Political leadership

President Bashar al-Assad (Since 17 July 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); Land 183,630 sq km; Water 1,550 sq Km; (country comparison to the world: 90)

Boundaries

total: 2,363 km

Border countries

Iraq	599 km	Israel	83 km	Jordan	379 km
Lebanon	403 km	Turkey	899 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

$50.28 billion (2015 est.); $55.80 billion (2014 est.)

GDP growth

-9.9% (2015); -9.9 (2014)

GDP per capita (PPP)

$2,900 (2015 est.); $3,300 (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

50% (2017 est.); 50% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line

82.5% (2014 est.)

Public debt

94.8% of GDP (2017 est.); 91.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate

28.1% (2017 est.)