Syria Map: Geographic and Demographic Information

Syria, officially called the Syrian Arab Republic, is located in Western Asia, at the heart of the Middle East. It shares its borders with Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, Israel to the southwest, and Lebanon to the west. Its coastline is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.

The area of Syria is approximately 185,180 km². Its population, despite upheavals due to conflict, is estimated at around 22 million inhabitants, resulting in an average density close to 118 inhabitants per km².

The capital is Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Other major cities include Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia.

The country is mostly arid to semi-arid, with a Mediterranean climate on the coast, dry continental inland, and desert areas to the east. The terrain alternates between mountain ranges in the west, central plateaus, and deserts.

Syria is divided into 14 governorates and operates in the UTC+2 time zone (UTC+3 in summer). The national currency is the Syrian pound (SYP).

What you need to know about Syria

Category	Key Information
Official Name	Syrian Arab Republic
Area	~185,180 km²
Population	~22 million inhabitants
Capital	Damascus
Main City	Aleppo (historically the most populous), followed by Homs and Hama
Official Language	Arabic
Bordering Countries	Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon
Coastline	Mediterranean Sea (to the west)
Climate	Mediterranean on the coast, semi-arid to desert elsewhere
Terrain	Mountains in the west, plateaus, deserts in the east
Time Zone	UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer)
Currency	Syrian Pound (SYP)

Located in Western Asia, the Syrian Arab Republic is also the official name of the country of Syria. Topographically, Syrian territory is mainly composed of plains, mountain ranges, and deserts.

It is a country that combines several cultures, religions, and ethnicities. Etymologically, the country’s name is synonymous with the rising sun in Arabic, “Al-Sham”.

Its capital and largest urban area is Damascus, and the official language used in the country is Arabic. The population mainly consists of Syrian Arabs, Arameans, Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians, Circassians, Armenians, and Greeks.

The religion of the majority of this population is Islam at 87%. The area of Syrian territory is currently 185,180 km² inhabited by 17,500,657 inhabitants. The country’s telephone code is 963, that is +963 or 00963.

Which countries border Syria?

The countries bordering Syria are Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel. These countries border it respectively to the Southwest, North, East, South, and Southwest.

Population of Syria

Currently, the population of the Syrian Arab Republic is 17,730,648 inhabitants according to the latest United Nations data. This number represents 0.22% of the global population and has placed Syria 68^th on the list of the most populous countries in the world.

Moreover, the area of 183,630 km2 has raised the population density to 247 inhabitants per km2. Just under 2/3 of the Syrian population live in urban areas, that is 10,498,283 inhabitants. The average age in the country is 25 years, indicating a very young population.

What are the colors of the country?

The Syrian flag is rectangular and composed of 3 horizontal stripes of equal height arranged from top to bottom. The order of the colors is: Red, white, black. In the middle of the white stripe are two green five-pointed stars.

First of all, the colors are called Pan-Arab colors because they are also found in other Arab countries. Here are the meanings of the colors of the Syrian flag:

• Red: represents the struggle for freedom and the blood of the victims.
• The white color represents the Umayyad dynasty.
• The green color of the stars represents the Fatimid ethnicity.
• The black color represents the Abbasid dynasty and the oppression currently suffered by the people.

What are the best cities to visit in Syria

Damascus

Damascus is the capital of Syria and also a very ancient metropolis. It is a city that dates back to the 12^th century BC. The city is the birthplace of several historical monuments from that era.

Among them is the Umayyad Mosque, which was built in 715. Next to this mosque stands a museum that still preserves the beard of Muhammad and the head of Hussein. Damascus was also the territory of ancient merchants whose remains include the Bab Kisan Tower and the underground church of Saint Ananias.

You can also visit the old medical institute as well as the Bimaristan hospital, converted into a medical museum. In the city is also the famous Mount Qasioun, which rises to 456m altitude. On this hill stands an observatory offering panoramic views of the city from all angles. Finally, don’t forget to visit the shrine of Maqam Al Arba’in, which according to legend was the place where Cain killed his brother.

Latakia

Known in Syrian as Al Ladhiqiyah, the city of Latakia is a Syrian port city overlooking the Mediterranean. The city was also part of the Roman Empire territory. That is why some cultural attractions, notably the Moghrabi mosque and the tetrapylon (a building with 4 arches), can still be visited today. The city of Latakia is also appreciated for its beautiful beaches such as Chatt el-Azraq and the Syrian Riviera. There is also the Ras-Chamra peninsula.

Tartus

With over 150 million inhabitants, the city of Tartous or Tartus is the second most populous city in Syria. Over the years, it has expanded its territory and lost its title as a coastal fishing town. Thus, the old town and the new town are separated by a city divider which is also a historic monument. You can enjoy the magnificent beaches, the turquoise water, and have several hotels and lodgings to choose from, as well as cafes and restaurants that will welcome you with their best dishes.

