Population:
22,198,110 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
note: approximately 19,100 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2008 est.)
[see also: Population country ranks ]

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.4% (male 4,063,367/female 3,864,099)
[see also: Age structure - 0-14 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 6,628,644/female 6,406,864)
[see also: Age structure - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 372,172/female 427,832) (2010 est.)
[see also: Age structure - 65 years and over country ranks ]

Median age:
total: 21.5 years
[see also: Median age - total country ranks ]
male: 21.3 years
[see also: Median age - male country ranks ]
female: 21.7 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Median age - female country ranks ]

Population growth rate:
1.954% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
[see also: Population growth rate country ranks ]

Birth rate:
24.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
[see also: Birth rate country ranks ]

Death rate:
3.7 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
[see also: Death rate country ranks ]

Net migration rate:
-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 163
[see also: Net migration rate country ranks ]

Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
[see also: Urbanization - urban population country ranks ]
rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
[see also: Urbanization - rate of urbanization country ranks ]

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - at birth country ranks ]
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - under 15 years country ranks ]
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 15-64 years country ranks ]
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
[see also: Sex ratio - 65 years and over country ranks ]
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
[see also: Sex ratio - total population country ranks ]

Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.14 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 117
[see also: Infant mortality rate - total country ranks ]
male: 18.55 deaths/1,000 live births
[see also: Infant mortality rate - male country ranks ]
female: 13.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
[see also: Infant mortality rate - female country ranks ]

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.46 years
country comparison to the world: 96
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - total population country ranks ]
male: 72.1 years
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - male country ranks ]
female: 76.96 years (2010 est.)
[see also: Life expectancy at birth - female country ranks ]

Total fertility rate:
3.02 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
[see also: Total fertility rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
[see also: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
[see also: HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS country ranks ]

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
[see also: HIV/AIDS - deaths country ranks ]

Nationality:
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian

Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religions:
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Languages:
Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.6%
[see also: Literacy - total population country ranks ]
male: 86%
[see also: Literacy - male country ranks ]
female: 73.6% (2004 census)
[see also: Literacy - female country ranks ]

Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 77
[see also: Education expenditures country ranks ]