Syria facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Syrian Arab Republic اَلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةُ ٱلْسُوْرِيَّة (Arabic) al-Jumhūriyyah al-ʿArabiyyah as-Sūriyyah
Flag (de facto) Coat of arms (de facto)
Anthem: حُمَاةَ الدَّيَّارِ Ḥumāt ad-Diyār "Guardians of the Homeland"
Controlled territory shown in dark green; Syria's claims over most of Turkey's Hatay Province and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights shown in light greenShow globe Show map of Syria
Status	UN member state under a transitional government
Capital and largest city	Damascus 33°30′N 36°18′E / 33.500°N 36.300°E / 33.500; 36.300
Major languages	Arabic
Minor languages	Kurdish (Kurmanji) Syrian Turkish Neo-Aramaic (Turoyo) Other
Ethnic groups (2021)	80–90% Arabs 9–10% Kurds 1–10% others
Religion (2024)	94.17% Islam 79.19% Sunni 14.10% Shia (including Alawism) 2.5% Christianity 1.99% other
Demonym(s)	Syrian
Government	Transitional government

• President	Ahmed al-Sharaa
• Prime Minister	Mohammed al-Bashir

Legislature	Interim Legislative Council
Establishment

• Arab Kingdom of Syria	8 March 1920
• State of Syria under French mandate	1 December 1924
• First Syrian Republic	14 May 1930
• End of the French mandate	17 April 1946
• Part of the United Arab Republic	22 February 1958 – 28 September 1961
• Beginning of Ba'athist rule	8 March 1963
• Ba'athist regime overthrown and transitional government established	8 December 2024

Area
• Total	185,180 km² (71,500 sq mi) (87th)
• Water (%)	1.1
Population
• 2023 estimate	23,227,014 (57th)
• Density	118.3/km² (306.4/sq mi) (70th)
GDP (PPP)	2021 estimate
• Total	$50.28 billion
• Per capita	$3,300
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$9.8 billion
• Per capita	$800
Gini (2022)	▼ 26.6 low
HDI (2022)	0.557 medium · 157th
Currency	Syrian pound (SYP)
Time zone	UTC+3 (Arabia Standard Time)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+963
ISO 3166 code	SY
Internet TLD	.sy سوريا.

Syria is located in the Middle East.

A map of Syria.

Syria is a country located in the Middle East, which is the western part of Asia. It shares borders with several countries. These are Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey.

To the west, Syria has a coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. The eastern and northern parts of the country are covered by mountains. Syria's capital city is Damascus, and its largest city is Aleppo.

Since 2011, Syria has been in a difficult situation due to a civil war. Many different countries have been involved in this conflict. This has led to a major refugee crisis. Over 6 million people have had to leave their homes and become refugees.

Most people in Syria follow the Sunni branch of Islam (74%). Other groups include Alawi (12%), Christians (10%), and Druze (3%).

A Look at Syria's Past
Syria's Land and Climate
How Syria is Governed
Syria's Economy
Getting Around in Syria
People and Cultures of Syria
Syrian Culture and Traditions
Related Pages
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See also

A Look at Syria's Past

The ancient Phoenician Temple in Amrit.

Syria has a very long and rich history. It was once home to the Phoenicians. Later, it became part of powerful empires. These included the Achaemenid Empire, the Roman Empire, and the Eastern Roman Empire.

In those ancient times, people in Syria spoke the Syriac language. The city of Antioch was very important. It was one of the key cities for early Christendom. When the Arab Empire arrived, people started speaking the Arabic language. Today, most Syrians are Muslim, but there are still many Christians.

After World War I ended, France took control of Lebanon and Syria. Meanwhile, Britain gained power over Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine. A border was drawn between Iraq and Syria in 1920. France governed Syria until 1946, when Syria became an independent country.

Syria was briefly part of the United Arab Republic with Egypt from 1958 to 1961. Syria has also had conflicts with Israel. Some areas, like the Golan Plateau, were taken by Israel.

The line in the middle of this map shows the border drawn in 1920 between Iraq and Syria.

