Polity · 1973 CE – present
Syria
سوريا · الجمهورية العربية السورية · Komara Erebî ya Sûriyê
Also recorded as Syrian Arab Republic
- Peak recorded area
- 186,529 km²
- 2006 CE
- Rulers on record
- 72
- from 1925 CE
- Data series
- 396
- 1973 CE–2025 CE
Overview
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north and northwest, Iraq to the east and southeast, Jordan to the south, and Israel and Lebanon to the southwest. It is a republic under a provisional government and comprises 14 governorates. Damascus is the capital and largest city.
Lead section from Wikipedia, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article.
Territory
7 dated territorial extents on record from Cliopatria. Areas are measured off the recorded polygons; the line steps because each extent holds until the next one is recorded — nothing is interpolated.
The record
The best-attested series in each category; where several projects publish the same quantity, the one with the most observations is shown. Each row is the most recent value the record holds at or before the last complete year, shown with the year that value belongs to. Some statistical series also publish forward projections — the year column is the honest guide. Nothing on this page is interpolated or estimated by us.
People
6 of 59 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Population201 obs · 1820 CE–2025 CE | 25.6Mpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy147 obs · 1960 CE–2025 CE | 72.99years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Population Growth123 obs · 1961 CE–2025 CE | 3.51% annual2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Net Migration115 obs · 1968 CE–2025 CE | 421.7Kpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Female114 obs · 1968 CE–2025 CE | 75.41years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Male114 obs · 1968 CE–2025 CE | 70.58years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
Economy
6 of 147 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| GDP Current Usd94 obs · 1960 CE–2022 CE | 23.7Bcurrent US$2022 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| GDP per capita76 obs · 1820 CE–2022 CE | 2,494.762011 int'l $2022 CE · Maddison Project Database 2023 |
| Inflation60 obs · 1960 CE–2019 CE | 13.42% annual2019 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Fao Asses Stocks57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 53Khead2024 CE · FAOSTAT |
| Fao Barley Area Harvested57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 1.4Mha2024 CE · FAOSTAT |
| Fao Barley Production57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 1.6Mtonnes2024 CE · FAOSTAT |
Military
6 of 52 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Military Expenditure % GDP51 obs · 1960 CE–2019 CE | 6.5% of GDP2019 CE · CIA World Factbook 2024 |
| Military Expenditure Usd51 obs · 1960 CE–2011 CE | 2.5Bcurrent US$2011 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| CINC Score49 obs · 1968 CE–2016 CE | 0.0027CINC (share of world capability)2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Energy Consumption49 obs · 1968 CE–2016 CE | 15.9Mcoal-ton equivalents2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Iron Steel Production49 obs · 1968 CE–2016 CE | 5,000tons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Military Personnel49 obs · 1968 CE–2016 CE | 131Kpersons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
Territory & resources
6 of 58 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Arable Land %119 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 23.96% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Forest Area %68 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 2.84% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Surface Area63 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 185.2Ksq. km2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Gas Production57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 27.23TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Oil Production57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 19.28TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Agricultural Land %56 obs · 1968 CE–2023 CE | 74.09%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Governance
6 of 28 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Electoral Democracy Index57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 0.145index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Liberal Democracy Index57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 0.054index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Participatory Democracy Index57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 0.065index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Regime Type57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 0RoW index (0-3)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Rule Of Law Index57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 0.143index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Checks And Balances49 obs · 1975 CE–2023 CE | 2count2023 CE · Database of Political Institutions (DPI) 2023 |
Development
6 of 52 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Freedom Of Expression Index57 obs · 1968 CE–2024 CE | 0.069index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Mobile Subscriptions Per 10050 obs · 1970 CE–2023 CE | 72.44per_1002023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Primary Completion Rate48 obs · 1971 CE–2024 CE | 60.13%2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Primary Enrollment Gross %48 obs · 1971 CE–2024 CE | 81.41%2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Secondary Enrollment Gross %48 obs · 1971 CE–2024 CE | 38.74%2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Dpt Immunization %45 obs · 1980 CE–2024 CE | 73%2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Rulers
72 on record with dated reigns. Reign years follow the house convention: BCE years are negative.
