Syria Economy

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · Low income · Capital: Damascus

Updated 17 Oct 2026

GDP Annual Growth Rate in Syria decreased to -0.20 percent in 2022 from 1.79 percent in 2021. Inflation Rate in Syria increased to 13.42 percent in 2019 from 0.94 percent in 2018.

GDP Growth Rate

Real GDP, annual % change. Hatched bars are IMF projections.

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Inflation Rate

Annual data, %. Source: World Bank.

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Key Highlights

  • Real GDP grew -0.2% in 2022 (previous year: 1.8%).
  • Consumer price inflation was 13.4% in 2019, compared with 0.9% in the previous period.
  • The unemployment rate was 13.6% in 2025 (previous: 13.4%).
  • General government debt was 30.0% of GDP in 2010.

Main Indicators

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP Annual Growth Rate-0.2%1.8%2022World Bank
Inflation Rate13.4%0.9%2019World Bank
Unemployment Rate13.6%13.4%2025World Bank
Government Debt to GDP30.0%31.2%2010IMF
Balance of Trade-$5.2B-$4.3B2022World Bank
Current Account to GDP-0.6%-1.9%2010World Bank
GDP$23.7B$14.9B2022World Bank

GDP

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP per Capita$1,057$6892022World Bank
GDP per Capita PPP$4,905$4,7662022World Bank
Gross National Income$22.9B$14.4B2022World Bank
GDP from Agriculture42.9%38.7%2022World Bank
GDP from Industry11.9%18.0%2022World Bank
GDP from Services44.7%39.7%2022World Bank
Gross Fixed Capital Formation4.4%5.2%2022World Bank
Household Consumption to GDP114.2%77.6%2022World Bank

Labour

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Youth Unemployment Rate33.1%32.8%2025World Bank
Labour Force Participation Rate36.9%37.0%2025World Bank
Employment Rate31.9%32.0%2025World Bank
Population25.62M24.67M2025World Bank

Prices

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP Deflator Growth107.4%118.4%2022World Bank

Money

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Broad Money Growth-7.8%13.5%2011World Bank
Foreign Exchange Reserves$20.6B$18.3B2010World Bank

Trade

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Current Account-$0.4B-$1.0B2010World Bank
Exports$1.6B$2.2B2022World Bank
Imports$6.8B$6.6B2022World Bank
Foreign Direct Investment$0.80B$1.47B2011World Bank
External Debt$4.8B$4.9B2024World Bank
Remittances$1.62B$1.35B2010World Bank
Terms of Trade107.3105.52024World Bank
Tourist Arrivals2.42M1.80M2019World Bank
Tourism Revenues$1.82B$6.31B2011World Bank

Government

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Government Budget-7.8%-2.9%2010IMF
Military Expenditure4.06%4.03%2010World Bank

Syria economy explained in simple words

Size of the economy

The economy of Syria produced goods and services worth $23.7B in 2022, making it the 126th largest of 214 economies with data.

With a population of about 25.6 million, GDP per person is $1,057. The World Bank classifies Syria as a “low income” economy.

Economic growth

Real GDP grew -0.2% in 2022, compared with world growth of 3.5% (IMF).

Over the last 10 years growth averaged -4.3% a year, ranging from -26.3% to 1.8%.

Prices and interest rates

Consumer price inflation was 13.4% in 2019.

Jobs

The unemployment rate was 13.6% in 2025 (world: 4.8%).

About 36.9% of people aged 15 and over are in the labour force (working or looking for work).

Government finances

General government debt was 30.0% of GDP in 2010, compared with a median of 52.9% across 191 economies.

The government budget balance was -7.8% of GDP (2010) — a deficit, meaning spending exceeded revenue.

Trade and external position

The current account was -0.6% of GDP in 2010 — a deficit with the rest of the world.

Exports of goods and services were $1.6B and imports $6.8B.

Foreign exchange reserves (including gold) stood at $20.6B.

Structure of the economy

By sector, value added is split roughly as: services 44.7%, industry 11.9%, agriculture 42.9% of GDP.

How to read this page

The four boxes at the top show the most-watched numbers: GDP growth (how fast the economy is expanding), inflation (how fast prices are rising), the central bank policy rate (the base cost of borrowing) and unemployment (the share of job-seekers without work). The small arrow shows the change from the previous reading.

The tabs group all available indicators by topic — GDP, labour, prices, money, trade, government and housing. Each row shows the latest value, the previous value, the period it refers to, a small trend line and the source. Click any indicator to open its full history, chart, statistics and comparison with other countries.

Monthly and quarterly figures come from national statistics offices and central banks — via the OECD, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and, for India, the Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI); annual figures come from the World Bank and the IMF. Different indicators are published at different times, so the periods shown can differ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GDP growth rate of Syria?
The latest GDP growth rate of Syria is -0.2% (2022), compared with 1.8% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the inflation rate of Syria?
The latest inflation rate of Syria is 13.4% (2019), compared with 0.9% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the unemployment rate of Syria?
The latest unemployment rate of Syria is 13.6% (2025), compared with 13.4% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the government debt to GDP ratio of Syria?
The latest government debt to GDP ratio of Syria is 30.0% (2010), compared with 31.2% in the previous period. Source: IMF — World Economic Outlook.

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.