In 2012, a civil war started in Syria. This conflict was against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Many different countries became involved in the fighting. Over time, several groups formed in Syria to challenge the government. These included the Syrian Interim Government, Syrian Salvation Government, and Rojava.

On December 8, 2024, opposition forces took control of the capital city, Damascus. This event led to the end of Bashar al-Assad's government. It also ended the Assad family's 53-year rule over Syria.

Syria's Land and Climate

Syria is one of the countries with the most water stress in the world.

Syria is located between 32° and 38° North latitude and 35° and 43° East longitude. The country's climate changes quite a bit. The coast along the Mediterranean Sea is humid. Inland, there is a semi-arid (partly dry) steppe zone. Further east, it becomes a very dry desert.

Most of Syria is a dry plateau. However, the northwest part near the Mediterranean Sea is quite green. Two important farming areas are Al-Jazira in the northeast and Hawran in the south. The Euphrates River, Syria's most important river, flows through the eastern part of the country.

Syria is considered part of the "cradle of civilization." This means it's one of the places where early human civilizations began. Its land sits on the northwest edge of the Arabian Plate.

Oil was first found in commercial amounts in Syria in 1956. The main oil fields are in areas like al-Suwaydiyah and Karatchok. These fields are connected to oil fields in Iraq. After 1974, oil became Syria's most important natural resource and main export. Natural gas was also found in 1940.

How Syria is Governed

Syria is now led by a transitional government. The President of Syria is the head of the country. The Prime Minister of Syria leads the government.

The Interim Legislative Council is responsible for making laws. This council also approves how the government spends money.

Syria is divided into 14 main areas called governorates. These are further split into 61 districts. The districts are then divided into smaller sub-districts.

	No.	Governorate	Capital
The Governorates of Syria.
	1	Latakia	Latakia
	2	Idlib	Idlib
	3	Aleppo	Aleppo
	4	Raqqa	Raqqa
	5	Al-Hasakah	Al-Hasakah
	6	Tartus	Tartus
	7	Hama	Hama
	8	Deir ez-Zor	Deir ez-Zor
	9	Homs	Homs
	10	Damascus	Damascus
	11	Rif Dimashq	Douma
	12	Quneitra	Quneitra
	13	Daraa	Daraa
	14	Al-Suwayda	Al-Suwayda

Syria's Economy

Olive groves in Western Syria, Homs Governorate.

Syria is considered a middle-income country. Before the civil war, its economy relied heavily on oil and farming. The oil industry brought in about 40% of the money from exports. Recent discoveries suggest there might be large amounts of oil under the Mediterranean Sea near Syria and Cyprus.

Farming also played a big role, making up about 20% of the country's economy. It also provided jobs for 20% of the people. However, oil reserves are expected to decrease, and Syria has started to import more oil than it produces.

Since the civil war began, Syria's economy has shrunk significantly. The value of the Syrian currency has also dropped. The government now relies more on financial support from countries like Iran, Russia, and China.

Getting Around in Syria

Syria has four international airports. These are in Damascus, Aleppo, Lattakia, and Qamishli. These airports are main hubs for Syrian Air and other airlines.

Most of Syria's goods are transported by Syrian Railways. This railway system connects with Turkey's railways. Syria's railway system is well-maintained, even for a developing country. It has many express services and modern trains.

The country also has a large road network, which includes expressways. There are also some waterways that can be used for transport, but they are not very important for the economy.

People and Cultures of Syria

Most people in Syria live in the Euphrates River valley. They also live along the coastal plain, which is a fertile strip between the mountains and the desert. Before the civil war, about 99 people lived per square kilometer.

By 2014, about 9.5 million Syrians, which is half the population, had been displaced. This happened since the start of the Syrian Civil War in March 2011. About 4 million of these people became refugees outside the country. By 2020, over 5.5 million Syrians were refugees, and 6.1 million were displaced inside Syria.

Ethnic Groups in Syria

Traditional clothing in Damascus.

Syrians are a native Levantine people. They are closely related to people in nearby countries like Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel. Syria's population is about 18.5 million (2019 estimate).

