Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Syria: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Syria is placed 121st of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Maternal Mortality Ratio 20.37 (2023); Human Development Index 0.564 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
121st
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Syria on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
20.37
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Syria: 20.37. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Western Asia
- 2.49 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 65.99 · Israel 2.49 · Jordan 30.78 · Lebanon 14.98 · Türkiye 14.63
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.564
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 162nd of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Syria: 0.564. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.94 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 0.695 · Israel 0.919 · Jordan 0.754 · Lebanon 0.752 · Türkiye 0.853
02Over time
Which way Syria is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria fell from 30.68 in 2000 to 20.37 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2023 20.37 46.7 2022 20.73 53.0 2021 30.00 76.6 2020 23.06 56.0 2019 24.48 48.4 2018 21.18 49.3 2017 22.69 47.2 2016 22.60 50.6 2015 24.30 51.9 2014 24.91 52.8 2013 24.98 53.3 2012 22.38 54.6 2011 20.68 55.0 2010 19.41 56.1 2009 19.29 56.3 2008 19.94 55.8 2007 19.15 56.8 2006 19.77 58.1 2005 21.24 60.1 2004 22.44 63.0 2003 24.04 66.8 2002 26.26 66.0 2001 28.56 68.1 2000 30.68 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria fell from 0.594 in 2000 to 0.564 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2023 0.564 0.7620 2022 0.571 0.7610 2021 0.571 0.7450 2020 0.570 0.7425 2019 0.569 0.7515 2018 0.557 0.7520 2017 0.551 0.7480 2016 0.552 0.7500 2015 0.549 0.7430 2014 0.561 0.7410 2013 0.567 0.7390 2012 0.626 0.7350 2011 0.664 0.7250 2010 0.669 0.7250 2009 0.668 0.7220 2008 0.660 0.7180 2007 0.665 0.7100 2006 0.658 0.7045 2005 0.646 0.6960 2004 0.635 0.6960 2003 0.621 0.6910 2002 0.610 0.6845 2001 0.602 0.6770 2000 0.594 0.6720
03In context
Syria beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Syria and the countries it borders
Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel | 10th | 100 | 2.49 | 0.919 |
 Türkiye | =58th | 64 | 14.63 | 0.853 |
 Lebanon | =106th | 20 | 14.98 | 0.752 |
 Jordan | =110th | 28.8 | 30.78 | 0.754 |
 Iraq | 117th | 41.7 | 65.99 | 0.695 |
| Syria | 121st | — | 20.37 | 0.564 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Syria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Syria is ahead of the world, and behind
29 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Syria does better than the middle country measured.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6567.6318.65No earlier reading
Syria: 67.63 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.113.317.1No earlier reading
Syria: 13.3 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 90th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.947.845.9No earlier reading
Syria: 47.8 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median26
Statistics on which Syria does worse than the middle country measured.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1349.5088.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Syria: 9.508 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 86th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.49698.4No earlier reading
Syria: 96 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5418.4414.54▲ Improved since 2014
Syria: 18.44 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 78th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6372.1274.63▲ Improved since 2013
Syria: 72.12 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 137th of 222 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8584.1652.858▲ Improved since 2014
Syria: 4.165 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 74th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2617.6712.26▲ Improved since 2014
Syria: 17.67 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 73rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16311.678.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 11.67 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0721,8153,072▲ Improved since 2013
Syria: 1,815 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 131st of 179 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.490.351▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 0.49 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 127th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10089.3100▼ Worsened since 2014
Syria: 89.3 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.121.132.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Syria: 21.13 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7428.540.74No earlier reading
Syria: 28.5 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 105th of 136 · derived.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.5530.678▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 0.553 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 123rd of 156 · derived.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.827.913.8No earlier reading
Syria: 27.9 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 35th of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10061.6100▼ Worsened since 2014
Syria: 61.6 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.816.780.8No earlier reading
Syria: 16.7 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9335.9369.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 5.936 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 158th of 193 · derived.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,8902,49512,890▼ Worsened since 2012
Syria: 2,495 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 138th of 166 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 906990▲ Improved since 2015
Syria: 69 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6728.9546.67▼ Worsened since 2012
Syria: 28.95 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 169th of 195 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.54611.553.546No earlier reading
Syria: 11.55 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 12th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 916091No real change since 2015
Syria: 60 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2461.6833.246No earlier reading
Syria: 1.683 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 76th of 78 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.347.41913.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 7.419 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 191st of 195 · derived.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.332.4269.3No real change since 2017
Syria: 32.42 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 185th of 188 · derived.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.7870.971▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 0.787 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 181st of 184 · derived.
No current reading for Syria
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution (last 2011), Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Human Inequality (last 2015), Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Disability Benefit Coverage, Foundational ID Ownership, GDP per Capita (PPP) (last 2022), Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (last 2021), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (last 2015), Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2004), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2000), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2004), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Net Official Development Assistance Received (last 2022), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2022), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2022), Prosperity Gap (last 2022), Social Protection Coverage, Unemployment Benefit Coverage and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Syria’s 15 topics
Development & Human Capital is Syria’s 3rd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality84th of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability107th of 1864/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital121st of 1962/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing130th of 2002/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture156th of 1843/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge179th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade165th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technology188th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy157th of 1652/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience185th of 1933/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions186th of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 171st of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour179th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equality180th of 1832/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties197th of 1984/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Syria can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Israel10th3/3 keysThis page
Syria121st2/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Syria and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Syria on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Syria rank on development & human capital?
Syria is placed 121st of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 3 key statistics (Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Syria?
20.37 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
What is the latest Human Development Index figure for Syria?
0.564 in 2023 (hDI score (0–1)), according to UNDP Human Development Report Office. The world median in the same edition was 0.762.
How does Syria compare with Türkiye on development & human capital?
Türkiye is placed joint 58th of 196, and Syria 121st. Maternal Mortality Ratio: Türkiye 14.63, Syria 20.37; Human Development Index: Türkiye 0.853, Syria 0.564.
How have Syria’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 30.68 in 2000 to 20.37 in 2023; Human Development Index fell from 0.594 in 2000 to 0.564 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Syria?
No current reading is published for Syria on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Child and Family Benefit Coverage, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Human Inequality, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Disability Benefit Coverage, Foundational ID Ownership, GDP per Capita (PPP), Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Net Official Development Assistance Received, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Social Protection Coverage, Unemployment Benefit Coverage and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 29 statistics on this page come from 11 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Syria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Syria (banner) — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Syria: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/syria/development