Syria
Syria is a complex Middle Eastern nation located in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel. Situated along the eastern Mediterranean coast, the country features diverse geographical landscapes, including coastal plains, mou...
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With a safety index of 32/100, Syria offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.
Syria requires a visa on arrival for nearly all international travelers, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, following major policy changes after the fall of the Assad regime in January 2025. This visa is available at land borders with Lebanon and Jordan, as well as Damascus International Airport, with no prior approval needed for most nationalities. The single-entry visa permits a 30-day stay, extendable in some cases, and must be paid in USD cash—fees range...
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47% below EU avg
51% below EU avg
100% below EU avg
91% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Damascus
Timezone
UTC+02:00
Area
185,180 km²
Population
17,500,657
Syria shows a purchasing power index of 6/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
N/A
HDI
0.6
Quality of Life
0/100
-43 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
3/100
-39 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Syria. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable costs (CPI: 25.1). Groceries index at 27.6 and restaurant prices at 19.2 are exceptionally low compared to global standards, making daily expenses minimal.
Housing Market
Severely unaffordable housing market with property prices averaging 107.4 years of household income. Rental index of 4.98 offers limited relief given the collapsed income base and ongoing economic crisis.
Average Income Levels
Purchasing power index of 6.4 indicates extremely low income levels. GNI per capita fell to $830 in 2024, with extreme poverty affecting one in four Syrians and two-thirds living below lower middle-income poverty line.
Tax System
Personal income tax rate at 22% and corporate tax at 28%. New transitional government proposing free-market reforms to dismantle restrictive systems, but implementation uncertain amid liquidity crisis and institutional rebuilding.
Business Environment
Severely constrained business environment due to frozen assets, restricted international banking access, and ongoing security challenges. Transitional authorities pursuing market-oriented reforms, but sanctions easing and infrastructure recovery remain incomplete.
Social Security
Social safety net severely weakened by 14 years of conflict and economic collapse. Humanitarian support suspended, public services index at 9.1 (critical), and state legitimacy index at 10.0 (maximum fragility). Limited pension and healthcare capacity.
Syria exhibits stark climate contrasts ranging from humid Mediterranean coasts to vast arid desert regions. A semiarid steppe zone dominates three-quarters of the country, characterized by hot, dry conditions with limited precipitation.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
72.0
Population
17,500,657
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Syria. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Syria is governed by a transitional presidential system under President Ahmed al-Sharaa since early 2025, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The government is consolidating power amid integration efforts with northeastern regions, a provisional constitution, and plans for legislative elections. Challenges include building inclusive institutions, security issues, and economic reconstruction.
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Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.