Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)

Syria Syrian Arab Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	173rd 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
2. Syria National and Social Development
3. Syria's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Syria's Health
6. Syria's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Syria's Modernity and Learning
8. Syria's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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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 Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005.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=	Zimbabwe	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	Denmark	27.0
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.8
	...
170	Burundi	118.2
171	Guinea	118.6
172	Liberia	118.8
173	Syria	119.1
174	Niger	119.1
175	Congo, (Brazzaville)	119.7
176	Haiti	119.8
177	Mozambique	120.0
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	88.6
q=199.

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 #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

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 2.70. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - 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 (two new children for each set of parents who die), 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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

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 best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
122	Luxembourg	1.31
123=	Curaço	1.30
123=	Bermuda	1.30
125	Syria	2.70
126	Philippines	2.73
127	Lithuania	1.27
128	Ukraine	1.27
129	Poland	1.26
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
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
61=	Tajikistan	09.1
63	Equatorial Guinea	09.4
64=	Kiribati	09.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
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.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
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

#china #equality #freedom #gender_equality #honour_killings #human_rights #iran #morals #politics #prejudice #russia #syria #syria_human_rights #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
180	Guinea	135.5
181	Iran	136.5
182	Djibouti	137.2
183	Syria	137.3
184	Iraq	138.0
185	Swaziland	138.1
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

Syria is amongst the very worst places in the world at ensuring any human rights and freedoms, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Syria does worse than average in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₁₉ (still high for Asia), opposing gender inequality₂₀, eliminating modern slavery₂₁, its average Freedom in the World rating and in freethought₂₂. It falls into the worst 20 in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₃, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₄ (one of the worst in Asia) and in supporting press freedom₂₅ (one of the worst in Asia). And finally, it is the worst in LGBT equality₂₆. Studies have found that nearly one in four women have been beaten by their husbands₂₇, and, far too many communities in Syria permit and practice barbaric honour killings₂₇, which in almost all cases are done by families against female kin who are perceived to have challenged male dominance. The Syrian government has "conducted deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians", including "numerous chemical weapons attacks", with support of Russia and Iran₂₈. Together they have "withheld humanitarian aid, employed starvation as war tactic" and used torture on perceived enemies₂₈. 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 atrocities₂₈.

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 (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1=	Japan	44.1
2	Hong Kong	48.2
3	Singapore	49.5
	...
41	Jordan	109.8
42	Philippines	116.9
43	Tajikistan	118.2
44	Syria	122.2
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	124.4
46	Pakistan	127.9
47	Laos	135.6
48	Iraq	139.7
49=	Yemen	148.2
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
148	Kiribati	117.2
149	Tajikistan	118.2
150	Bolivia	121.9
151	Syria	122.2
152	Djibouti	122.6
153	Micronesia	122.8
154	Guatemala	123.6
155	Samoa	124.2
	World Avg	96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria₃₀.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, Europe and The Balkans₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

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 for its alcohol consumption rate₃₁. It does better than average in its smoking rate₃₂ and in its average life expectancy₁₁. But, things still need to improve in Syria. Syria does worse than average in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₃, its adolescent birth rate₃₄ and in its fertility rate₁₄. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its immunizations take-up₃₅ (the lowest in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 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. Syria is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 7.69 in 1970.

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 better31
Pos.		2016 Per Capita31
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
7=	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 best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
122	Luxembourg	1.31
123=	Curaço	1.30
123=	Bermuda	1.30
125	Syria	2.70
126	Philippines	2.73
127	Lithuania	1.27
128	Ukraine	1.27
129	Poland	1.26
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking Rates Lower is better32
Pos.		201432
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 better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
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 better36
Pos.		2016 %36
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
146=	Hungary	61.6
146=	Costa Rica	61.6
146=	Tunisia	61.6
	Asia Avg	44.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better34
Pos.		2022 Per 100034
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
103	Trinidad & Tobago	37.7
104	Argentina	37.9
105	Dominica	37.9
106	Syria	38.1
107	Bulgaria	38.2
108	Kiribati	39.6
109	Azerbaijan	40.1
110	Pakistan	41.2
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	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 Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #syria #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
16	Turkey	75.0
17	China	75.2
18	Afghanistan	75.7
19	Syria	77.4
20	Iran	79.0
21	UAE	81.8
22	Singapore	83.3
23	Georgia	83.6
24	S. Korea	84.0
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)37
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank37
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
80	Benin	76.5
81	Australia	76.6
82	Botswana	76.8
83	Syria	77.4
84	Congo, (Brazzaville)	77.6
85	Latvia	77.7
86	Egypt	78.0
87	Argentina	78.5
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Syria ranks 83rd in the world. This rank is calculated from 5 data sets. Syria comes in the best 20 when it comes to its forested percent change 2000-2020₃₈. It does better than average in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₉. Syria does worse than average in terms of the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₀ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in energy to GDP efficiency₄₁.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better41
Pos.		2022 Avg41
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
148	Singapore	2.06
149	Lebanon	2.06
150	Ukraine	2.11
151	Syria	2.12
152	Kyrgyzstan	2.20
153	Iran	2.24
154	Russia	2.25
155	Oman	2.28
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
119	Chad	55%
120	Ethiopia	55%
121	Ivory Coast	55%
122	Syria	54%
123	Namibia	54%
124	Algeria	54%
125	Dominican Rep.	54%
126	Tajikistan	54%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Syria was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better40
Pos.		2011 %40
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.