- Suphi BereketPrime Minister of Syria1925 CE
- Haqqi al-AzmPrime Minister of Syria1932 CE – 1934 CE
- Taj al-Din al-HasaniPrime Minister of Syria1934 CE – 1936 CE
- Ata al-AyyubiPrime Minister of Syria1936 CE
- Jamil Mardam BeyPrime Minister of Syria1936 CE – 1939 CE
- Bahij al-KhatibPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1939 CE – 1941 CE
- Lutfi al-HaffarPrime Minister of Syria1939 CE
- Nasuhi al-BukhariPrime Minister of Syria1939 CE
- Hassan al-HakimPrime Minister of Syria1941 CE – 1942 CE
- Khalid al-AzmPrime Minister of Syria1941 CE
- Husni al-BaraziPrime Minister of Syria1942 CE – 1943 CE
- Saadallah al-JabiriPrime Minister of Syria1943 CE – 1944 CE
- Faris al-KhouryPrime Minister of Syria1944 CE – 1945 CE
- Shukri al-QuwatliPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1946 CE – 1949 CE
- Hashim al-AtassiPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1949 CE – 1951 CE
- Husni al-Za'imPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1949 CE
- Husni al-Za'imPrime Minister of Syria1949 CE
- Muhsin al-BaraziPrime Minister of Syria1949 CE
- Nazim al-KudsiPrime Minister of Syria1949 CE
- Sami al-HenaauiPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1949 CE
- Fawzi SeluPrime Minister of Syria1951 CE – 1953 CE
- Fawzi SeluPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1951 CE – 1953 CE
- Maamun al-Kuzbarilist of vice presidents of Syria1952 CE – 1954 CE
- Adib ShishakliPrime Minister of Syria1953 CE – 1954 CE
- Adib ShishakliPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1953 CE – 1954 CE
- Maamun al-KuzbariPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1954 CE
- Sabri al-AsaliPrime Minister of Syria1956 CE – 1958 CE
- Akram al-Hawranilist of vice presidents of Syria1958 CE – 1960 CE
- Abdel Hamid al-SarrajPrime Minister of Syria1960 CE – 1961 CE
- Izzat al-NussPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1961 CE
- Izzat al-NussPrime Minister of Syria1961 CE
- Maamun al-KuzbariPrime Minister of Syria1961 CE
- Nazim al-KudsiPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1961 CE – 1963 CE
- Bashir al-AzmaPrime Minister of Syria1962 CE
- Amin al-HafezPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1963 CE – 1966 CE
- Luai al-AtassiPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1963 CE
- Muhammad Umranlist of vice presidents of Syria1963 CE – 1964 CE
- Sami al-JundiPrime Minister of Syria1963 CE
- Amin al-HafezPrime Minister of Syria1964 CE – 1965 CE
- Nureddin al-Atassilist of vice presidents of Syria1964 CE – 1965 CE
- Shibli al-Aysamilist of vice presidents of Syria1965 CE – 1966 CE
- Nureddin al-AtassiPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1966 CE – 1970 CE
- Salah ad-Din al-BitarPrime Minister of Syria1966 CE
- Yusuf ZuayyinPrime Minister of Syria1966 CE – 1968 CE
- Nureddin al-AtassiPrime Minister of Syria1968 CE – 1970 CE
- Ahmad al-KhatibPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1970 CE – 1971 CE
- Hafez al-AssadPrime Minister of Syria1970 CE – 1971 CE
- Hafez al-AssadPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic1971 CE
- Mahmoud al-Ayyubilist of vice presidents of Syria1971 CE – 1976 CE
- Mahmoud al-AyyubiPrime Minister of Syria1972 CE – 1976 CE
- Abdul Rahman KhleifawiPrime Minister of Syria1976 CE – 1978 CE
- Muhammad Ali al-HalabiPrime Minister of Syria1978 CE – 1980 CE