Where the cities are located on the map of Syria

Damascus

On the map of Syria, the capital is located in the southern hemisphere of Syria. It is only 80 km away from the Mediterranean coast. Geographic coordinates: 33° 30′ 44″ north, 36° 17′ 54″ east.

Latakia

On the map of Syria, the city of Latakia is located on the western coast of the country and overlooks the Mediterranean coast. Geographic coordinates: 35° 32′ north, 35° 47′ east.

Tartus

On the map of Syria, the city of Tartus borders the Mediterranean Sea and is 90 km from Homs, 151 km from Damascus. Geographic coordinates:

Climate map of Syria

The climate of Syria on the coast is strongly influenced by the Mediterranean. Inland, the climate is drier and thus characteristic of an arid tropical climate. However, the coastal areas experience a moderate Mediterranean climate, which results in a milder and wetter winter coupled with a hot and dry summer. The central regions experience a very hot summer and moderate winters.

Throughout Syrian territory, the climate is roughly similar, but the coasts are more humid than the rest of Syria.

• For this reason, the hours of sunshine in summer, whether on the coasts or inland, are long; winters are less harsh and milder.
• Winter is humid and more or less cold, but temperatures hover around 10 to 12°C.
• Spring and autumn are two seasons with similar temperatures. However, the former is more prone to strong southern winds that bring sandstorms and temporarily raise the temperature.

Climate in Latakia

The climate in this city is strongly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. Year-round temperatures range between 12°C during the cold seasons and 27°C during the warm seasons. Annual rainfall ranges between 150 and 200 mm.

Summer is the hottest season, but the humidity from the sea makes the climate bearable. The duration of sunshine during this season is at its maximum. Despite this, it is the most humid season as the majority of precipitation occurs then.

Winter is cold but temperatures rarely drop below 0°C. However, nighttime temperatures are colder.

Climate in Damascus, the Capital:

Annual rainfall in Damascus amounts to 160mm and since it is an inland city:

Winters are quite cold and do not benefit from the sea breeze. Indeed, temperatures during this season hover around 6.5°C.

On the other hand, in autumn and spring, temperatures are around 26.5°C but nights are cooler with an average temperature of 10 to 15°C.

Winters can sometimes experience some temporary snowfalls due to sudden drops in temperature between 0°C and -6 or -7°C.

Summer is hotter, however, and temperatures can reach up to 33°C with maximum sunshine during the day.

Economic Map of Syria

The Syrian economy has often been worn down by the civil war. As a result, the GDP continues to decline significantly. Referring to the crisis of the 1980s, the GDP decreased by 22%, then experienced economic growth during the 1990s. In 2012, the GDP suffered a sharp decline due to the civil war.

The GDP per capita was then estimated at 4,058 Dollars. Moreover, the civil war caused Syria to lose all credibility with the Arab League, which also sanctioned it. The country is currently also subject to sanctions from the American law, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, effective last year. Currently, therefore, the country’s official currency (Syrian Pound) is experiencing strong deflation against the US Dollar (USD).

Here are some figures characterizing the country’s economy:

• Official currency: Syrian Pound
• GDP in Nominal Terms: 24 billion 600 million USD
• GDP in PPP: 50 billion 280 million USD
• Unemployment rate among active population: 8.2%
• GDP rank: 176th
• Public debt: 60% of GDP
• Foreign exchange reserves: 2 billion USD

Administrative and Demolinguistic Data

Administrative subdivisions

14 Governorates make up the State of the Syrian Republic, these entities are also called Provinces or Counties. The counties are then divided into 60 districts which are further divided into sub-districts and finally into villages. Here is the list of Syria’s governorates:

• Aleppo Governorate
• Raqqa Governorate
• As-Suwayda Governorate
• Damascus Governorate
• Daraa Governorate
• Deir ez-Zor Governorate
• Hama Governorate
• Hasaka Governorate
• Homs Governorate
• Idlib Governorate
• Latakia Governorate
• Quneitra Governorate
• Rif Dimashq Governorate
• Tartous Governorate

Demolinguistic Data

The people of Syria primarily speak Arabic. It is also the official language of the country. However, this language is divided into several frequently used dialects: Levantine, Mesopotamian, which are spoken respectively in the West and the Northeast.

There are also other languages used by non-Arabic speakers, which are: Kurdish, Turkish, Neo-Aramaic, Circassian, Chechen, Armenian, and Greek. Syrians also speak English and French, but speakers of these languages are mostly educated and literate people.