Demographics of Syria explained

Size Of Population:23,865,423 (CIA World Factbook 2024 est.)
Nation:noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian
Spoken:Kurdish, Turkish, Neo-Aramaic (Turoyo, Western Neo-Aramaic, Suret (Assyrian and Chaldean)

Syria's estimated pre–Syrian Civil War 2011 population was 22 ±.5[1] million permanent inhabitants, which included 21,124,000 Syrians,[2] as well as 1.3 million Iraqi refugees and over 500,000 Palestinian refugees.[3] The war makes an accurate count of the Syrian population difficult, as the numbers of Syrian refugees,[4] internally displaced Syrians and casualty numbers are in flux. The CIA World Factbook showed an estimated 20.4m people as of July 2021.[5] Of the pre-war population, six million are refugees outside the country, seven million are internally displaced, three million live in rebel-held territory, and two million live in the Kurdish-ruled Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Most modern-day Syrians are described as Levantine Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history. Genetically, Syrian Arabs are a variety of diverse Semitic-speaking groups indigenous to the region.[6] [7] [8] [9] With around 10% of the population, Kurds are the second biggest ethnic group in Syria, followed by Turkmen.

Human toll of Syrian Civil War

Forced displacement

See also: Refugees of the Syrian Civil War and Internally displaced persons in Syria. More than six million refugees left the country during the civil war,[10] of whom over five million are registered as refugees by the UNHCR as of mid-2019.[11] Most of them fled to neighboring countries such as Turkey,[12] [13] Lebanon, Jordan,[14] and Iraq,[15] as well as European nations like Greece, Germany and Sweden. Since 2017, tens of thousands have returned.[16]

The war resulted in large-scale displacement in the country. The UNHCR estimates internally displaced people (IDPs) at seven million. A further 70,000 people were trapped on the border with Jordan at Rukban in 2016–18,[17] [18] with up to 40,000 still there in 2019.[19]

A significant part of the population lives in territory outside government sovereignty. At its peak in 2015, ISIL ruled over ten million people across Syria and Iraq.[20] The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (NES), commonly referred to as Rojava, has a population of around two million.[21] Areas controlled by the opposition have had a population in the millions. In mid-2017, UN OCHA estimated that around 540,000 persons were trapped in besieged areas as of June 2017, the majority besieged by government forces in Eastern Ghouta.[22] By the time the government retook Ghouta in April 2018, some 140,000 individuals had fled their homes and up to 50,000 were evacuated to Idlib and Aleppo governorates.[23] The latter rebel areas had an estimated population of 3 million (40% of them displaced from defeated rebel areas).[24] [25] Fighting in Idlib has led to further displacements, of up to 250,000 people, and generating new refugee outflows to neighbouring Turkey.[26]

Displacement has led to demographic shifts. One example is the area in the North under control by Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Many human rights groups, including Amnesty International[27] and international organizations[28] [29] have accused SDF forces of committing ethnic cleansing in Arab areas they were capturing from other war factions.[30] The accusation was repeated on 8 May 2019 by Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.[31] NGOs and the opposition have also accused the government of using the conflict to affect demographic restructuring.[32] [33] [34] [35]

Birth-death rate

See also: Casualties of the Syrian Civil War. In April 2016, the UN estimated that 400,000 people had died in the war,[36] and casualties have continued since, with estimates for the total dead by mid-2019 of up to 220,000 civilians, 175,000 government combatants, and 174,000 anti-government combatants (see Casualties of the Syrian Civil War).

Population

Historical population

In 1200, the territories of modern-day Syria had an estimated population of 2.7 million. This number sharply decreased due to the Plague epidemic in 1348–1353, which killed off an estimated third of the Levant's population. By 1937, the population reached an estimated 2,368,000, still considerably lower than 1200's estimated population.

