Syria

Syria is an ancient region and modern state, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, in the Middle East. It borders Lebanon to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north. The border with Israel is disputed as Israel controls, and claims to have annexed, the Golan Heights. A border dispute with Turkey over Hatay Province has now been resolved. Historically, Syria (or Greater Syria) has often been taken to include the territories of Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and parts of Jordan, but excluding the Jazira region in the north-east of modern Syria.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Syria

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Ethnic Syrians are a mix of Semitic and Indo-European peoples that have occupied the region over time. Syria's population is 90% Muslim—70% Sunni, and 20% other Muslim groups, including the Alawi, Shi'a, and Druze—and 10% Christian. There also is a tiny Syrian Jewish community that is mainly in Damascus, Aleppo and al-Kamishli.

Related Topics:
Semitic - Indo-European - Muslim - Sunni - Alawi - Shi'a - Druze - Christian - Jewish

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Arabic is the official, and most widely spoken, language. Arabs, including some 400,000 Palestinian refugees, make up 90% of the population. Many educated Syrians also speak English or French, but English is the more widely understood. The Kurds, many of whom speak Kurdish, make up 10%-25% of the population and live mostly in the northeast corner of Syria, though sizable Kurdish communities live in most major Syrian cities as well. The Assyrians also make up to 500.000 most of them live in north and northeast Syria..Armenian and Turkic are spoken among the small Armenian and Turkoman populations. Aramaic, the lingua franca of the region before the advent of Islam and Arabic, is spoken among certain ethnic groups: as Syriac, it is used as the liturgical language of various Syriac denominations; modern Aramaic (particularly, Turoyo language and Assyrian Neo-Aramaic) is spoken in Al-Jazira region. Most remarkably, Western Neo-Aramaic is still spoken in the village of Ma`loula, and two neighbouring villages, 56 km northeast of Damascus.

Related Topics:
Palestinian refugees - English - French - Kurds - Syria - Turkic - Aramaic - Lingua franca - Islam - Arabic - Syriac - Various Syriac denominations - Turoyo language - Assyrian Neo-Aramaic - Al-Jazira - Western Neo-Aramaic - Ma`loula - Damascus

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Most people live in the Euphrates River valley and along the coastal plain, a fertile strip between the coastal mountains and the desert. Overall population density is about 140 per sq. mi. Education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 11. Schooling consists of 6 years of primary education followed by a 3-year general or vocational training period and a 3-year academic or vocational program. The second 3-year period of academic training is required for university admission. Total enrollment at post-secondary schools is over 150,000. The literacy rate of Syrians aged 15 and older is 78% for males and 51% for females.

Related Topics:
Euphrates River - Primary education - Vocational - University - Admission - Post-secondary school - Literacy rate

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