Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)

http://www.humantruth.info/syria.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Syria Syrian Arab Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	184th best
Capital	Damascus
Land Area	183 630km²₁
Location	Asia, The Mediterranean, The Middle East
Population	16.9m₂
Life Expectancy	72.06yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$4 192 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	SY, SYR, 760₅
Internet Domain	.sy₆
Currency	Pound (SYP)₇
Telephone	+963₈

1. Overview

“Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah. In May 2007 Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was approved by popular referendum. Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 with protesters calling for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. Since then demonstrations and unrest have spread to nearly every city in Syria, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions - including the repeal of the Emergency Law and approving new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections - and force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD to step down, and the government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime. Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, in October 2012 began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in brokering a cease-fire. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unrest persists in 2013, and the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians has topped 70,000.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Due to a civil war that has dominated the news headlines and traumatised a nation, Syria has been off-limits for several years. But travellers to this gateway to the Middle East remember a time when Syria was famed for its culture and hospitality. At the time of writing, you can´t go: if you can, you shouldn't. Peaceful protests against the Assad regime that began in early 2011 have evolved into a chaotic and multi-faceted civil war spanning much of the country.
There´s violent conflict around Aleppo in the rebel-held north, Homs in central Syria and also around Damascus in the government stronghold of the south. Although organisations such as the UN and the Arab League have attempted to broker peace, events remain unpredictable.
As a result, how long this will continue is impossible to guess. When it ends, the wealth of historic sites, from Palmyra in the desert to the crusader castles like Crac des Chevaliers, within sight of the >!--VCCM_Mediterranean-->, will lure us back and the gracious hospitality of Syrians will warm us to their country.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Syria National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
147	Cambodia	0.593
148	Angola	0.586
149	Myanmar (Burma)	0.585
150	Syria	0.577
151	Cameroon	0.576
152	Kenya	0.575
153	Congo, (Brazzaville)	0.571
154	Zambia	0.565
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
146	Tajikistan	$4 548
147	Kenya	$4 474
148	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	$4 461
149	Syria	$4 192
150	Cambodia	$4 079
151	Kiribati	$4 063
152	Sao Tome & Principe	$4 021
153	Papua New Guinea	$4 009
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Norway	25.2
2	Denmark	26.1
3	Taiwan	26.6
	...
181	Swaziland	98.4
182	Liberia	98.6
183	Mauritania	99.7
184	Syria	99.8
185	Papua New Guinea	99.8
186	Burundi	101.6
187	Yemen	101.9
188	Central African Rep.	103.1
	Asia Avg	72.4
	World Avg	70.6
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Syria's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Syria's population is predicted to rise to 27.86 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 2.81. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
65	Guatemala	17.2m
66	Ecuador	17.1m
67	Netherlands	17.1m
68	Syria	16.9m
69	Cambodia	16.2m
70	Senegal	15.9m
71	Chad	15.5m
72	Somalia	15.0m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
90	Belarus	72.4
91	Bangladesh	72.4
92	Peru	72.4
93	Syria	72.1
94	Armenia	72.0
95	Libya	71.9
96	Bhutan	71.8
97	Bulgaria	71.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₃
Pos.		2013₁₃
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
112	Portugal	1.31
113	Belize	2.70
114	Malta	1.28
115	Syria	2.81
116	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.13
117	Paraguay	2.87
118	Hong Kong	1.12
119	Israel	2.91
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₄
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₄
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3	Chad	04.7
	...
57	Gabon	08.5
58	Pakistan	08.6
59	Bahrain	08.7
60	Syria	09.0
61	Djibouti	09.1
62	Tajikistan	09.1
63	Equatorial Guinea	09.4
64	Kiribati	09.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants₁₅
Pos.		2017 %₁₅
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
78	Finland	6.2%
79	Marshall Islands	6.2%
80	Turkey	6.0%
81	Syria	5.5%
82	Thailand	5.2%
83	Hungary	5.2%
84	Palestine	5.2%
85	Argentina	4.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₆
Pos.		2010 %₁₆
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
121	Germany	4.3%
122	S. Korea	4.3%
123	Belgium	4.2%
124	Syria	4.2%
125	Burundi	4.2%
126	Panama	4.0%
127	Norway	3.8%
128	Bahrain	3.7%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #syria #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)₁₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₇
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
	...
174	Chad	130.6
175	Palau	131.0
176	Tonga	132.9
177	Syria	133.1
178	Iran	133.8
179	Zimbabwe	134.5
	Asia Avg	99.8
	World Avg	87.7
q=199.

