Dive into the rich tapestry of faiths and cultures in modern-day Syria, where diverse ethnic and religious groups coexist amidst a complex web of history and conflict.
Syria‘s Diverse Population
=====================================
Syria is one of the most diverse countries in the Middle East, with a population comprising various ethnic and religious groups. The country’s population has been vastly impacted by the decade-long civil war, which has left it hugely fractured.
Estimating Syria’s Population
Due to the devastating effects of the war, obtaining accurate data on Syria’s population is challenging. Estimates vary widely depending on the source. According to the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics, 29.2 million people lived in the country as of December 10, 2019. However, the World Factbook produced by the CIA estimates that around 20.4 million people were living in Syria by July 2021. The World Bank puts the population at approximately 23 million in 2023, while other estimates suggest a number closer to 25 million.
Religious and Ethnic Groups
Despite the lack of reliable demographic data, estimates on religious and ethnic minorities in Syria seem to be widely comparable. The majority of Syria’s population consists of Sunni Muslims, who make up around 70% of the country’s inhabitants. They believe that Prophet Muhammad did not explicitly declare a successor.
In contrast, Shia Muslims, who comprise approximately 3% of Syria’s population, believe that Muhammad designated his cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, as his successor and the first in a line of hereditary imams.
A larger minority in Syria are Alawites, including deposed leader Bashar Assad, who make up around 10% of the population. Many of this esoteric sect of Islam live in Syria’s western coastal region, particularly in the cities of Latakia und Tartus.
Other Ethnic and Religious Minorities
Syria is also home to various other ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Druze, Palestinian, Iraqi, Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Circassian, Mandean, and Turkoman groups. Most of these minority groups live in and around Damascus.
Kurdish-Ruled Autonomous Administration
The Kurdish-ruled Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, also known as Rojava, is home to Syria’s largest minority, approximately 2.5 million Kurdish people. Some Kurds also live in and around Syria’s capital, Damascus. A minority among the Kurds are the Yazidis, who mainly reside in the Aleppo governorate.
Refugee Camps
Syria hosts 12 refugee camps where 438,000 Palestinian refugees currently reside, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). A sizable chunk of Syria’s Sunni Muslims live in Syria’s northeastern Idlib region, which became the last opposition stronghold of the war-torn country.
