Syria - Public finance

Although Syria was able to balance its budget in 1992, large military expenditures and continued subsidization of basic commodities and social services have produced deficits in subsequent years. State intervention in business and price controls put a damper on growth.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that in 2001 Syria's central government took in revenues of approximately $5 billion and had expenditures of $7 billion. Overall, the government registered a deficit of approximately $2 billion. External debt totaled $22 billion.

The following table shows an itemized breakdown of government revenues and expenditures. The percentages were calculated from data reported by the International Monetary Fund. The dollar amounts (millions) are based on the CIA estimates provided above.