Meat Consumption Lower is better39
Pos.		2021 kg39
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
29	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	17.2
30	Nepal	17.3
31	Solomon Islands	17.4
32	Syria	17.8
33	Yemen	17.8
34	Algeria	17.9
35	Iraq	18.3
36	Zambia	18.3
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Syria's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #corruption #economics #education #extremism #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #modernity #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #syria #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	S. Korea	22.2
2	Japan	24.7
3	Israel	29.5
	...
41	Bhutan	123.9
42	Laos	124.4
43	Iraq	124.6
44	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	125.5
45	Syria	126.9
46	Myanmar (Burma)	137.3
47	Cambodia	140.0
48	Yemen	141.2
49	Afghanistan	147.7
	Asia Avg	78.26
q=49.

Modernity & Learning (2020)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
148	Vanuatu	125.6
149	Togo	125.8
150	Sao Tome & Principe	126.0
151	Syria	126.9
152	Kiribati	127.3
153	Ethiopia	128.3
154	Honduras	132.2
155	Ivory Coast	132.4
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₃. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₃. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₄.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₅

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₃, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₃.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

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. ₄₆

Secondary Education Higher is better47
Pos.		201847
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	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 better48
Pos.		2021 Years48
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 better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
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 better49
Pos.		200649
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
88=	Libya	83
88=	Tunisia	83
88=	Oman	83
88=	Syria	83
92	India	82
93=	Bangladesh	82
93=	Lebanon	82
93=	Dominican Rep.	82
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users Higher is better50
Pos.		201650
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 better51
Pos.		201251
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
40	Vietnam	73
41=	Ethiopia	75
41=	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 better52
Pos.		2017 Ratio52
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
133=	Morocco	0.0
133=	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	0.0
133=	Honduras	0.0
133=	Syria	0.0
133=	Nicaragua	0.0
133=	Solomon Islands	0.0
133=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	0.0
133=	Sao Tome & Principe	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Syria's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Asia (2020)53
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank53
1	Singapore	20.2
2	Taiwan	37.2
3	Hong Kong	40.5
	...
41	Russia	103.2
42=	Iran	103.4
43	Lebanon	105.4
44	Myanmar (Burma)	105.7
45	Cambodia	110.5
46	Iraq	116.6
47	Syria	124.9
48	Yemen	130.3
49	Afghanistan	140.3
	Asia Avg	79.59
q=49.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)53
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank53
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
169	Sudan	122.7
170	Equatorial Guinea	123.0
171	Burundi	123.1
172	Syria	124.9
173	Yemen	130.3
174	Comoros	130.7
175	Chad	132.1
176	Congo, DR	133.7
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture:

Corruption Higher is better54
Pos.		2022 Points54
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
173	Libya	17.0
174=	Haiti	17.0
174=	Burundi	17.0
176	Yemen	16.0
177	Venezuela	14.0
178=	S. Sudan	13.0
178=	Syria	13.0
180	Somalia	12.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Syria has a poor long-term record on corruption. Thoughout the 2010s, its score on the Corruption Perception Index declined drastically; it was amongst the 10 countries with the worse rise in perceived corruption that decade and on average in that decade was ranked 6th-worst.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
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 better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
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.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index Lower is better55
Pos.		2023 Score55
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 better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
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 better33
Pos.		2017 Rank33
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 better56
Pos.		2019 Score56
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.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better57
Pos.		201957
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
99	El Salvador	12.50
100	Suriname	12.80
101	Vietnam	12.90
102=	Syria	13.00
102=	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.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better58
Pos.		2023 %58
1	Slovakia	24.1%59
2	Slovenia	24.3%59
3	Belarus	24.4%60
	...
8	Czechia	26.2%59
9=	Kyrgyzstan	26.4%61
9=	UAE	26.4%62
11	Syria	26.6%61
12=	Azerbaijan	26.6%63
12=	Belgium	26.6%59
14	Tonga	27.1%59
15	Algeria	27.6%64
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Syria - only for 4 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better65
Pos.		2018 Severity65
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.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Disbelief In God (2007)66
Pos.		Higher is better %66
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
90=	Burkina Faso	0
90=	Brunei	0
90=	Botswana	0
90=	Syria	0
90=	Sierra Leone	0
90=	Thailand	0
90=	Togo	0
90=	Benin	0
90=	Tunisia	0
90=	Uganda	0
90=	Bangladesh	0
90=	UAE	0
90=	Azerbaijan	0
90=	Algeria	0
90=	Yemen	0
90=	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 below₆₇:

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)₆₈.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?