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| SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC |
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| General Information |
| Total Land Area: |
185,180 km2 |
| Land boundaries: |
2,253 km |
| Coastline: |
193 km |
| Capital: |
Damascus |
| Other Large Cities: |
Aleppo, Homs, Latakia |
| Official Language: |
Arabic |
| National Currency Unit: |
Syrian Pound (SYP) |
| National Day: |
April 17 |
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| Location and Geography |
Syria is located at the Eastern end of the Mediterranean. It is bordered by Turkey in the North, Iraq in the East, Jordan in the South and Lebanon in the West. Along the Mediterranean Coast lies a fertile plain and parallel to it a narrow range of mountains called Lattakia Mountains. To the south of these, along the border with Lebanon, is the west-Lebanon mountain range where lies Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest point (2814 m). The west-Lebanon mountains taper off into the hilly region called the Golan Heights. The Euphrates river runs through the north-eastern part of Syria, north of it are the fertile Jazeera plains. Syria’s second longest river is the Orontes, which originates from Lebanon and runs north in the western part of Syria. More than a quarter of the land is arable but there are few permanent crops. Meadows and pastures make up nearly half of the land area. Mediterranean climate prevails with rainy winters and dry summers
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| Demography |
| Population: |
18.582.152 million (2004) |
| Crude Birth Rate: |
29 per thousand people (2003) |
| Crude Death Rate: |
4 per thousand people (2003) |
| Infant Mortality Rate: |
16 per thousand (2003) |
| Life Expectancy: |
Male: 68 years, Female: 73 years (2003) |
| Urban Population: |
53.0 percent (2003) |
| Adult Literacy: |
77.00 percent (2003) |
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| Economy |
Syria has a diversified economy based on agriculture and industry. The agricultural sector generates employment for a large percentage of the population. Wheat is the most important crop, although its production fluctuates depending on the rainfall. Other crops raised are barley, cotton, potatoes, lentils, and sugar beets. Syria has become an important producer of crude oil in recent years. The other major natural resources are phosphates, chrome, manganese, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble and gypsum. Iron, steel and textile industries play a significant role in the development of the manufacturing sector. Wool, cotton and nylon textiles are the most important manufactured products.
| GDP at Current Market Prices: |
23440.20 million US$ (2004) |
| Per Capita GDP: |
1058.31 US$ (2004) |
| Share of Sectors in GDP: |
25.30% Agriculture, 29.0% Industry, 48.0% Services, (2003) |
| Total Exports: |
6717.75 million US$ (2003) |
| Total Imports: |
- million US$ (2004) |
| Major Exports Items: |
Petroleum, natural gas, textiles, food and live animals and manufactured goods |
| Major Imports Items: |
Manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, raw metals and chemicals |
| Major Trading Partners: |
Germany, Italy, Turkey and China |
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| External Links |
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Industry
Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade
Ministry of Information
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
Ministry of Education
Central Bank of Syria
Central Bureau of Statistics |
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