Political leadership

President Bashar al-Assad (since 2000)

Prime Minister Imad Khamis (since 3 July 2016)

Land

total: 185,180 sq km Note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory (Golan Heights)

Boundaries

total: 2,253 km

Border countries

Iraq	605 km	Israel	76 km	Jordan	375 km
Lebanon	375 km	Turkey	822 km

Coastline

193 km

Population

17,064,854 (2014 est.) (country comparison to the world: 65)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.5% 15-64 years: 63.5% 65+ 4% (2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.16% (2015 est.)

Urbanisation

Urban population: 57.7% of total population (2015) rate of urbanisation: 1.37% annual rate of change (2010-2015 est.)

Major cities

Aleppo 3.56 million, Damascus (capital) 2.6 million, Homs 1.6 million, Hamah 1.2 million, Latakia 781,000 (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians and other 9.7%

Religions

Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Ismaili and Shia 13%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Druze 3%

Languages

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

Literacy

(Age 15+ Can Read and Write) total population: 86.4% male: 91.7% female: 81% (2015 est.)

GDP

$55.8 billion (2014) $61.9 billion (2013)

GDP Real growth rate

-9.9% (2014 est.) -36.5% (2013 est.)

GDP per capita (PPP)

$5,100 (2011 est.) $5,100 (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

total 57.7% (2014 est.), youth (15-24) 35.8% (2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

82.5% (2014 est.)

Public debt

57.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 51.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Inflation rate

33.6% (2015 est.)