THE FACTS AND FORCES THAT DRIVE SYRIA

Canberra Times – Australasia
Apr 17, 2006

Full Name: Syrian Arab Republic Capital: Damascus Location: Syria is
in the Middle East, bordering Lebanon and Turkey Border countries:
Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey Area: 185,180sqkm Highest
point: Mount Hermon, 2814m Oceans: The western coastline meets the
Mediterranean Sea Coastlines: 193km Population: 18,881,361 Population
growth rate: 2.3 per cent Life expectancy: Total population: 70.32
years.

Male: 69.01 years, female: 71.7 years Natural resources: Petroleum,
phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt,
marble, gypsum, hydropower Languages: Arabic (official); Kurdish,
Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, and French and English is understood
Ethnicity: Arab 90.3 per cent, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7 per
cent Religion: Sunni Muslim, Alawite, Druze, Christian and Jewish
Labor force: Agriculture 30 per cent, industry 27 per cent, services
43 per cent Unemployment rate: 12.3 per cent Industries: Petroleum,
textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining
Crops: Wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets
Livestock: Beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk Exports: Crude oil,
petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, clothing,
meat and live animals Currency: Syrian pound.