Syria

Economic and political outline

GDP Indicators	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
GDP (billions USD)	25.029	28.631	34.919	37.414	39.434
GDP (constant prices, annual % change)	2.8	3.3	4.4	3.9	3.7
GDP per capita (USD)	1,392.034	1,559.737	1,843.576	1,928.079	1,983.578
Inflation rate (%)	4.40	7.20	10.00	7.00	7.00
Current Account (billions USD)	-0.811	-1.177	-2.133	-2.104	-2.612
Current Account (in % of GDP)	-3.20	-4.10	-6.10	-5.60	-6.60

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook Database; World Bank - World Development Indicators

Note: (e) Estimated data

Socio-demographic indicators	2002	2003
Unemployment rate (%)	11.7	12.3

Source:

Breakdown of economic activity by sector	Agriculture	Industry	Services
Value added (annual % change)	6.64	-0.28	13.29
Value added (in % of GDP)	24.84	32.81	42.35
Employment by sector(in % of total employment)	30.30	26.90	42.80

Source: World Bank - World Development Indicators - last available data.

Foreign trade indicators	2002	2003	2004	2005
Imports of goods (millions USD)	4,458	4,430	6,542	8,482
Exports of goods (millions USD)	6,668	5,762	5,260	6,542
Imports of services (millions USD)	1,883	1,806	2,058	2,236
Exports of services (millions USD)	1,559	1,331	2,766	3,227
Imports of goods and services (annual % change)	7	-4	27	n.c.
Exports of goods and services (annual % change)	9	-23	13	n.c.
Trade Balance (millions USD)	2,210	1,332	-1,282	-1,940
Current Account (millions USD)	1,440	752	-624	-1,061
Foreign trade (in % of GDP)	69	60	66	n.c.
Imports of goods and services (in % of GDP)	31	29	32	n.c.
Exports of goods and services (in % of GDP)	38	31	34	n.c.

Source: World Bank - World Development Indicators

Source: 2006

Main exports (% of exports)
Mineral fuels, mineral oils	40,30
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted	5,20
Edible vegetables	3,60
Cotton	3,40

Main imports (% of imports)
Mineral fuels, mineral oils	27,10
Vehicles other than railway or tramway	8,90
Iron and steel	7,50
Machinery and mechanical appliances	7,50
Plastics	5,70

Source: 2006

To see more products: More imports (Intracen Data)
More exports (Intracen Data)

Main political parties: Though not a single-party state formally, all political life in Syria is controlled by the ruling Ba'th Party (a radical, secular Arab nationalist political party which has been in power since 1963) through a political alliance called ‘National Progressive Front’. The most important party of this front is Arab Socialist Movement - supports the socialist and Arab nationalist orientation of the government.
Current political leaders: President : Bashar al-ASAD (since July 2000) - Ba'th Party
Prime Minister : Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since September 2003) - Ba'th Party
Next election dates: Presidential : Year 2014 (through referendum)
People's Council: Year 2011