Syrian Arab Republic

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Syria, officially Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah (Syrian Arab Republic), 
republic in southwestern Asia, bounded on the north by Turkey, on the east by Iraq, on the south by Jordan and Palestine, and on the west by Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea. Syria has an area of about 185,050 sq km (about 71,498 sq mi). The capital and largest city is Damascus, also spelled Dimashq, and the major and  most  ancient cities are Hamah, Homs, Aleppo.

Population & Administrative Divisions

Syria is populated chiefly by Arabs, who constitute about 90 percent of the population. The largest non-Arab minorities are Kurds, most of whom are pastoral people concentrated along the Turkish border, and Armenians, who dwell chiefly in the larger cities. The Syrian Desert is the most sparsely populated part of Syria. The most densely settled area of the country is in the west.

The population of Syria (1995 estimate) is about 14,775,000, giving the country an overall population density of about 80 persons per sq km (about 207 per sq mi). Population growth during the early 1990s was estimated at 3.6 percent a year.

The population of Syria now is over 16 million, three millions of whom reside in the capital, Damascus.

Syria is divided into 14 governorates (Mohafaza). Esch mohafaza is divided into several districts (Mantika), and each district is divided into several counties (Nahiya). Each Nahiya comprises several villages.

The capital and largest city of the country is Damascus, with a population (1992 estimate) of 1,451,000. Major cities include Aleppo (1992 estimate, 1,445,000), Homs (518,000), Lattakia (284,000), and Hamah (254,000).

In Syria, there are two main ports on the Mediterranean : Lattakia and Tartous. There is also an oil terminal, namely Banias.

The overwhelming majority of the Syrian population is Muslims. Of the non-Muslims in Syria, most are Christians, primarily Greek and Armenian Orthodox. Religious minorities include a community of approximately 1000 Jews and other Religions.

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The Summary

 People 

Languages  Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood 
Major Religions  Muslim 90% (With All Muslim sects), Christian (various sects most of them Orthodox) 10%, Jewish (Approximately 1000 Persons)
Ethnic groups Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% 
Growth rate 3.23% 
Birth rate 37.83 births/1,000 
Death rate 5.55 deaths/1,000 
Fertility rate 5.55 children/woman 
Male life expectancy 66 
Female life expectancy 69 
Infant mortality rate 37.6 deaths/1,000 live births 

Economy 

Labor force 4.7 million (1996) 
Unemployment rate 12% (1997) 
Inflation Rate 15% (1997) 
Gross domestic product (total value of goods and services produced annually) $106.1 billion (1997 est.) 
Budget $4.3 billion (1996 est.) 
Debt $20.0 billion (1997) 
Exports $4.2 billion (1997 est.), primarily petroleum 70%, textiles 12%, food and live animals 10%, manufactures 5% (1997 est.) 
Imports $5.7 billion (1997 est.), primarily machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.) 
Defense spending 8% of GDP (1997 est.) 
Highways 40,480 km (1996) 

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