Modern population

Since 1960, censuses have been conducted in 1960, 1970, 1981, 1994 and 2004.[37] In 2014, 17,951,639, a massive decline due to nearly 4 million Syrian refugees leaving the country because of the Syrian Civil War and furthermore because of the death in the war. This is a drop of 9.7% from the previous year.[38]

In 2017, the head of the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs, Mohammad Akram al-Qash, said that the Syrian population was 28 million, of which, 21 million were living in Syria and that 7 million were refugees. In 2018, the population was estimated to be 19,454,263 people.[39] Ever since the Syrian Civil War, the population has been steadily declining, however rebounded in 2023, with an estimated population of 23,022,427 people.

Age structure

(2011-07-01) (Estimates, including Palestinian refugees)[40]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total10 794 00010 330 00021 124 000100
0-41 428 0001 347 0002 775 00013.14
5-91 384 0001 270 0002 654 00012.56
10-141 232 0001 198 0002 430 00011.50
15-191 191 0001 088 0002 279 00010.79
20-241 035 000944 0001 979 0009.37
25-29864 000873 0001 737 0008.22
30-34674 000697 0001 371 0006.49
35-39601 000628 0001 229 0005.82
40-44545 000551 0001 096 0005.19
45-49437 000433 000870 0004.12
50-54387 000405 000792 0003.75
55-59293 000280 000573 0002.71
60-64254 000227 000481 0002.28
65+469 000389 000858 0004.06
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–144 044 0003 815 0007 859 00037.20
15–646 281 0006 126 00012 407 00058.73
65+469 000389 000858 0004.06

Population

This data is from CIA World Factbook: In 2023, the Syrian population increased by 6.39%. This made Syria the country with the highest population growth. The birth rate was estimated at 22.19 births per 1000 people. The death rate is 4.07 deaths for 1000 people. The median age (estimated in 2020) for males is 23 years old, while for females it is 24 years old. Overall, the Syrian median age is 23.5 years old. The migration rate is 45.78 migrants for 1,000 people. The gender ratio is as follows:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0–14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Demographic statistics

UN estimates:[41]

