Note: Data in these sections were collected in early-mid 2014, and may no longer be accurate at this time.
Basic Facts
- This RAND study assesses four future scenarios for Syria, including regime collapse, prolonged stalemate, regime victory, and a negotiated settlement.
- The Council on Foreign Relations explains the origins of the Sunni-Shia divideand how historical differences have led to violence in various Muslim nations, including Syria.
- The BBC also offers a brief history of Syria, along with a timeline dating back to 1918.
- CNN explains how the revolution started and the main players at the onset of the uprising.
- The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides atimeline documenting the crisis and the UN's response.
- MercyCorps uses infographics and quick statistics to highlight the refugee crisis.
- The Syria Needs Analysis Project provides an overview of the humanitarian situation in Syria, including maps and information on refugees and the latest conditions on the ground.
Syria By the Numbers
Area | 181,180 sq km (slightly larger than N. Dakota) |
Population | 22,500,000 |
Population density | 121 people per square kilometer |
Urban/rural population | 55% urban, 45% rural |
GDP | $180 billion |
GDP per capita | $5,100 |
Ethnic groups | 90% Arab; 9% Kurd; 1% other |
Religious groups | 74% Sunni Muslim; 11% Alawite; 10% Christian, 3% Druze, 2% other (mostly Shi'a) |