republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Independence date
26 September 1907 (from UK)
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Religions
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
External Debt
$85,650,000,000 $
$7,074,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 46.5281 (2008 est.), 50.0085 (2007), 51.689 (2006), 50 (2005), 48.5 (2004) note: data for 2004-06 are the public sector rate; data for 2002-03 are the parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut; the official rate for repaying loans was 11.25 Syrian pounds per US dollars during 2004-06,
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.000%
5.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
9
0
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Area
267,710 km sq
185,180 km sq
Coastline
15,134 km
193 km
Climate
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
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