Syria is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Syria does better than average in terms of speed of uptake of HR treaties₁₈. But that's it. Syria has problems. It does worse than average in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₁₉ (still good for Asia), opposing gender inequality₂₀ (amongst the worst in Asia) and in freethought₂₁. It sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₃ (one of the highest in Asia) and in supporting press freedom₂₄ (one of the worst in Asia). And finally, it is the worst in LGBT equality₂₅. The Syrian government has "conducted deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians", including "numerous chemical weapons attacks", with support of Russia and Iran₂₆. Together they have "withheld humanitarian aid, employed starvation as war tactic" and used torture on perceived enemies₂₆. Russia and China have been blocking and vetoing the United Nation's efforts to stem mass atrocities, and have prevented the International Criminal Court from starting direct investigations. Many non-state armed groups are also committing atrocities₂₆.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Syria

5. Syria's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #Syria #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)₂₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₇
1	Hong Kong	18.3
2	Maldives	41.0
3	Singapore	42.6
	...
40	Indonesia	95.8
41	Kazakhstan	98.1
42	Azerbaijan	100.0
43	Syria	101.3
44	Afghanistan	103.8
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	105.6
46	Yemen	112.0
47	Philippines	112.9
48	Laos	115.9
	Asia Avg	80.1
q=50.

Health (2020)₂₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₇
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
	...
120	Suriname	100.0
121	Azerbaijan	100.0
122	Colombia	100.3
123	Syria	101.3
124	Gambia	101.3
125	Honduras	101.4
126	Moldova	101.5
127	Ghana	101.8
	World Avg	93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives₂₈. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau₂₈.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₂₈.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Syria has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Syria comes in the best 20 in terms of its alcohol consumption rate₂₉. It does better than average in its smoking rate₃₀ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. Syria doesn't do so well in other areas. Syria does worse than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₁, its adolescent birth rate₂₀ and in its fertility rate₁₃. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in its immunizations take-up₃₂ (the lowest in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Syria improved by just +2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world. In the 2010s, Syrian was one of only 12 countries that saw their life expectancy drop.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
90	Belarus	72.4
91	Bangladesh	72.4
92	Peru	72.4
93	Syria	72.1
94	Armenia	72.0
95	Libya	71.9
96	Bhutan	71.8
97	Bulgaria	71.8
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₂₉
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₂₉
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7	Afghanistan	0.2
8	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9	Syria	0.3
10	Pakistan	0.3
11	Kiribati	0.4
12	Iraq	0.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₃
Pos.		2013₁₃
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
112	Portugal	1.31
113	Belize	2.70
114	Malta	1.28
115	Syria	2.81
116	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.13
117	Paraguay	2.87
118	Hong Kong	1.12
119	Israel	2.91
	Asia Avg	2.46
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