PeriodPopulationLive birthsDeaths Natural change Birth rate
(per 1000)
Death rate
(per 1000)
Natural change
(per 1000)
Crude migration rate
(per 1000)
Total Fertility rateInfant mortality (1000 births)Life expectancy (years)
19503 544 000167 00092 00075 00047.025.921.17.60179.644.14
19513 621 000171 00092 00080 00047.325.422.0-0.77.60177.544.45
19523 703 000176 00091 00085 00047.624.723.0-0.97.61173.344.99
19533 791 000182 00090 00091 00047.923.924.0-0.87.61169.145.70
19543 886 000187 00088 00099 00048.022.625.5-1.17.62160.246.97
19553 989 000192 00085 000107 00048.221.326.8-1.07.62151.748.31
19564 099 000197 00083 000114 00048.020.327.7-0.97.59143.949.39
19574 217 000202 00081 000121 00047.819.128.7-0,77.57136.650.58
19584 341 000207 00079 000128 00047.618.229.4-0.87.54129.951.57
19594 473 000212 00077 000135 00047.317.230.1-0.67.51123.752.61
19604 611 000217 00075 000142 00047.016.330.7-0.87.49118.053.55
19614 752 000221 00074 000147 00046.515.531.0-1.37.43113.054.44
19624 895 000227 00073 000154 00046.414.831.5-2.37.44108.455.09
19635 045 000233 00072 000162 00046.214.232.0-2.37.44104.255.78
19645 203 000241 00071 000170 00046.213.632.6-2.27.47100.356.50
19655 368 000249 00070 000179 00046.313.133.3-2.67.5196.557.11
19665 542 000258 00070 000188 00046.512.633.8-2.47.5592.757.60
19675 723 000267 00070 000197 00046.612.234.4-2.87.5888.958.10
19685 913 000276 00068 000208 00046.611.535.1-3.07.6085.059.07
19696 111 000288 00067 000220 00047.011.036.0-3.67.6781.159.88
19706 319 000298 00067 000231 00047.110.536.5-3.67.6977.260.53
19716 539 000305 00065 000240 00046.710.036.7-3.17.6573.561.37
19726 769 000314 00065 000249 00046.39.636.7-2.77.6170.161.90
19737 003 000322 00069 000253 00045.99.836.1-2.77.5666.960.69
19747 245 000331 00063 000267 00045.68.736.9-3.57.5163.863.12
19757 497 000341 00063 000278 00045.48.437.0-3.47.4760.963.54
19767 759 000352 00063 000289 00045.38.137.2-3.47.4458.063.92
19778 029 000364 00065 000299 00045.28.137.2-3.67.4155.263.76
19788 310 000373 00060 000314 00044.87.237.7-3.97.3552.465.81
19798 601 000382 00060 000322 00044.36.937.4-3.67.2749.766.14
19808 899 000390 00060 000330 00043.86.737.1-3.67.1647.266.35
19819 204 000396 00068 000328 00043.07.435.6-2.57.0147.064.37
19829 511 000404 00083 000321 00042.48.733.7-1.46.8848.661.12
19839 835 000413 00058 000355 00041.95.936.0-3.16.7440.367.83
198410 183 000422 00055 000366 00041.45.435.9-1.76.6138.368.92
198510 541 000432 00057 000375 00041.05.435.5-1.56.4836.668.76
198610 908 000441 00057 000384 00040.45.235.2-1.66.3335.069.21
198711 281 000447 00058 000389 00039.65.134.5-1.46.1333.569.30
198811 658 000448 00058 000390 00038.44.933.4-1.15.8932.369.67
198912 034 000446 00058 000388 00037.14.932.2-1.05.6331.169.76
199012 409 000446 00059 000387 00035.94.831.1-0.95.3829.969.82
199112 782 000444 00060 000384 00034.74.730.0-0.85.1228.870.04
199213 156 000448 00060 000387 00034.04.629.4-1.04.9527.770.26
199313 537 000459 00062 000397 00033.94.629.3-1.24.8326.570.19
199413 923 000468 00064 000404 00033.64.629.0-1.34.7225.470.14
199514 313 000474 00064 000409 00033.14.528.6-1.44.5724.270.42
199614 709 000478 00067 000411 00032.54.528.0-1.14.4323.170.35
199715 104 000481 00069 000412 00031.84.527.3-1.14.2822.070.28
199815 501 000487 00071 000416 00031.44.626.8-1.24.1821.070.20
199915 901 000493 00072 000421 00031.04.526.5-1.34.0820.170.43
200016 308 000500 00072 000428 00030.64.426.2-1.24.0019.370.76
200116 728 000519 00070 000449 00031.04.226.8-1.74.0118.671.64
200217 164 000529 00070 000459 00030.84.126.7-1.33.9518.071.94
200317 611 000541 00070 000471 00030.74.026.7-1.33.9017.472.41
200418 084 000553 00072 000481 00030.64.026.6-0.43.8617.072.48
200518 584 000567 00073 000494 00030.53.926.60.33.8116.672.77
200619 432 000579 00072 000507 00030.33.826.517.13.7616.373.35
200720 703 000625 00075 000551 00030.83.727.134.33.7016.173.71
200821 474 000673 00081 000592 00031.03.727.38.63.6116.073.55
200921 827 000650 00080 000569 00029.73.726.1-9.93.5115.973.85
201022 338 000641 00083 000558 00028.73.725.0-2.13.4015.973.88
201122 731 000629 00090 000539 00027.53.923.6-2.13.2816.473.31
201222 606 000615 000148 000467 00026.66.420.2-6.33.2223.066.77
201321 496 000568 000173 000394 00025.27.717.5-25.73.1726.363.83
201420 072 000465 000168 000297 00022.48.114.3-69.13.1027.163.15
201519 205 000397 000143 000254 00020.27.312.9-85.23.0525.165.12
201618 964 000359 000133 000226 00018.97.011.9-24.62.9924.565.99
201718 983 000355 000115 000240 00018.66.012.5-11.52.9418.568.48
201819 333 000346 000106 000240 00018.25.612.65.52.8918.670.15
201920 098 000375 000100 000275 00018.95.013.924.22.8418.171.82
202020 773 000406 000103 000303 00019.75.014.717.82.8018.172.14
202121 324 000427 000109 000318 00020.15.115.010.82.7517.872.06
Fertility[42] ! Name !! TFR (2009)
3.2
2.6
5.2
6.9
3.3
3.5
3.1
4.8
2.2
3.8
5
3.3
2.1
2.3
Syria 3.5
Marital fertility rate! Name !! MFR (2009)
5.4
4.7
7.3
10.2
6.6
6.8
5.9
7.7
4.5
6.5
7.9
5.4
4
4.8
Syria 6

