_#_Nationality: noun—Syrian(s); adjective—Syrian
_#_Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%; Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
_#_Religion: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, tiny Jewish communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo
_#_Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian; French widely understood
_#_Literacy: 64% (male 78%, female 51%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 2,400,000; miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%, industry and construction 32%; majority unskilled; shortage of skilled labor (1984)
_#_Organized labor: 5% of labor force
_*Government #_Long-form name: Syrian Arab Republic
_#_Type: republic; under leftwing military regime since March 1963
_#_Capital: Damascus