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Jordan vs Syria
Side-by-side comparison of Jordan and Syria from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Jordan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 80 years
Syria
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · nation age 106 years
In short
Jordan scores 58.6 in the NationsTree Index (59th in the world) and Syria scores 24.9 (177th), a gap of 33.7 points. Their trees are 7.4 m and 5.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Syria has 2.2 times the population of Jordan. Syria is 2.1 times larger than Jordan by land area. The economy of Jordan is 32% larger than that of Syria (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Jordan 11.5 million and Syria 25.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $12,632 in Jordan and $4,905 in Syria (2025, international dollars). People in Jordan live on average 5.4 years longer (78.0 vs 72.6 years).
Of 26 indicators reported by both countries, Jordan ranks higher in the world on 21 and Syria on 5. Jordan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, infrastructure & digital and trade. Syria is clearly stronger in natural resources, tourism and land & people.
As a nation, Syria is the older of the two (statehood since 1920, 106 years), compared with Jordan (since 1946). Over the last five years Jordan improved faster (direction score 91 vs 33 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Jordan and Syria.
Jordanbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Syria
89.3%
162nd of 215
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Jordanbetter
61.2
70th of 205
Syria
24.3
200th of 205
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Jordanbetter
54.2
76th of 207
Syria
15.4
204th of 207
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Jordanbetter
96%
48th of 193
Syria
73%
162nd of 193
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Jordanbetter
91.8%
93rd of 173
Syria
38.7%
165th of 173
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Jordan has been ahead of Syria in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Jordan has been ahead of Syria in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Syria has been ahead of Jordan in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
JordanSyria All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Jordan | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 89,318113th/216 · 2024 | 185,18088th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 88,794111th/216 · 2024 | 183,63088th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 11.5 m83rd/217 · 2025 | 25.6 m57th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.28%191st/217 · 2025 | 3.77%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 130.186th/216 · 2024 | 134.484th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 93.2%24th/217 · 2025 | 72.1%81st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 30.2%70th/217 · 2025 | 28.4%78th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.8%155th/217 · 2025 | 4.8%151st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $61.61 bn90th/210 · 2025 | $23.74 bn125th/210 · 2022 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $145.53 bn91st/199 · 2025 | $110.18 bn99th/199 · 2022 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $124.36 bn91st/199 · 2025 | $102.86 bn96th/199 · 2022 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,348136th/210 · 2025 | $1,057196th/210 · 2022 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,632130th/199 · 2025 | $4,905167th/199 · 2022 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,260127th/201 · 2025 | $720193rd/201 · 2022 |
| GDP growth % | 2.8%121st/210 · 2025 | -0.2%195th/210 · 2022 |
| Inflation % | 1.8%53rd/180 · 2025 | 13.4%2019 |
| Unemployment % | 16.5%175th/187 · 2025 | 13.6%168th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 93.6%46th/55 · 2023 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 83.6%150th/189 · 2025 | 30.0%2010 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.2%165th/192 · 2025 | -7.8%2010 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 5.6%102nd/197 · 2025 | 42.9%2nd/197 · 2022 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.4%67th/200 · 2025 | 11.9%175th/200 · 2022 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 17.4%33rd/192 · 2025 | — |
| Services % of GDP | 56.8%111th/200 · 2025 | 44.7%170th/200 · 2022 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $9.28 bn2007 | $1.61 bn153rd/182 · 2022 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $15.70 bn2007 | $6.80 bn131st/182 · 2022 |
| Exports % of GDP | 54.2%2007 | 6.8%180th/183 · 2022 |
| Imports % of GDP | 91.8%2007 | 28.7%139th/183 · 2022 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 146.0%2007 | 35.4%168th/183 · 2022 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.3%130th/170 · 2024 | 49.9%2010 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 72.1%39th/171 · 2024 | 24.7%2010 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 17.6%82nd/171 · 2024 | 21.0%2010 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 8.5%44th/171 · 2024 | 2.7%2010 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.1%130th/168 · 2023 | 1.4%2010 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.6%145th/191 · 2025 | -2.8%2010 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.3%65th/196 · 2025 | 1.2%2011 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%160th/209 · 2021 | 6.4%65th/209 · 2020 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%100th/197 · 2021 | 4.02%29th/197 · 2020 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.04%68th/197 · 2021 | 2.33%20th/197 · 2020 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2020 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2020 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.02%140th/209 · 2021 | 0.03%137th/209 · 2020 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.3%165th/206 · 2024 | 24.0%41st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 61176th/183 · 2022 | 318160th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.2 m88th/194 · 2020 | 2.4 m59th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.75 bn56th/175 · 2020 | $1.82 bn2011 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 16.7%39th/168 · 2020 | 32.2%2010 |
