Introduction
![Photo](/uploads/1/0/5/3/105311121/sy-map_orig.gif)
Syria is one of the Arab countries which is located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Southwestern Asia. It is bounded by Turkey to the north, by Iraq to the east and to the south east, by Jordan to the south, and by Lebanon and Israel to the south west. The capital is Damascus (Dimashq).
After Syria's independence in 17 April 1946, the new country lacked political stability due to the intense friction between the country's political, social, and religious groups. In 1950 Syria came under the rule of President Hafiz Al -Assad whose main purpose is to achieve national security and domestic stability. After Assad's death, his son Bashar Al-Assad was approved as a president by popular referendum in July 2000. In 2011, the antigovernment protests broke up with protesters calling for some demands. Because of theses protests Syria has been in a civil war since then.
The population of Syria is over 13 million. Most of the population live in cities. For example ,four million of the population live only in Damascus. Syria's population is growing as well as the country's birth rate in such a way higher than that of most neighboring countries. About four-fifth of the Syrian population is literate. Schooling begins at the age of six. It is divided into six years of compulsory primary; secondary schools are open to all beginners who want to continue their education.
The overwhelming majority of the population are Muslims; Sunni Muslims consist about three-fourth of Syria's Muslim population. The Alwaites are the next largest group. Christians account for about one tenth of the Syrian population. Jewish consist a small population.
The Syrian people developed from different origins over a long period of time. The majority of the population speak Arabic. There are other languages spoken in Syria such as Kurdish, which is spoken in the extreme northeast and the northwest. Armenian, it is spoken in Aleppo and other major cities. Turkish is spoken in villages east of the Euphrates and along the border with Turkey. Kabardian language is also spoken by a minority of the population. English and French are understood particularly in urban centers and among the educated.
Syria is one of the Arab countries which is located on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Southwestern Asia. It is bounded by Turkey to the north, by Iraq to the east and to the south east, by Jordan to the south, and by Lebanon and Israel to the south west. The capital is Damascus (Dimashq).
After Syria's independence in 17 April 1946, the new country lacked political stability due to the intense friction between the country's political, social, and religious groups. In 1950 Syria came under the rule of President Hafiz Al -Assad whose main purpose is to achieve national security and domestic stability. After Assad's death, his son Bashar Al-Assad was approved as a president by popular referendum in July 2000. In 2011, the antigovernment protests broke up with protesters calling for some demands. Because of theses protests Syria has been in a civil war since then.
The population of Syria is over 13 million. Most of the population live in cities. For example ,four million of the population live only in Damascus. Syria's population is growing as well as the country's birth rate in such a way higher than that of most neighboring countries. About four-fifth of the Syrian population is literate. Schooling begins at the age of six. It is divided into six years of compulsory primary; secondary schools are open to all beginners who want to continue their education.
The overwhelming majority of the population are Muslims; Sunni Muslims consist about three-fourth of Syria's Muslim population. The Alwaites are the next largest group. Christians account for about one tenth of the Syrian population. Jewish consist a small population.
The Syrian people developed from different origins over a long period of time. The majority of the population speak Arabic. There are other languages spoken in Syria such as Kurdish, which is spoken in the extreme northeast and the northwest. Armenian, it is spoken in Aleppo and other major cities. Turkish is spoken in villages east of the Euphrates and along the border with Turkey. Kabardian language is also spoken by a minority of the population. English and French are understood particularly in urban centers and among the educated.
Syrian National Anthem (English lyrics)