Syria
Asia · Western Asia
War-torn, with a post-Assad transition underway; ancient heritage, extreme caution needed.
At a Glance
📈Syria's Human Development Index
0.557
Medium human development#155 of 191 countries worldwide, #40 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 19% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Syria
Syria is a country of extraordinary ancient heritage, with some of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, including Damascus and Aleppo, and the desert ruins of Palmyra, whose scale and romance have few equals anywhere in the Middle East. The culture carries a depth of Arab and Levantine tradition expressed in its food, music, and craftsmanship. The country remains inaccessible for most travellers at this time, but its history and culture are among the most significant in the world.
- Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.
- Had one of the Arab world's highest literacy rates before the civil war began.
- Lost roughly half its population to displacement or death since 2011.
Quick Facts
Capital
Damascus
Language
Arabic
Currency
£ SYP
Area
183,630 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
4Mbps
Mobile
28Mbps
GDP / Capita
$1K
PPP / Capita
$5K
Unemployment
13.6%
GNI / Capita
$720
Cost of Living
25.0
Price Level Index
97th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.563 → 0.557 (-0.006)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Syria's Human Development Index?
Syria's Human Development Index is 0.557 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #155 of 191 countries.
Is Syria safe?
Syria scores 3.07 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #152 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Syria?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Syria at 25.0 (New York = 100); that is #11 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Syria?
Life expectancy at birth in Syria is 72.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #110 of 195 countries.