| Outbound trips departures | 406,00082nd/107 · 2020 | 6.3 m2010 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 78.071st/217 · 2024 | 72.6130th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 12.989th/196 · 2024 | 18.4119th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.8562nd/174 · 2022 | 1.5293rd/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.4103rd/145 · 2023 | 1.4102nd/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 96%48th/193 · 2024 | 73%162nd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 79.5%73rd/153 · 2023 | 34.1%2009 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 91.8%93rd/173 · 2024 | 38.7%165th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 73.2%2010 | 8.2%2003 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 7.3%157th/217 · 2025 | 7.3%158th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.7%70th/193 · 2023 | 2.7%184th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 94.4%40th/98 · 2024 | 94.4%41st/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 35.9%101st/150 · 2024 | 43.8%2016 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.754100th/193 · 2023 | 0.564162nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.72010 | 26.47th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.1%2010 | 18.0%89th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 89.3%162nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 89.0%63rd/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 80.1%49th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 95.6%24th/186 · 2024 | 33.8%2018 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70182nd/210 · 2024 | 71175th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 7.0133rd/208 · 2024 | 6.9134th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.7268th/164 · 2018 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 2,1392010 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 3.7 m69th/161 · 2023 | 610,745114th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.0992nd/203 · 2024 | 1.2771st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 11.5%139th/212 · 2021 | 1.1%187th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 32.6161st/200 · 2023 | 32.1159th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 0.8%200th/214 · 2024 | 2.9%187th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 780105th/149 · 2024 | 333137th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 54.699th/205 · 2025 | 19.9196th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 54.276th/207 · 2025 | 15.4204th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 61.890th/207 · 2025 | 28.7201st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 60.1137th/207 · 2025 | 25.0205th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 61.270th/205 · 2025 | 24.3200th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 44.0139th/205 · 2025 | 28.0186th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.042nd/145 · 2023 | 2.12010 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $2.56 bn62nd/156 · 2025 | $2.49 bn2011 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 4.6%12th/156 · 2025 | 4.1%2010 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 13.5%20th/154 · 2025 | 13.6%2010 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 116,00050th/170 · 2020 | 269,00026th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 3.98%10th/168 · 2020 | 5.44%3rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 34.0 m71st/163 · 2024 | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 226.0 m16th/65 · 2024 | 30.0 m2010 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.70%2016 | 0.04%107th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1496th/137 · 2024 | 10469th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 5,41957th/197 · 2023 | 64694th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Jordan or Syria?
Syria has the larger population: 25.6 m (2025) compared with 11.5 m for Jordan (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Jordan or Syria?
Syria is larger: 185,180 km² (2024) compared with 89,318 km² for Jordan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Jordan or Syria?
Jordan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $145.53 bn intl. (2025) compared with $110.18 bn intl. for Syria (2022). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Jordan or Syria?
Jordan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $12,632 intl. (2025) compared with $4,905 intl. for Syria (2022). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Jordan or Syria?
Jordan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 78.0 years (2024) compared with 72.6 years for Syria (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Jordan or Syria?
Jordan spends more on the military: $2.56 bn (2025) compared with $2.49 bn for Syria (2011). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Jordan or Syria?
Jordan: 58.6 points (59th in the world); Syria: 24.9 points (177th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bahrain
Libya
Oman
Tunisia
Afghanistan
Lebanon
MaltaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Jordan vs Syria — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/jordan-vs-syria. Data as of 26 October 2026.