- Abdul Rauf al-KasmPrime Minister of Syria1980 CE – 1987 CE
- Abd al-Halim Khaddamlist of vice presidents of Syria1984 CE – 2005 CE
- Zuhair Masharqalist of vice presidents of Syria1984 CE – 2005 CE
- Mahmoud ZuabiPrime Minister of Syria1987 CE – 2000 CE
- Abd al-Halim KhaddamPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic2000 CE
- Bashar al-AssadHead of State2000 CE – 2024 CE
- Muhammad Mustafa MeroPrime Minister of Syria2000 CE – 2003 CE
- Muhammad Naji al-OtariPrime Minister of Syria2003 CE – 2011 CE
- Farouk al-Sharaalist of vice presidents of Syria2006 CE – 2014 CE
- Najah al-Attarlist of vice presidents of Syria2006 CE – 2024 CE
- Adel SafarPrime Minister of Syria2011 CE – 2012 CE
- Omar Ibrahim GhalawanjiPrime Minister of Syria2012 CE
- Riyad Farid HijabPrime Minister of Syria2012 CE
- Wael al-HalqiPrime Minister of Syria2012 CE – 2016 CE
- Imad KhamisPrime Minister of Syria2016 CE – 2020 CE
- Hussein ArnousPrime Minister of Syria2020 CE – 2024 CE
- Faisal Miqdadlist of vice presidents of Syria2024 CE
- Mohammad Ghazi al-JalaliPrime Minister of Syria2024 CE
- Muhammad al-BashirPrime Minister of Syria2024 CE – 2025 CE
- Ahmed al-SharaaPresident of the Syrian Arab Republic2025 CE –
Language & currency
- Official & national languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Syrian pounds (SYP)
Memberships
- Arab LeagueALInternational organisation · founding member1945 CE –
- United NationsUNInternational organisation · member1961 CE –
- Libya–Syria Defense Pact (1980)Military alliance · member1980 CE – 1980 CE
- Russia–Syria Entente (1980)Historical alliance · member1980 CE – 1991 CE
- Syria–Lebanon Entente (1991)Historical alliance · member1991 CE –
- Iran–Syria Entente (2006)Historical alliance · member2006 CE –
Sources
Every figure above comes from one of these. Nothing on this page is estimated, interpolated or model-generated.
Central Intelligence Agency (2024). The World Factbook. Washington, DC.
Public Domain (US Government work)
Seshat Global History Databank. Cliopatria: a historical basemap of polity borders (cliopatria.geojson).
Correlates of War NMC v6.0v6.0
Singer, J.D. (1987). National Material Capabilities Data (NMC), v6.0. Correlates of War Project.
Free academic use, citation
Database of Political Institutions (DPI) 2023DPI 2023
Cruz, C., Keefer, P. & Scartascini, C. (2023). Database of Political Institutions 2023. Inter-American Development Bank.
IDB open data, attribution
FAOSTAT2024 release
FAO (2024). FAOSTAT Statistical Database. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
CC BY 4.0
Maddison Project Database 20232023
Bolt, J. & van Zanden, J.L. (2024). Maddison Project Database 2023. University of Groningen GGDC.
CC BY 4.0
Our World in Data (2024). Energy dataset. Based on Energy Institute & Ember.
CC BY 4.0
UN World Population Prospects 20242024
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
CC BY 3.0 IGO
V-Dem v15v15
Coppedge, M. et al. (2025). V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v15. Varieties of Democracy Project.
Free academic/non-commercial use, attribution
Wikipedia contributors. Article lead sections, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
World Bank World Development Indicators2024 release
World Bank (2024). World Development Indicators. Washington, DC.
CC BY 4.0