.) | 
| GDP - composition by sector | - | agriculture: 27% 
 industry: 23% services: 50% (2000 est.)  | 
				
| GDP - per capita | - | purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.) | 
| GDP - real growth rate | - | 2% (2001 est.) | 
| Geographic coordinates | 11 30 S, 47 20 E | 35 00 N, 38 00 E | 
| Geography - note | the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system | there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.) | 
| Heliports | - | 7 (2002) | 
| Highways | - | total: 41,451 km 
 paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways) unpaved: 31,876 km (1997)  | 
				
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | - | lowest 10%: NA% 
 highest 10%: NA%  | 
				
| Illicit drugs | - | a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets | 
| Imports | - | $4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) | 
| Imports - commodities | - | machinery and transport equipment 21%, food and livestock 18%, metal and metal products 15%, chemicals and chemical products 10% (2000 est.) | 
| Imports - partners | - | Italy 9%, Germany 7%, France 5%, Lebanon 5%, China 4%, South Korea 4%, Turkey 4%, US 4% (2000 est.) | 
| Independence | - | 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) | 
| Industrial production growth rate | - | NA% | 
| Industries | - | petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining | 
| Infant mortality rate | - | 32.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) | 
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | - | 0.3% (2001 est.) | 
| International organization participation | - | 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, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO | 
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | - | 1 (2000) | 
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 12,130 sq km (1998 est.) | 
| Judicial branch | - | Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts | 
| Labor force | - | 4.7 million (1998 est.) | 
| Labor force - by occupation | - | agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1996 est.) | 
| Land boundaries | 0 km | total: 2,253 km 
 border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km  | 
				
| Land use | arable land: 0% 
 permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2005)  | 
				arable land: 25.96% 
 permanent crops: 4.08% other: 69.96% (1998 est.)  | 
				
| Languages | - | Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood | 
| Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction | 
| Legislative branch | - | 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%, 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  | 
				
| Life expectancy at birth | - | total population: 69.08 years 
 male: 67.9 years female: 70.32 years (2002 est.)  | 
				
| Literacy | - | definition: age 15 and over can read and write 
 total population: 70.8% male: 85.7% female: 55.8% (1997 est.)  | 
				
| Location | Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar | Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey | 
| Map references | Africa | Middle East | 
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm 
 exclusive economic zone: 200 nm  | 
				contiguous zone: 41 NM 
 territorial sea: 35 NM  | 
				
| Merchant marine | - | total: 143 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 482,985 GRT/702,590 DWT 
 ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 126, livestock carrier 4, roll on/roll off 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 2, Italy 1, Lebanon 10 (2002 est.)  | 
				
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | - | 
| Military branches | - | Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), Police and Security Force | 
| Military expenditures - dollar figure | - | $921 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending | 
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | - | 5.9% (FY98) | 
| Military manpower - availability | - | males age 15-49: 4,550,496 (2002 est.) | 
| Military manpower - fit for military service | - | males age 15-49: 2,539,342 (2002 est.) | 
| Military manpower - military age | - | 19 years of age (2002 est.) | 
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually | - | males: 200,859 (2002 est.) | 
| National holiday | - | Independence Day, 17 April (1946) | 
| Nationality | - | noun: Syrian(s) 
 adjective: Syrian  | 
				
| Natural hazards | periodic cyclones | dust storms, sandstorms | 
| Natural resources | guano, coconuts | petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower | 
| Net migration rate | - | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) | 
| Pipelines | - | crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km | 
| Political parties and leaders | - | National Progressive Front or NPF (includes the Ba'th Party, ASU, Arab Socialist Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party, ASP, SCP) [President Bashar al-ASAD, chairman]; Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [President Bashar al-ASAD, secretary general]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan KOUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party or SCP [Yusuf FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI] | 
| Political pressure groups and leaders | - | conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence | 
| Population | no indigenous inhabitants 
 note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2006 est.)  | 
				17,155,814 (July 2002 est.) 
 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 (February 2003 est.)  | 
				
| Population below poverty line | - | 15%-25% | 
| Population growth rate | - | 2.5% (2002 est.) | 
| Ports and harbors | - | Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus | 
| Radio broadcast stations | - | AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) | 
| Radios | - | 4.15 million (1997) | 
| Railways | - | total: 2,750 km 
 standard gauge: 2,423 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 327 km 1.050-m gauge note: rail link between Syria and Iraq replaced in 2000 (2001)  | 
				
| Religions | - | 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 | - | 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: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)  | 
				
| Suffrage | - | 18 years of age; universal | 
| Telephone system | - | general assessment: 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 - main lines in use | - | 1.313 million (1997) | 
| Telephones - mobile cellular | - | NA | 
| Television broadcast stations | - | 44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995) | 
| Terrain | low and flat | primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west | 
| Total fertility rate | - | 3.84 children born/woman (2002 est.) | 
| Unemployment rate | - | 20% (2000 est.) | 
| Waterways | - | 870 km (minimal economic importance) |