Capital:Damascus
Population:18,448,752
Area:185,180 sq km
Climate:mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Languages:Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
Currency:Syrian pound (SYP)
Government:republic under military regime
Religions:Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Source: CIA World Factbook 2007