Syrian Arabs make up about 74% of the population. This group includes about 600,000 Palestinians living in Syria. The native Assyrians and Western Aramaic-speakers number around 400,000. Many Assyrians still speak Neo-Aramaic dialects.

The second largest ethnic group in Syria is the Kurds. They make up about 9% to 10% of the population, or about 2 million people. This includes about 40,000 Yazidis.

The different ethnic and religious groups in Syria.

There are also smaller groups like Albanians, Bosnians, Georgians, Greeks, Persians, Pashtuns, and Russians. However, most of these groups have adopted Arab culture and language to some extent.

Languages Spoken in Syria

Arabic is the official language of Syria. Besides Arabic, other languages are spoken in the country. These include Kurdish, Turkish, Neo-Aramaic (with four different dialects), Circassian, Chechen, Armenian, and Greek. None of these minority languages are official.

English and French are also widely spoken as second languages. English is used more often than French.

Religions in Syria

The Great Mosque of Aleppo in Aleppo.

Sunni Muslims make up about 74% of Syria's population. Sunni Arabs account for about 59–60% of the population. There are also around 1.2 million Christians in Syria.

Syrian Culture and Traditions

Dabke is a traditional dance performed at celebrations.

Syria has a traditional society with a very long and rich cultural history. Family, religion, education, self-discipline, and respect are all very important values. Syrians enjoy traditional arts, especially dances. These include the al-Samah, different types of Dabkeh, and the sword dance. Weddings and the birth of children are special times for showing off these folk customs.

Syrian Literature

Adunis is a famous Syrian writer.

Syrian writers have made important contributions to Arabic literature. They have a proud history of both spoken and written poetry. Many Syrian writers moved to Egypt and played a key role in the "nahda." This was an Arab literary and cultural rebirth in the 1800s.

Some well-known modern Syrian writers include Adonis, Muhammad Maghout, Haidar Haidar, Ghada al-Samman, Nizar Qabbani, and Zakariyya Tamer.

After the 1966 coup, there was more censorship. Because of this, historical novels became a way for writers to express their opinions. They would criticize the present by writing about the past. Syrian folk stories often use magical realism. This also allows for hidden criticism of current events. Salim Barakat, a Syrian writer living in Sweden, is famous for this style. Modern Syrian literature also includes science fiction and stories about future ideal societies. These can also be used to express different ideas.

Syrian Music

The music scene in Syria, especially in Damascus, has always been very important in the Arab world. This is especially true for classical Arab music. Syria has produced several famous Arab singers. These include Asmahan, Farid al-Atrash, and Lena Chamamyan.

The city of Aleppo is known for its muwashshah. This is a type of sung poetry from Andalusia. Sabri Moudallal helped make it popular. Aleppo is also known for popular singers like Sabah Fakhri.

Syrian Food

Fattoush is a popular Syrian bread salad.

Syrian food is very rich and uses many different ingredients. The dishes are often linked to the specific regions of Syria where they first appeared. Syrian cuisine mostly includes dishes from the Southern Mediterranean, Greece, and Southwest Asia.

Some Syrian dishes also show influences from Turkish and French cooking. Examples include shish kebab, stuffed zucchini, and yabraʾ (stuffed grape leaves). The word yabraʾ comes from the Turkish word yaprak, which means leaf.

Some of the main dishes in Syrian cuisine are kibbeh, hummus, tabbouleh, fattoush, labneh, shawarma, mujaddara, shanklish, pastırma, sujuk, and baklava. Baklava is a sweet pastry made with thin layers of dough, chopped nuts, and honey.

Syrians often serve a selection of appetizers called meze before the main meal. Popular appetizers include Za'atar, minced beef, and cheese manakish. The Arabic flatbread khubz is always eaten with meze.

Drinks in Syria vary depending on the time of day or occasion. Arabic coffee is a very popular hot drink. It is usually made in the morning for breakfast or in the evening. It is often served to guests or after a meal. Arak, an alcoholic drink, is well-known. It is mostly served on special occasions. Other Syrian drinks include ayran, jallab, white coffee, and a local beer called Al Shark.