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Official Name: Syrian Arab Republic
Location: Syria is bounded by the Mediterranean and Lebanon on the west,
by Israel and Jordan on the south, by Iraq on the east and by
Turkey on the north. The frontier between Syria and Turkey was settled by the Franco-Turkish agreement of 22
June 1929. | 
| Area: Syria has an area of 185,180 sq km (71,498 sq mi). 185,180 sq km
Capital: Damascus
Language: Arabic is the official language, spoken by 89% of the population, while 6% speak Kurdish, 3%
Armenian and 2% other language. English and French are spoken in business circles.
Religion: The overwhelming majority of the Syrian population is Sunni Muslim. Other Muslims include Ismailis, Shiites, and
Alawites (a schism of the Shiite branch). Of the non-Muslims in Syria, most are Christians, primarily Greek and
Armenian Orthodox. Religious minorities include Druze, who follow a religion related to Islam, and a community
of approximately 1000 Jews. 70% Sunni Muslim, 12% Christians (mostly Orthodox and Greek Catholic) and 18%
other minority groups including Jews and Druzes.
Population:
The population of Syria (1997 estimate) is 16,137,899, giving the country an overall population density of 87 persons
per sq km (226 per sq mi). Syria is populated chiefly by Arabs, who constitute about 90 percent of the population.
The largest non-Arab minorities are Kurds, most of whom are pastoral people concentrated along the Turkish border,
and Armenians, who dwell chiefly in the larger cities. The Syrian Desert is the most sparsely populated part of Syria.
The most densely settled area of the country is in the west.
Membership: Syria is a member of the UN and Arab League
and Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Currency: The basic unit of currency is the Syrian pound, divided into 100 piasters. Syrian banking was formerly controlled by foreign
companies. Until 1956 currency was issued by the largest commercial bank in Syria, the French-owned Banque de
Syrie et du Liban. In that year the Syrian government established a new, state-owned bank, the Central Bank of Syria, and
authorized it to issue the national currency.
Syria Time Difference: GMT + 2
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