(1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
3,205,000 kW capacity; 11,900 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining,
petroleum
Agriculture:
accounts for 27% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops
(wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rain-watered
land causing wide swings in production; animal products - beef, lamb, eggs,
poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products

*Syria, Economy

Illicit drugs:
a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe
and heroin and hashish bound for the Persian Gulf area
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US)
ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.23 billion; OPEC bilateral
aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; former Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3
billion
Currency:
1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 22.0 (promotional rate since 1991), 22.0
(official rate since 1991), 42.0 (official parallel rate since 1991),
11.2250 (fixed rate 1987-90)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Syria, Communications

Railroads:
1,998 km total; 1,766 km standard gauge, 232 km 1.050-meter (narrow) gauge
Highways:
29,000 km total; 670 km expressways; 5,000 km main or national roads; 23,330
km secondary or regional roads (not including municipal roads); 22,680 km of
the total is paved (1988)
Inland waterways:
870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,304 km, petroleum products 515 km
Ports:
Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas, Jablah
Merchant marine:
41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,247 GRT/183,607 DWT; includes 36
cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 bulk
Airports:
total:
104
usable:
100
with permanent-surface runways:
24
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
21
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital
upgrades, including fiber optic technology; 512,600 telephones (37
telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 9 AM, 1 FM, 17 TV;
satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Intersputnik; 1
submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan,
Lebanon, and Turkey

*Syria, Defense Forces

Bran