https://www.humantruth.info/syria.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
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 |
“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 Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April 2005.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.”
#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.
#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 8.86.13Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
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. |
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. |
#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. |
For tables, charts and commentary, see:
#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:
Health:
Syria has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Syria comes in the best 20 in its alcohol consumption rate31. It does better than average for its smoking rate32 and in its average life expectancy11. But, things still need to improve in Syria. Syria does worse than average in 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 when it comes to its immunizations take-up35 (the worst in Asia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over 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. 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. |
#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:
Syria ranks 83rd in the world when it comes to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 5 data sets. Syria comes in the best 20 for its forested percent change 2000-202038. It does better than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person39. Syria does worse than average in 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 when it comes to energy to GDP efficiency41.Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better38 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total38 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
12 | China | 23.0% |
13 | Vietnam | 23.0% |
14 | Ireland | 22.8% |
15 | Syria | 20.0% |
16 | Guam | 16.7% |
17 | Puerto Rico | 15.5% |
18 | Iran | 15.2% |
19 | Bulgaria | 14.9% |
Asia Avg | 3.2% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
From 2000 to 2010, Syria restored its forest cover by 14%, from 432 thousand hectares to 492 thousand, and added a further 6% by 2020.
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. |
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. |
#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:
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. |
National Culture:
Corruption Higher is better53 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points53 | |
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 better54 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score54 | |
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 better55 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2019 Score55 | |
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 better56 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201956 | |
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 better57 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 %57 | |
1 | Slovakia | 24.1%58 |
2 | Slovenia | 24.3%58 |
3 | Belarus | 24.4%59 |
... | ||
8 | Czechia | 26.2%58 |
9= | Kyrgyzstan | 26.4%60 |
9= | UAE | 26.4%61 |
11 | Syria | 26.6%60 |
12= | Azerbaijan | 26.6%62 |
12= | Belgium | 26.6%58 |
14 | Tonga | 27.1%58 |
15 | Algeria | 27.6%63 |
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 better64 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Severity64 | |
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. |
#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion
Disbelief In God (2007)65 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better %65 | |
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 below66:
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)67.
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