Land area

185,180 sq km

Population

20.5m (mid-2008 estimate)

Main provinces

Population in millions, 2006

Damascus (capital) area: 4.01

Aleppo: 4.23

Homs: 1.59

Hama: 1.44

Hassakah: 1.33

Idlib: 1.31

Climate

Subtropical on coast, arid in the centre, cold winters in the highlands

Weather in Damascus

Hottest month, August, 18-37°C (average daily minimum and maximum); coldest month, January, 2-12°C; driest month, August, zero average rainfall; wettest month, January, 43 mm average rainfall

Languages

Arabic, French, some English

Religion

Sunni Muslim (72%); Alawi Muslim (14%); Christian (12%); Shia Muslim and Druze minorities

Measures

Metric system

Currency

Syrian pound (S£) = 100 piastres

Time

GMT plus two hours

Fiscal year

January 1st-December 31st

Public holidays

The dates of Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and are therefore approximate. Mawlid al-Nabi (the birthday of the Prophet, February 26th 2010); Eid al-Fitr (September 11th); Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice, November 17th); Islamic New Year (December 7th)

New Year's Day (January 1st); Revolution Day (March 8th); Mother's Day (March 21st); Easter (April 4th); Orthodox Easter (April 5th); Independence Day (April 17th); Labour Day (May 1st); Martyrs' Day (May 6th); October Liberation War (October 6th); Christmas Day (December 25th)