republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
republic
Independence date
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%
Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Exports
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
pig iron, unwrought copper, nonferrous metals, diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy
External Debt
$7,074,000,000 $
$7,336,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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,
drams (AMD) per US dollar - 303.93 (2008 est.), 344.06 (2007), 414.69 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.900%
2.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Area
185,180 km sq
29,743 km sq
Coastline
193 km
0 km
Climate
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
