Syria

Western Asia

Middle East

Syria remains affected by conflict, sanctions, fragmented control, infrastructure damage, and severe security and mobility risks. It is not a conventional relocation destination.

Overall score

Low · Penalty applied · 91% data coverage

Language

Arabic

Currency

SYP

Citizenship

5 years under statutory rules; discretionary

Personal tax

Progressive; reliable current comparisons are limited

Cost of living

$600 / mo (single; prices and access vary)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

37Residence12%

46Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

26Salary and work12%

65Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

45Taxes7%

15Business8%

40Investment5%

Daily life

25%

46Quality of life18%

50Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

1Freedom6%

4Rule of law7%

Severe environmental risk (24) cut the overall score from 37 to 31.

Weak rights and institutions (3) cut the overall score from 31 to 14.

Pros

Country-wide comparison coverage
Local residence and work pathways available

Cons

Legal and tax outcomes are case-specific
Costs vary materially by city and lifestyle

Best for

Users comparing regional optionsPeople prepared to verify a specific pathway

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

100

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Limited

Migrant stock3.6% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-2.00 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Good

Years required	5 years under statutory rules; discretionary
Dual allowed	Yes
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 5 years under statutory rules; discretionary; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Low

38 / 198

Mobility

#102

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free12
On arrival25
eTA1
Visa required160

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Low

Output per worker$20,211 PPP (2022)

Unemployment13.6% (2025)

Participation36.9% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)	Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$4,740 PPP (2022)

Consumption / person$2,569 PPP (2021)

Price level18 (US = 100) (2021)

Income inequality26.4 Gini (2022)

Inflation13.4% / yr (2019)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

100

Price level18 (US = 100) (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$600 / mo (single; prices and access vary)
Cities	Damascus, Aleppo, Homs

Economy

Economic strength

Limited

Output & income

GDP$23.7B (2022)

GDP / person$1,057 (2022)

GNI / person$4,740 PPP (2022)

GDP growth0.7% / yr (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation13.4% / yr (2019)

Unemployment13.6% (2025)

Output per worker$20,211 PPP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture42.9% of GDP (2022)

Industry11.9% of GDP (2022)

Services44.7% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

AgricultureOil (diminished)PhosphatesTextiles

Top exports

Agricultural productsPhosphatesTextiles

Type	Low-income, war-damaged economy
Key sectors	Agriculture, Reconstruction needs
Summary	An economy devastated by over a decade of civil war, with collapsed output, oil and infrastructure.
Currency	Syrian pound (severely devalued)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; reliable current comparisons are limited
Corporate	Rates vary by entity and activity
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; reliable current comparisons are limited
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Moderate

Corporate	Rates vary by entity and activity
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Low

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-2.00 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness-1.67 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Limited

Private credit21% of GDP (2011)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Limited

Salary & work

Low

Business

Low

Investment

Limited

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

100

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Moderate

Personal safety

Homicide rate2.1 per 100,000 (2010)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption-1.70 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability-2.37 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Moderate

Outcomes

Life expectancy72.6 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality18.4 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians1.52 per 1,000 (2021)

Hospital beds1.43 per 1,000 (2021)

Health spending$122 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Low

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure32.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress124.4% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Limited

Digital infrastructure

Internet use33.8% (2018)

Internet resilience31 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed24 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed50 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access88.4% (2023)

Grid losses21.9% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality2.20 / 5 (2022)

Rail density11.6 km / 1,000 km² (2010)

Air connectivity200 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Moderate

Attainment

Expected schooling7.4 years (2023)

Mean schooling5.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment44% gross (2016)

Education spending5.1% of GDP (2009)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	Access and availability are severely constrained
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Arabic
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Moderate

HDI0.564 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy72.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling7.4 years (2023)

Mean schooling5.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025