Agriculture > products
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk |
|
Aid as % of GDP
|
0.9% |
|
[95th of 129]
|
|
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005 |
|
Debt > External
|
$6,633,000,000.00 |
|
[88th of 136]
|
|
Source: calculated on the basis of data on ODA from OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Development Assistance Committee. 2002. DAC Online. Database. Paris.; and data on GDP from World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC |
|
Economic freedom
|
1.05 |
|
[145th of 156]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Economy > Overview
The Syrian economy grew by an estimated 3.3% in real terms in 2007 led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors, which together account for about one-half of GDP. Higher crude oil prices countered declining oil production and led to higher budgetary and export receipts. Damascus has implemented modest economic reforms in the past few years, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating all of the multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, most notably gasoline and cement, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange - which is set to begin operations in 2009. In October 2007, for example, Damascus raised the price of subsidized gasoline by 20%, and may institute a rationing system in 2008. In addition, President ASAD signed legislative decrees to encourage corporate ownership reform, and to allow the Central Bank to issue Treasury bills and bonds for government debt. Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled by the government. Long-run economic constraints include declining oil production, high unemployment and inflation, rising budget deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution. |
|
Source: The Heritage Foundation |
Exchange rates
Syrian pounds per US dollar - (official rate): 11.225 (2004), 11.225 (2003), 11.225 (2002), 11.225 (2001), 11.225 (2000), (parallel market rate in Amman and Beirut) NA (2004), 52.8 (2003), 52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2002), 49.4 (2000) |
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Exports
|
$11,140,000,000.00 |
|
[77th of 189]
|
|
Source: CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005 |
|
Exports to US
|
$134,500,000.00 |
|
[78th of 224]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
GDP
|
$34,902,270,000.00 |
|
[65th of 203]
|
|
Source: US Census Bureau |
|
GDP > PPP
|
$70,155,000,000.00 |
|
[60th of 163]
|
|
Source: World Development Indicators database and CIA World Factbook |
|
GDP > Real growth rate
|
4.3% |
|
[121st of 198]
|
|
Source: World Bank. 2005. World Development Indicators 2005. |
|
GDP growth > annual %
|
5.09 annual %
|
|
[78th of 187]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Gross National Income
|
$17,260,500,000.00 |
|
[64th of 172]
|
|
Source: World Development Indicators database |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.721 |
|
[107th of 178]
|
|
Income category
|
Lower middle income |
|
|
|
Source: Human Development Report 2006, United Nations Development Programme |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
|
12.2% |
|
[19th of 192]
|
|
Source: |
|
Population below poverty line
|
11.9% |
|
[19th of 46]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Public debt
|
37.7 % of GDP |
|
[57th of 121]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Technological achievement
|
0.24 |
|
[53rd of 68]
|
|
Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
|
Tourist arrivals
|
891,000 |
|
[53rd of 152]
|
|
Source: United Nations Development Program. Human Development Report 2001. New York: Oxford University Press,2001, Table A2.1. via ciesin.org |
del.icio.us
Feeds |
Contact