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farming villages that dot the
countryside.
Its approximately 17.8 million
inhabitants practice a variety of
faiths, and the country contains
numerous sites regarded as holy.
Physical and cultural reminders of
thousands of years of rich history
stand alongside the contemporary.
The human development context
Ranking 106 out of 177 on the global
Human Development Index (HDI) of the
2004 Human Development Report, Syria
falls well within the category of
"medium human development." In the
last four decades, Syria has made
significant progress in many areas
of human development. Generally, in
terms of basic indicators such as
life expectancy, primary school
enrollment rates, immunization rates
and infant and child mortality, as
well as related gender indicators,
including women's political
participation, conditions in Syria
are significantly better than in
most developing countries. Trends in
the Human Development Index for
Syria show a steady increase for the
last 25 years. Among the grouping of
Arab countries covered by the 2004
Arab Human Development Report, the
HDI for Syria ranks twelfth of
twenty.
Nonetheless, there is concern that
the progress made in human
development in recent decades must
be safeguarded. Changes have been
taking place in the country, with
many positive results. Syria
initiated an economic reform process
in 2000, which was widely welcomed
both by the international donor
community and the private sector,
whose capital investments are
essential for job creation. With
unemployment estimated at 11.7
percent, according to a 2004 UNDP
study, job creation is a primary
concern for the government. Notable
changes were introduced in the tax
and exchange rate systems to open
the country to foreign and domestic
investments.
But as Syria embarks on its reforms
and comes to terms with its
diminishing oil reserves, there is a
risk in both the short and medium
term that the most vulnerable will
be left behind. Both the United
Nations Country Team and the
Government acknowledge this risk and
wish to work in concert to bring
resources and attention to bear upon
the challenge.
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