Life expectancy at birth

This data is from CIA World Factbook:[39]

total: 75.2 years
male: 72.8 years
female: 77.8 years (2018 est.)

Population centers

See main article: List of cities in Syria and Cities and towns during the Syrian Civil War.

60% of the population lives in the Aleppo Governorate, the Euphrates valley or along the coastal plain; a fertile strip between the coastal mountains and the desert. Overall population density is about .

Urbanization

This data is from CIA World Factbook:[39]

Urban population: 54.2% of total population (2018)

Rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas

As of 2018; this data is from CIA World Factbook:[39]

Damascus (capital): 2.32 million

Aleppo: 1.754 million

Homs: 1.295 million

Hama: 894,000

Ethnicity and religion

See also: Nawar people. On 1 January 2011, Syria was estimated to have a population of 24 million people, distributed over its 14 governorates. Arabs represent 80-85% of the population, with the rest being a mixture of many ethnic and religious sects, as shown in the table below:

Ethnic and religious groups % of Syrian population Notes
80–85% The Arabs form the majority in all districts except for the Al-Hasakah Governorate.
10% The majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslims, with a Yazidi minority; concentrated in Syrian Kurdistan region and major urban centres outside that region.
4–5% Descendants of ethnic Turks, rather than Turkmens. These figures exclude the Arabic-speaking Turks. Only approximately 30% of Turkmen speak a Turkic language. The majority are Sunni Muslims.
Assyrians3–4% Most Assyrians are Christians
1.5% The majority of Circassians are Sunni Muslims.
1% The majority of Armenians are Christians.
Smaller groups of Albanians, Greeks and Chechens, among others <0.9% (combined) A significant number of these ethnic groups are Arabized, particularly those that adhere to Islam.

The CIA World Factbook cites the following figures for ethnic groups as at July 2018: approximately Arab 50%, Alawite 15%, Kurd 10%, Levantine 10%, other 15% (includes Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrians, Turkmen, Armenian and Chechens).[5] However, Professor John A. Shoup said in 2018 that Kurds made 9% of the population, followed by Turkish-speaking Turkmen comprising 4-5%, Assyrians 4%, Armenians 2%, and Circassians about 1% of the total population.

There has been no Syrian census including a question about religion since 1960, these are thus the last official statistics available:[43]

In 1991 Professor Alasdair Drysdale and Professor Raymond Hinnebusch said that some 85% of Syrians were Muslims and that the remainder were almost all Christians, however, both religious groups were subdivided into many ethnic sects. Among the former, approximately 75% of Syrians were Sunni Muslim, of whom, 60% were Arabic-speaking and the remainder of Sunnis included Kurds 8.5%, Turkmen/Turkoman 3%, and Circassians (less than 1%). In addition, Alawis formed 5.5%, Druze 3% and Ismailis 1.5% of the population. In regards to the Christians, they were subdivided into the Greek Orthodox 4.7%, Armenians 4% and Assyrians 1%.

According to Pierre Beckouche, before 2011, Sunni Muslims accounted for 78% of Syria's population, which included 500,000 Palestinian refugees and the non-Arab Sunni Muslims, namely the Kurds 9-10% and the Turkmen/Turkoman 4%. Other Muslims included Shias and Alawites 11%-16%, whilst the Christians made up 6% of the population. There were also a few Jewish communities in Aleppo and Damascus.

