Syria: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Syria?

Life expectancy at birth in Syria was 72.6 years in 2024, according to World Bank data based on UN Population Division estimates.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if death rates at each age stayed as they were in that year. It is not a forecast. The WHO publishes further health estimates for Syria on its country data page.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Syria · WHO: Syrian Arab Republic country data

How many disease cases does Syria's Ministry of Health report each week?

Syria's Ministry of Health reported 64,304 cases of notifiable diseases in epidemiological week 33 of 2026, according to its health statistics and reports page. In week 6 (8 to 14 February 2026), the ministry reported 383,432 consultations.

The figures come from the ministry's weekly epidemiological reports for 2026, which count cases reported through its disease surveillance system. The same page publishes acute flaccid paralysis surveillance reports for polio monitoring and the distribution of ministry hospitals by governorate. The downloadable report files could not be opened on 15 October 2026, so only the headline figures shown on the page are given here.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: Health statistics and reports

What is the infant mortality rate in Syria?

Syria's infant mortality rate was 17.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to World Bank data from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. The maternal mortality ratio was 20 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the maternal mortality series.

Both are modelled estimates by UN agencies that combine the available survey and registration data. Infant mortality counts deaths before a child's first birthday. Estimates for countries with limited recent data carry wide uncertainty ranges.

Official sources: World Bank: Infant mortality rate, Syria · World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, Syria

How many doctors are there in Syria?

Syria had 1.52 physicians per 1,000 people in 2021, the latest year in World Bank data from the WHO's Global Health Workforce Statistics.

The figure counts medical doctors, both generalists and specialists, reported to the WHO. It does not show where doctors work or how many are in public hospitals. The Ministry of Health's statistics page lists reports on the distribution of ministry hospitals by governorate, and its 2026-2028 strategic plan sets out the rehabilitation of health facilities based on maps of facilities and health workers.

Official sources: World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, Syria · Ministry of Health: Health statistics and reports

What share of children in Syria are vaccinated?

81% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Syria had received a measles vaccine in 2024, according to World Bank data from the WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage.

The WHO and UNICEF produce these estimates each year from government reports and surveys. A child counts as vaccinated if they received at least one dose of measles-containing vaccine. The Ministry of Health also publishes weekly surveillance reports for acute flaccid paralysis, used to monitor polio, on its statistics page.

Official sources: World Bank: Measles immunisation, Syria · Ministry of Health: Health statistics and reports

What is life expectancy in Syria?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 72.6 years. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 73.5 years; its low point was 2015, at 63.3 years. It is 15th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 77.3 years. Worldwide: 108th of 193.

How many babies die in Syria?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Syria was 17.7 per 1,000 in 2024. The peak was 25.5 per 1,000 in 2015 and the low 17.5 per 1,000 in 2008. It is 8th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 11.2 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 72nd of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Syria?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 20.0 per 100,000. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 30.0 per 100,000; its low point was 2007, at 19.0 per 100,000. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 18.5 per 100,000, and Syria placed 11th highest of 22. Worldwide: 121st of 192.

How much does Syria spend on health?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 2.7% of GDP. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 4.2% of GDP; its low point was 2011, at 2.7% of GDP. It is 19th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 5.6% of GDP. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 182nd highest.

How much do people in Syria pay for health care themselves?

72.4%: that is out-of-pocket health spending in Syria for 2023, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 32.7%, and Syria placed 2nd highest of 22. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 5th highest.

How many doctors per person does Syria have?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Syria was 1.5 per 1,000 in 2021. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 6th highest of 11 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 1.5 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 77th of 123.

How many hospital beds does Syria have?

In 2021, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Syria was 1.4 per 1,000, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2011, at 1.6 per 1,000; its low point was 2018, at 1.3 per 1,000. It is 9th highest of 16 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 1.7 per 1,000. Of 124 countries with 2021 data, 93rd highest.

How many children in Syria are vaccinated against measles?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Syria at 81.0% in 2024. The peak was 82.0% in 2009 and the low 52.0% in 2022. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 96.0%, and Syria placed 18th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 139th of 191.