Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with
two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in
the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain
white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic
inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also
similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in
the white band
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:
Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing, on average,
more slowly than its 2.4% annual population growth rate, causing a
persistent decline in per capita GDP. Recent legislation allows
private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector
will take years and further government cooperation to develop.
External factors such as the international war on terrorism, the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the war between the US-led
coalition and Iraq probably will drive real annual GDP growth levels
back below their 3.5% spike in 2002. A long-run economic constraint
is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth,
industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $63.48 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 23% services: 50% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15%-25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2002 est.)