The CIA World Factbook cites the following figures for religious groups: religions - Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (mainly of the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches[44] - may be smaller as a result of Christians fleeing the country), Druze 3%.[5]

The first census which focused on the sectarian distribution was carried out in 1932 under the French mandate, however, this census was only carried out in the lands under the short-lived Government of Latakia (the Alawite State established by the French) which covered only out of modern Syria's total area of . A general census of Syria in 1943 gave details of religious groups of the population and the rate of growth of each and estimates of the population in 1953 from an unnamed source were as follows:

1943 census[45] 1953 censusGrowth
Sunnis 1,971,053 (68.91%) 2,578,810 (70.54%) 31%
Shi'ites12,742 (0.45%) 14,887 (0.41%) 17%
Alawites 325,311 (11.37%) 398,445 (10.90%) 22%
Ismailis 28,527 (1.00%) 36,745 (1.01%) 29%
Druze 87,184 (3.05%) 113,318 (3.10%) 30%
Yezidi 2,788 (0.10%) 3,082 (0.08%) 11%
Total Muslims 2,427,605 (84.87%) 3,145,287 (86.03%) 30%
Jews 29,770 (1.04%) 31,647 (0.87%) 6%
Christians 403,036 (14.09%) 478,970 (13.10%) 19%

Literacy rate

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 86.0% for males and 73.6% for females.[46]

Languages

See main article: Languages of Syria. Arabic is the official, and most widely spoken, language. Arabic speakers make up 85% of the population. Several modern Arabic dialects are used in everyday life, most notably Levantine in the west and Mesopotamian in the northeast. A report published by the UNHCR points out that "while the majority of Syrians are considered Arabs, this is a term based on spoken language (Arabic), not ethnicity."

According to The Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics, in addition to Arabic, the following languages are spoken in the country, in order of the number of speakers: Kurdish, Turkish, Neo-Aramaic (four dialects), Circassian, Chechen, Armenian, and finally Greek. None of these languages have official status.

