Fact Sheet

 Syria

Map of Syria

Full name
 
Syrian Arab Republic
Population
 
18,881,361
Government Type
 
republic under a military-dominated regime since March 1963
Head of State
 
President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000)
Head of Government
 
Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10 September 2003)
"Linguistic" Groups
 
Arab 90.3%,
Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions
 
Sunni Muslim 74%,
Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,
Christian (various sects) 10%,
Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages
 
Arabic (official);
Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood;
French, English somewhat understood
Legal System
 
Based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; religious law is used in the family court system;
GDP per capita
$8,200 (2005 est.)
International HR Instruments Ratified UNDP website

Fact Sheet

 Syria

Map of Syria

Full name
 
Syrian Arab Republic
Population
 
18,881,361
Government Type
 
republic under a military-dominated regime since March 1963
Head of State
 
President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000)
Head of Government
 
Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10 September 2003)
"Linguistic" Groups
 
Arab 90.3%,
Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions
 
Sunni Muslim 74%,
Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,
Christian (various sects) 10%,
Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages
 
Arabic (official);
Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood;
French, English somewhat understood
Legal System
 
Based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; religious law is used in the family court system;
GDP per capita
$8,200 (2005 est.)
International HR Instruments Ratified UNDP website