Smoking Rates Lower is better₃₀
Pos.		2014₃₀
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
73	Sudan	428
74	Costa Rica	432
75	Botswana	449
76	Syria	459
77	Djibouti	476
78	Ivory Coast	477
79	Nicaragua	488
80	Angola	489
	Asia Avg	1 035
	World Avg	819
q=182.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₁
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
85	Bolivia	85
86	Kyrgyzstan	86
87	Moldova	87
88	Syria	88
89	Azerbaijan	89
90	Uganda	90
91	Chile	91
92	Tunisia	92
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2016 %₃₃
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
142	Morocco	60.4
143	Ireland	60.6
144	Dominican Rep.	61.2
145	Syria	61.4
146	Spain	61.6
147	Hungary	61.6
148	Costa Rica	61.6
149	Tunisia	61.6
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₂₀
Pos.		2015 Per 1000₂₀
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
	...
91	Vietnam	38.6
92	Pakistan	38.7
93	Haiti	39.3
94	Syria	39.4
95	Kyrgyzstan	39.6
96	Georgia	39.7
97	Barbados	40.7
98	Vanuatu	43.1
	Asia Avg	29.9
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better₃₂
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₂
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
184	Haiti	65.7
185	Vanuatu	65.5
186	Guinea	63.3
187	Syria	62.4
188	Ukraine	55.2
189	Chad	52.5
190	Nigeria	50.0
191	Central African Rep.	49.4
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Syria's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₄
1	Taiwan	10.0
2	Japan	21.9
3	S. Korea	24.0
	...
43	Bangladesh	112.9
44	Laos	115.2
45	Iraq	121.8
46	Syria	123.5
47	Myanmar (Burma)	127.0
48	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	129.0
49	Yemen	134.4
50	Afghanistan	136.7
51	Cambodia	144.6
	Asia Avg	79.0
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2020)₃₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₄
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
	...
165	Malawi	121.6
166	Iraq	121.8
167	Guyana	122.6
168	Syria	123.5
169	Mali	124.1
170	Togo	124.4
171	Angola	124.8
172	San Marino	125.0
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

At the start of the 2010s, Syria's expected duration of education was already below the global average, but in that decade it decreased it by 2.6 years, the largest reduction of any country in that decade. ₃₅

Secondary Education Higher is better₃₆
Pos.		2018₃₆
1	Luxembourg	100.0%
2	Estonia	100.0%
3	Austria	100.0%
	...
122	Zambia	44.3%
123	El Salvador	42.8%
124	Namibia	41.1%
125	Syria	41.0%
126	Sao Tome & Principe	40.8%
127	Togo	40.5%
128	Laos	40.4%
129	Algeria	38.9%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₃₇
Pos.		2021 Years₃₇
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
178	Tuvalu	9.4
179	Mauritania	9.4
180	Tanzania	9.2
181	Syria	9.2
182	Burkina Faso	9.1
183	Yemen	9.1
184	Senegal	9.0
185	Pakistan	8.7
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₁
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
137	Papua New Guinea	137
138	Congo, DR	138
139	Ecuador	139
140	Syria	140
141	Mauritania	141
142	Nigeria	142
143	Mali	143
144	Congo, (Brazzaville)	144
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

IQ Higher is better₃₈
Pos.		2006₃₈
1	Hong Kong	108
2	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
88	Libya	83
89	Tunisia	83
90	Oman	83
91	Syria	83
92	India	82
93	Bangladesh	82
94	Lebanon	82
95	Dominican Rep.	82
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better₃₉
Pos.		2016₃₉
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
130	Cuba	32%
131	Micronesia	31%
132	Vanuatu	31%
133	Syria	30%
134	Sri Lanka	29%
135	Samoa	29%
136	Ghana	28%
137	Swaziland	28%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		2012₄₀
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
40	Vietnam	73
41	Ethiopia	75
42	Myanmar (Burma)	75
43	Uzbekistan	77
44	Syria	83
45	China	85
46	Cuba	86
47	Iran	90
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₄₁
Pos.		2017 Ratio₄₁
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
133	Morocco	0.0
134	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	0.0
135	Honduras	0.0
136	Syria	0.0
137	Nicaragua	0.0
138	Solomon Islands	0.0
139	Congo, (Brazzaville)	0.0
140	Sao Tome & Principe	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#corruption #happiness #politics

Syria has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption, one of the worst in the world, and yet things have been getting even worse over the last ten years.

