World Factbook
Syria
Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black; three five-pointed red stars in a horizontal line, centered on the white band meaning: the design is the same as a previous Syrian national flag (in use 1932-58 and 1961-63), but it is still unclear if the elements will retain the same meanings; the bands formerly represented Syria’s past rulers: white (Umayyad Caliphate), black (Abbasid Caliphate), and green (Rashidun Caliphate); the first star represented Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor, the three administrative subdivisions in Syria in the 1930s; the second star stood for Jabal Druze (the Mountain of the Druze), and the third star for the Alawite Mountains history: in 2011, opponents to the Asad regime adopted the flag; in 2025, it became the new national flag, replacing the two-star design
Capital
name
Damascus
etymology
the city has an ancient, pre-Semitic name of unknown origin
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
33 30 N, 36 18 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
Syria's 2012 constitution was rescinded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led government in January 2025; in March 2025, interim authorities announced a transitional constitution to remain in effect for up to five years
Country name
former
United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
etymology
the source of the name is uncertain; the name appears as "Suri" in Babylonian cuneiform writings dating from about 4000 B.C.
local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form
Suriyah
conventional long form
Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form
Syria
Independence
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Legal system
mixed system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts)
Government type
transitional presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
subordinate courts
courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court
judge selection and term of office
Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges serve 4-year renewable terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
Ahmad al-Shara'; former President Bashar al-ASAD was overthrown by Islamist rebels on 8 December 2024
election results
2021: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 95.2%, Mahmoud Ahmad MAREI (Democratic Arab Socialist Union) 3.3%, other 1.5% 2014: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 88.7%, Hassan al-NOURI (independent) 4.3%, Maher HAJJER (independent) 3.2%, other/invalid 3.8%
head of government
Prime Minister Muhammad al-BASHIR (since 8 December 2024)
most recent election date
26 May 2021
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints the vice president and prime minister
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Independence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946)
note: celebrates the last French troops departing and the proclamation of full independence
National color(s)
red, white, black, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
6 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Ancient City of Damascus; Ancient City of Bosra; Site of Palmyra; Ancient City of Aleppo; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din; Ancient Villages of Northern Syria
Political parties
legal parties/alliances: Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Arab Socialist (Ba'ath) Party – Syrian Regional Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syrian Regional Branch, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party Arab Socialist Union of Syria or ASU Democratic Arab Socialist Union National Progressive Front or NPF Socialist Unionist Democratic Party Socialist Unionist Party Syrian Communist Party (two branches) Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP Unionist Socialist Party major political organizations: Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD Kurdish National Council or KNC Syriac Union Party Syrian Democratic Council or SDC Syrian Democratic Party Syrian Opposition Coalition de facto governance entities: Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria or DAANES Syrian Interim Government or SIG Syrian Salvation Government or SSG
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
210 (140 indirectly elected; 70 appointed)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
People's Assembly (Majlis Al-Chaab)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/5/2025
expected date of next election
March 2030
percentage of women in chamber
9.6%
National anthem(s)
title
“Ħumāt ad-Diyār (Guardians of the Homeland)
history
adopted 1936, restored 1961; the country had a different anthem between 1958 and 1961, when Syria was part of the United Arab Republic
lyrics/music
Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL
National symbol(s)
northern bald ibis
Administrative divisions
14 provinces ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab (Aleppo), Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus
Diplomatic representation in the US
none note : operations at the embassy were suspended on 18 March 2014
Diplomatic representation from the US
mailing address
6110 Damascus Place, Washington DC 20521-6110
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); note - on 6 February 2012, the US suspended operations at its embassy in Damascus; Czechia serves as a protecting power for US interests in Syria
email address and website
USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz https://sy.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WBG, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC