Demographics of Syria
The roughly 23 million inhabitants of Syria are an overall indigenous Levantine people. While modern-day Syrians are commonly described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history, they are, in fact,[citation needed] largely a blend of the various Semitic speaking groups indigenous to the region. During colonial years, the region had a fairly large minority of French settlers. Many of them stepped out after the recognition of Syrian independence, but their influence is still evident on fluency of French by the educated class in Syria. Syria's population is 74% Sunni Muslim, other Muslims (including Alawites) make up 16% of the population, various Christian denominations make up 10% and finally, there are a few Jewish communities in Aleppo and Damascus.[1][2]
1,500 people of Greek descent live in Syria. The majority of them are Syrian citizens.[3]
Arabic is the official, and most widely spoken, language. Arabic speakers make up 85% of the population (this includes some 500,000 Palestinians). Many educated Syrians also speak English and French. The Kurds, a majority of whom speak Kurdish, make up 9% of the population and live mostly in the northeast corner of Syria, as well in pockets all along the northern borders of Syria with Turkey, and demographically dominate the district of Afrin, west of Aleppo, though sizable Kurdish communities live in most major Syrian cities as well.[4] Armenian and Turkmen are spoken among the small Armenian and Turkmen populations respectively. Aramaic is still used by Arameans/Assyrians and in some villages in the Anti-Lebanon mountains.
60% of the population live in the province of Aleppo, the Euphrates valley or along the coastal plain; a fertile strip between the coastal mountains and the desert. Overall population density is about 118.3/km² (306.5 per sq. mi.) Education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 11. Schooling consists of 6 years of primary education followed by a 3-year general or vocational training period and a 3-year academic or vocational program. The second 3-year period of academic training is required for university admission. Total enrollment at post-secondary schools is over 150,000. The literacy rate of Syrians aged 15 and older is 86.0% for males and 73.6% for females.[5]
Vital statistics
UN estimates[6]
| Period | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR1 | CDR1 | NC1 | TFR1 | IMR1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950–1955 | 187 000 | 75 000 | 112 000 | 51.2 | 20.5 | 30.6 | 7.23 | 180.1 |
| 1955–1960 | 212 000 | 77 000 | 136 000 | 50.1 | 18.1 | 32.0 | 7.38 | 150.5 |
| 1960–1965 | 241 000 | 76 000 | 165 000 | 48.5 | 15.3 | 33.3 | 7.54 | 121.8 |
| 1965–1970 | 275 000 | 74 000 | 201 000 | 46.8 | 12.5 | 34.2 | 7.56 | 98.8 |
| 1970–1975 | 322 000 | 70 000 | 252 000 | 46.3 | 10.1 | 36.2 | 7.54 | 77.3 |
| 1975–1980 | 373 000 | 69 000 | 304 000 | 45.4 | 8.3 | 37.0 | 7.32 | 63.1 |
| 1980–1985 | 417 000 | 66 000 | 351 000 | 42.8 | 6.7 | 36.1 | 6.77 | 49.9 |
| 1985–1990 | 440 000 | 61 000 | 379 000 | 38.4 | 5.3 | 33.1 | 5.87 | 36.2 |
| 1990–1995 | 441 000 | 58 000 | 383 000 | 33.3 | 4.3 | 28.9 | 4.80 | 26.1 |
| 1995–2000 | 447 000 | 58 000 | 389 000 | 29.7 | 3.8 | 25.8 | 3.96 | 20.8 |
| 2000–2005 | 451 000 | 62 000 | 389 000 | 26.2 | 3.6 | 22.6 | 3.39 | 17.4 |
| 2005–2010 | 465 000 | 69 000 | 396 000 | 23.9 | 3.5 | 20.4 | 3.10 | 15.0 |
| 1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births | ||||||||
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[7]
Population
22,538,256 in 2014
Age structure
0–14 years:
35.2% (male 4,066,109/female 3,865,817)
15–64 years:
61% (male 6,985,067/female 6,753,619)
65 years and older:
3.8% (male 390,802/female 456,336) (2011 est.)
Median age
total
21.9 years
male
21.7 years
female
22.1 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.797% (2012 est.)
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1937 | 2,368,000 | — |
| 1950 | 3,252,000 | +37.3% |
| 1960 | 4,565,000 | +40.4% |
| 1970 | 6,305,000 | +38.1% |
| 1980 | 8,704,000 | +38.0% |
| 1990 | 12,116,000 | +39.2% |
| 1995 | 14,186,000 | +17.1% |
| Source: [8] | ||
Birth rate
2.35 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate
3.67 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate
-27.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15–64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and older:
0.89 male(s)/female
total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population:
71.19 years
male:
69.8 years
female:
72.68 years (2009 est.)
Nationality
noun:
Syrian(s)
adjective:
Syrian
Ethnic groups
Arabs 90%, other ethnic groups such as Kurds 9%, Syriacs/Arameans/Assyrians,[9] Armenians, Circassians, and Syrian Turkmen 1% [4]
Religions
- 90% Muslims
- 74% Sunni Muslims 74%
- 16% Other Muslims (including Alawi, Ismailis, Shi'a and The Druze)
- 10% Christians (various denominations)[10][11]
Languages
Arabic (official); Kurdish, Aramaic, Circassian (Adyge), and Armenian.
Literacy
definition:
age 30 and older can read and write
total population:
79.6%
male:
86.0%
female:
73.6% (2004 census)
Urbanization
urban population 56% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities - population
Aleppo
2.985 million
Damascus (capital)
2.527 million
Homs
1.276 million
Hama
854,000 (2009)
- See also : Syria
References
- ↑ Syria Demographics Profile 2013
- ↑ CIA - The World Factbook: Syria
- ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 US Department of State. Background Note: Syria
- ↑
- ↑ World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
- ↑ The World Factbook - Syria
- ↑ Demographic Developments and Population Policies in Baʻthist Syria, Onn. Winkler, page 184, 1998
- ↑ http://www.gfbv.de/inhaltsDok.php?id=452
- ↑ https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.html#People
- ↑ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sy.html
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