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Middle East and North Africa

Syria
Last reviewed: 17 September 2010

Country information

Full Country Name: The Syrian Arab Republic
Area: 185,180 sq kms (71,498 sq miles)
Population: 20 million: 52% male, 48% female
Capital City: Damascus
People: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians and others 9.7%
Language(s): Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, some French and English.
Religion(s): Officially secular; Sunni Arab 64%; Sunni Kurd 10%; Christian (divided into 11 sects) 10%; Alawite 10%; Twelver Shia/Ismaeli 3%; Druze 3%; Yazidis, Jews, and others very small numbers
Currency: Syrian Pound (also called Lira – LSYR).
Major political parties: Ba'ath Party
Head of State: Lt-Gen Dr Bashar al-Assad
Prime Minister/Premier: Engineer Mohammad Naji Al-Otri
Foreign Minister: Mr Walid al-Muallam
  

Country information

Travel Advice

FCO Travel Advice: Syria

See also

•   UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Syria

Useful links

• BBC News Country Timeline: Syria
• British Council: Syria

Contacts