Many educated Syrians also speak English and French.[47]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Syria's drained population. The Economist. 30 September 2015. 12 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170815162318/https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/09/daily-chart-18. 15 August 2017. live.
  2. Web site: Population Existed in Syria According To Censuses (1960, 1970, 1981, 1994, 2004) And Estimates of Their Number in Mid Years 2005–2011(000). Central Bureau of Statistics. 18 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151023010741/http://www.cbssyr.sy/yearbook/2011/Data-Chapter2/TAB-10-2-2011.htm. 23 October 2015. dead.
  3. News: World Refugee Survey 2008 . U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants . 19 June 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121228132236/http://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2008-world-refugee-survey.html . 28 December 2012 .
  4. Web site: Syria Regional Refugee Response. 4 July 2019. UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190719173216/https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria. 19 July 2019. live.
  5. Web site: The World Factbook: Syria. CIA Library. 22 December 2018.
  6. Book: The Templars: The History and the Myth - From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons. Michael Haag. 65. 9781846681530. 2009. Profile Books Limited. 2015-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019161713/https://books.google.com/books?id=oIdK623wy0UC&pg=PA65. 2017-10-19. live.
  7. Badro . Danielle A. . Douaihy . Bouchra . Haber . Marc . Youhanna . Sonia C. . Salloum . Angélique . Ghassibe-Sabbagh . Michella . Johnsrud . Brian . Khazen . Georges . Matisoo-Smith . Elizabeth . Soria-Hernanz . David F. . Wells . R. Spencer . Tyler-Smith . Chris . Platt . Daniel E. . Zalloua . Pierre A. . Caramelli . David . Y-Chromosome and mtDNA Genetics Reveal Significant Contrasts in Affinities of Modern Middle Eastern Populations with European and African Populations . PLOS ONE . 30 January 2013 . 8 . 1 . e54616 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0054616 . 23382925 . 3559847. 2013PLoSO...854616B . free .
  8. Geographical Structure of the Y-chromosomal Genetic Landscape of the Levant: A coastal-inland contrast. 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2009.00538.x. 73. Pt 6. Annals of Human Genetics. 568–581. 3312577. 19686289. 2009. El-Sibai M, Platt DE, Haber M, Xue Y, Youhanna SC, Wells RS, Izaabel H, Sanyoura MF, Harmanani H, Bonab MA, Behbehani J, Hashwa F, Tyler-Smith C, Zalloua PA.
  9. Book: The Modern Assyrians of the Middle East. John Joseph. 30. 978-9004116412. 2000. BRILL. 2015-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019162143/https://books.google.com/books?id=79wj2hj4wKUC&pg=PA30. 2017-10-19. live.
  10. Web site: Syria: Five years into war, what is left of the country? . BBC News . 15 March 2016 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190617173849/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-841ebc3a-1be9-493b-8800-2c04890e8fc9 . 17 June 2019 . live .
  11. Web site: Situation Syria Regional Refugee Response. UNHCR. 12 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190611173834/https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria. 11 June 2019. live.
  12. Web site: Syrian Refugees May Be Wearing Out Turks' Welcome . NPR . 11 March 2012 . 10 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402005834/http://www.npr.org/2012/03/11/148327930/syrian-refugees-may-be-wearing-out-turks-welcome . 2 April 2012 . live .
  13. News: Syria crisis: Turkey refugee surge amid escalation fear . BBC News . 6 April 2012 . 10 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120408231033/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17635434 . 8 April 2012 . live .
  14. Web site: Syria: Refugees brace for more bloodshed . News24 . 12 March 2012 . 10 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171023184006/http://www.news24.com/World/News/Syria-Refugees-brace-for-more-bloodshed-20120312 . 23 October 2017 . live .
  15. Web site: 30 Syrian soldiers flees to Iraq's Kurdish region: official. 13 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131118205329/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/27/c_131434512.htm. 18 November 2013. dead.
  16. Web site: The displacement dilemma: Should Europe help Syrian refugees return home? . ECFR.EU . 13 March 2019 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190605215302/https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/the_displacement_dilemma_should_europe_help_syrian_refugees_return_home . 5 June 2019 . live .
  17. Web site: World Report 2017: Rights Trends in Syria . Human Rights Watch . 12 January 2017 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190611171554/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/syria . 11 June 2019 . live .
  18. Web site: In 15 Days, Healthcare Deterioration Leads to 14 Civilians' Death in al-Rukban camp – Enab Baladi . Enab Baladi . 10 October 2018 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190330044739/https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2018/10/in-15-days-healthcare-deterioration-leads-to-14-civilians-death-in-al-rukban-camp/ . 30 March 2019 . live .
  19. Web site: Al-Khalidi . Suleiman . Russian 'siege' chokes Syrian camp in shadow of U.S. base . U.K. . 28 April 2019 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190508205951/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-security-camp-idUKKCN1S404T . 8 May 2019 . live .
  20. Web site: The war against 'Islamic State' in maps and charts . BBC News . 28 March 2018 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190616195731/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034 . 16 June 2019 . live .
  21. Web site: Fabrice Balanche. Fabrice Balanche. Sectarianism in Syria's Civil War. 24. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. 2019-06-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20180922063624/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/SyriaAtlasCOMPLETE-3.pdf. 2018-09-22. live.
  22. Web site: World Report 2018: Rights Trends in Syria . Human Rights Watch . 2 January 2018 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181222103038/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/syria . 22 December 2018 . live .
  23. Web site: Siege of Syria's eastern Ghouta 'barbaric and medieval', says UN Commission of Inquiry . UN News . 20 June 2018 . 12 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190530192352/https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1012632 . 30 May 2019 . live .
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  45. . See also Albert Hourani.
  46. https://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?URL_ID=5204&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201
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