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Sheet 170 of 195 · AsiaSYR · 35.1°N 38.4°E

Syria

Syrian Arab Republic · الجمهورية العربية السورية

Capital
Damascus
Population
25.6 million 2025
Area
185,180 km²
Neighbours
5
Locator map of SyriaSYRIADamascusIRAQTÜRKIYEJORDANISRAELLEBANONSAUDI ARABIAMediterraneanSea0200 km
Syria hatched, Damascus marked with a triangle, land neighbours shaded. Orthographic projection centred on 34.8°N 39.1°E; the scale bar is true at the centre.

Syria is a country in Western Asia bordered by Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye. At 185,180 km², it ranks 87th of 195 by area, close in size to Cambodia and Uruguay.

The World Bank counts 25.6 million people in 2025: 57th of 194 worldwide and 22nd of 47 in Asia. On average, 138 people live on each km². 72.1% of people lived in urban areas in 2025. It grew by 3.77% in 2025, the 5th-fastest rate of the 194.

GDP per capita was US$1,057 in 2022 (World Bank, current US$), 176th of 191 and 44th of 46 in Asia. Life expectancy at birth was 72.6 years in 2024.

Its main landmass lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres. North to south it runs about 554 km, between 32.3°N and 37.3°N. Damascus's antipode is in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,490 km from French Polynesia, the nearest land.

How it compares Asia: 47 countries

MeasureFigureWorldAsia
Population25,620,4272025, World Bank57th of 19422nd of 47
Area185,180 km²world-countries87th of 19524th of 47
GDPUS$23.7 billion2022, World Bank, current US$123rd of 19136th of 46
GDP per capitaUS$1,0572022, World Bank, current US$176th of 19144th of 46
Population density138 per km²population 2025, World Bank; area, world-countries66th of 19422nd of 47
Life expectancy72.6 years2024, World Bank108th of 19429th of 47
Urban population72.1%2025, World Bank66th of 19418th of 47
Forest area2.9% of land2024, World Bank172nd of 19437th of 47
Population growth+3.77% a year2025, World Bank5th of 1945th of 47
Internet users33.8%2018, World Bank162nd of 18843rd of 45
Fertility rate2.70 births per woman2024, World Bank65th of 19410th of 47
Land neighbours5world-countries; among the 19535th of 1958th of 47
 Ranks run from the largest value (1st) among the countries with data; equal values share a rank.

Closest in areaCambodia, Uruguay and Senegal

Closest in populationMali, North Korea and Burkina Faso

Neighbours 5 countries by land, nearest capital first

  • Lebanon84 km
    Damascus to Beirut, capital to capital
  • Jordan176 km
    Damascus to Amman, capital to capital
  • Israel217 km
    Damascus to Jerusalem, capital to capital
  • Iraq751 km
    Damascus to Baghdad, capital to capital
  • Türkiye777 km
    Damascus to Ankara, capital to capital

Where on Earth main landmass

Hemispheres
Northern and Eastern
Capital
Damascus
33.50°N 36.30°E
Northernmost latitude
37.30°N
Southernmost latitude
32.32°N
Westernmost longitude
35.77°E
Easternmost longitude
42.36°E
North to south
about 554 km
Antipode of Damascus
33.50°S 143.70°W
in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,490 km from the nearest land (French Polynesia)