Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Syria: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Syria is placed 130th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 72.12 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 18.44 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
130th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 72.12Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 18.44Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- —Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024No reading for this country
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Syria on health & wellbeing — 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 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
72.12
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Syria: 72.12. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Western Asia
- 82.91 United Arab Emirates
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 72.32 · Israel 82.41 · Jordan 77.81 · Lebanon 77.82 · Türkiye 77.16
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
18.44
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Syria: 18.44. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Western Asia
- 3.34 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 21.84 · Israel 3.34 · Jordan 12.94 · Lebanon 17.6 · Türkiye 9.607
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Syria, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Western Asia
- 3.205 Kuwait
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 12.64 · Jordan 8.231 · Lebanon 13.9 · Türkiye 5.965
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Syria, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.7 Israel
- Land neighbours
- Israel 0.7 · Lebanon 10.2
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.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria rose from 70.86 in 2000 to 72.12 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2023 72.12 74.630 2022 72.79 74.313 2021 72.42 72.433 2020 71.94 73.063 2019 70.97 74.196 2018 67.37 74.081 2017 65.65 74.029 2016 65.19 74.013 2015 63.27 73.783 2014 65.49 73.330 2013 65.15 73.386 2012 66.21 73.210 2011 72.26 73.003 2010 73.54 72.827 2009 73.50 72.426 2008 73.37 72.264 2007 73.26 72.113 2006 73.04 72.027 2005 72.80 71.876 2004 72.49 71.477 2003 72.19 71.409 2002 71.74 71.173 2001 71.30 70.926 2000 70.86 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
SyriaWorld median
Syria fell from 23.13 in 2000 to 18.44 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Syria World median 2024 18.44 14.5 2023 20.11 15.2 2022 20.69 14.7 2021 20.46 15.1 2020 21.89 15.3 2019 24.56 15.7 2018 32.46 16.3 2017 32.88 16.8 2016 32.17 17.5 2015 37.13 17.9 2014 35.51 18.3 2013 36.87 18.7 2012 34.16 18.8 2011 21.59 19.0 2010 18.82 19.2 2009 18.80 20.8 2008 18.91 20.7 2007 19.09 21.8 2006 19.39 22.8 2005 19.76 24.0 2004 20.22 25.9 2003 20.77 26.9 2002 21.43 28.0 2001 22.23 29.1 2000 23.13 30.4
03In context
Syria beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Syria and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Israel | 10th | 82.41 | 3.34 | — | 0.7 |
 Türkiye | 59th | 77.16 | 9.607 | 5.965 | — |
 Jordan | 70th | 77.81 | 12.94 | 8.231 | — |
 Lebanon | 104th | 77.82 | 17.6 | 13.9 | 10.2 |
 Iraq | 113th | 72.32 | 21.84 | 12.64 | — |
| Syria | 130th | 72.12 | 18.44 | 27.9 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Syria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Syria is ahead of the world, and behind
43 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, 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.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.77767.7No earlier reading
Syria: 77 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 37th of 127 · derived.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.549.841.5No earlier reading
Syria: 49.8 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 48th of 127 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6520.3746.65▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 20.37 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 121st of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median31
Statistics on which Syria does worse than the middle country measured.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7137.31133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Syria: 137.31 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 108th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8380.7484.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 80.74 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
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.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6974.82102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 74.82 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4638.9127.46▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 38.91 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 86th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5726.837.57No earlier reading
Syria: 26.8 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 115 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2562.471.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 62.4 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 123rd of 196 · 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.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3914.8816.39▲ Improved since 2013
Syria: 14.88 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 144th of 222 · derived.
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.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2630.421.26No earlier reading
Syria: 30.4 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 31st of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 415541▼ Worsened since 2012
Syria: 55 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8163.781No earlier reading
Syria: 63.7 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 117th of 153 · derived.
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.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4526.514.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 26.5 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 49th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.461.126.4▼ Worsened since 2017
Syria: 61.1 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 29th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9536.452.95No earlier reading
Syria: 36.4 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 111th of 136 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.978.296.9No earlier reading
Syria: 78.2 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.5640.762▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 0.564 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 162nd of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.511.025.5▲ Improved since 2014
Syria: 11.02 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 27th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4888.063.48No real change since 2015
Syria: 88.06 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Global Report on Food CrisesFSIN · 2024 · world median 223922▼ Worsened since 2016
Syria: 39 · world median 22 · In IPC Phase 3+ (% of analysed population). Food Security Information Network (FSIN), 2025 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3 to 56; lower is better.
Position 7th of 44 · derived, 1st = worst.
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.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,2302,982▼ Worsened since 2014
Syria: 2,230 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 145th of 155 · derived.
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.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.14.53.1▲ Improved since 2020
Syria: 4.5 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 3rd of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.2395.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Syria: 39 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 4th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.40.25▼ Worsened since 2014
Syria: 0.4 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
No better end9
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.556.854.55Moved since 2017
Syria: 6.85 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6526.420.65No earlier reading
Syria: 26.4 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.886.886.88No earlier reading
Syria: 6.88 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2534.241.25Moved since 2013
Syria: 34.2 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.425.735.4Moved since 2013
Syria: 25.7 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.730.351.73Moved since 2014
Syria: 0.35 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 148th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8316.2357.83Moved since 2013
Syria: 16.23 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8928.5338.89Moved since 2015
Syria: 28.53 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 178th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.170.816.17Moved since 2013
Syria: 0.8 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
No current reading for Syria
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2009), Children with Functional Difficulties, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (last 2021), HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, Human Capital Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2004), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2000), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2004), Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity 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
Health & Wellbeing among Syria’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Syria’s 4th 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 health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Syria can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Israel10th3/4 keysThis page
Syria130th2/4 keys
Positions out of 200 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 health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
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 health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Syria on health & wellbeing: 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 health & wellbeing?
Syria is placed 130th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth and Under-Five Mortality Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Syria?
72.12 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Syria?
18.44 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Syria compare with Türkiye on health & wellbeing?
Türkiye is placed 59th of 200, and Syria 130th. Life Expectancy at Birth: Türkiye 77.16, Syria 72.12; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Türkiye 9.607, Syria 18.44.
How have Syria’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 70.86 in 2000 to 72.12 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 23.13 in 2000 to 18.44 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Syria?
No current reading is published for Syria on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Children with Functional Difficulties, Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, Human Capital Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity 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
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 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 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 43 statistics on this page come from 14 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
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Syria: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/syria/health