Corruption Higher is better₄₂
Pos.		2022 Points₄₂
1	Denmark	90.0
2	Finland	87.0
3	New Zealand	87.0
	...
173	Libya	17.0
174	Haiti	17.0
175	Burundi	17.0
176	Yemen	16.0
177	Venezuela	14.0
178	S. Sudan	13.0
179	Syria	13.0
180	Somalia	12.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better₄₃
Pos.		2018 Score₄₃
1	Finland	7.6
2	Norway	7.6
3	Denmark	7.6
	...
147	Malawi	3.6
148	Haiti	3.6
149	Liberia	3.5
150	Syria	3.5
151	Rwanda	3.4
152	Yemen	3.4
153	Tanzania	3.3
154	S. Sudan	3.3
	Asia Avg	5.29
	World Avg	5.38
q=156.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₁
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
149	Zambia	149
150	Pakistan	150
151	Guinea-Bissau	151
152	Syria	152
153	Liberia	153
154	Venezuela	154
155	Yemen	155
156	Iraq	156
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₁
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
144	St Vincent & Grenadines	144
145	Samoa	145
146	Jamaica	146
147	Syria	147
148	Iran	148
149	India	149
150	Cameroon	150
151	Suriname	151
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₄₄
Pos.		2023 Score₄₄
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
159	Congo, DR	3.21
160	S. Sudan	3.22
161	Syria	3.29
162	Yemen	3.35
163	Afghanistan	3.45
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₁
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
128	Montenegro	128
129	Dominican Rep.	129
130	Papua New Guinea	130
131	Syria	131
132	Belarus	132
133	Portugal	133
134	El Salvador	134
135	Macedonia	135
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₁
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
139	Mali	139
140	Haiti	140
141	Mongolia	141
142	Syria	142
143	Mauritania	143
144	Rwanda	144
145	Chad	145
146	Central African Rep.	146
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2019 Score₄₅
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
146	Pakistan	7.89
147	Syria	8.01
148	Nigeria	8.60
149	Iraq	9.24
150	Afghanistan	9.60
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2015 %₄₆
1	Iceland	+205.6
2	Bahrain	+144.4
3	Uruguay	+131.3
	...
15	Spain	+33.2
16	China	+32.6
17	Montenegro	+32.1
18	Syria	+32.1
19	UAE	+31.7
20	Samoa	+31.5
21	Moldova	+28.2
22	Israel	+25.0
	Asia Avg	+07.0
	World Avg	+02.8
q=184.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		0 Signed
1	China	1993 Dec 29
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
135	Nicaragua	1996 Feb 18
136	Latvia	1996 Mar 13
137	Singapore	1996 Mar 20
138	Syria	1996 Apr 03
139	Suriname	1996 Apr 11
140	Poland	1996 Apr 17
141	Lithuania	1996 May 01
142	Yemen	1996 May 21
	Asia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₇
Pos.		2011 %₄₇
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
101	Palestine	27.5%
102	Saudi Arabia	27.2%
103	Belgium	26.9%
104	Syria	26.6%
105	Qatar	26.5%
106	Bahrain	26.3%
107	S. Africa	26.2%
108	Lithuania	25.6%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₄₈
Pos.		2019₄₈
1	Iceland	2.40
2	Singapore	2.50
3	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
99	El Salvador	12.50
100	Suriname	12.80
101	Vietnam	12.90
102	Syria	13.00
103	Morocco	13.00
104	Nicaragua	13.10
105	Mongolia	13.10
106	Honduras	13.30
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₄₉
Pos.		2018 Severity₄₉
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
34	Mexico	.025
35	S. Africa	.025
36	Indonesia	.028
37	Syria	.029
38	Tajikistan	.029
39	El Salvador	.032
40	Iraq	.033
41	Suriname	.041
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)₅₀
Pos.		Higher is better %₅₀
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
90	Burkina Faso	0
91	Brunei	0
92	Botswana	0
93	Syria	0
94	Sierra Leone	0
95	Thailand	0
96	Togo	0
97	Benin	0
98	Tunisia	0
99	Uganda	0
100	Bangladesh	0
101	UAE	0
102	Azerbaijan	0
103	Algeria	0
104	Yemen	0
105	Zambia	0
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₅₁:

Christian	5.2%
Muslim	92.8%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Sunni Muslim (Islam - official) 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)₅₂.

Links:

There isn't much information in the database for Syria, most likely because it is either a part of another country (i.e., a territory or possession) and therefore most international statistics are counted for the country as a whole, or, this is such an exotic place that little data exists about it.