According to figures from Syria’s Central Bureau of Statistics cited by CEIC Data, unemployment rose from 8.6% in 2010 to 14.9% in 2011. The table below compares the official 2010–2011 labour market indicators, with definitions, sources and the gaps in post-2011 coverage.
This page records the unemployment rates reported for 2010 and 2011, explains the definitions behind the figures and identifies where the official series can be verified. It also notes why post-2011 coverage is limited. This is a statistical reference, not a commentary on current policy.
How Syria’s official statistics define unemployment and labour force
Syria’s official labour statistics follow the definitions used by the Central Bureau of Statistics and the International Labour Organization. The labour force is the sum of employed and unemployed people aged 15 and over. An employed person is anyone who worked for pay or profit during the reference week; an unemployed person is without work, available for work and actively seeking work. The unemployment rate is the unemployed share of the labour force. These definitions matter because the 2011 increase reflected both job losses and a shrinking resident labour force. The Central Bureau of Statistics reports the rate as a percentage of the total labour force. For the publication process, see an explainer on how the Central Bureau of Statistics publishes its data.
The 2010–2011 comparison
The official unemployment rate moved from 8.6% in 2010 to 14.9% in 2011, according to Syria’s Central Bureau of Statistics as cited by CEIC Data. The change of 6.3 percentage points was the reported year-on-year movement in the pre-conflict labour series. For context, the Syrian Labour Market Report 2009–2010 had put the 2009 unemployment rate at 13.4%, with a female rate of 31.2% and a youth rate of 46%. The table below isolates the 2010–2011 change.
| Indicator | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | 8.6% | 14.9% |
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Syria), Statistical Abstract 2011–2012, chapter on labour, via CEIC Data.
The Statistical Abstract 2011–2012 records the 2011 rate at 14.9%; CEIC Data repeats that value in its country series. The 2009 figures come from a separate labour market report and are supplied here as context, not as part of the 2010–2011 comparison. The rise in unemployment had wider implications, discussed in an explainer on the role of labour in productivity and development.
Where the figures come from: CBS Statistical Abstract and CEIC
The main source is the Central Bureau of Statistics’ Statistical Abstract 2011–2012, chapter on labour. CEIC Data republishes the series as country-level labour data and shows the 2011 rate at 14.9%. Two other sources allow cross-checking:
- ILOSTAT, the ILO’s country profile for the Syrian Arab Republic, provides a longer unemployment series.
- The World Bank DataBank indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS offers an alternative series for Syria.
What the data don’t cover after 2011
Official 2011 figures cover areas under government control and may not capture displacement or informal work fully. After 2011 the Central Bureau of Statistics’ series becomes less complete; the Statistical Abstract 2011–2012 chapter on labour is often the last table used for the pre-conflict labour market. Official figures put unemployment at 14.9% in 2011; UN estimates for later years vary by source and coverage. For the economic context of that period, see Syria’s post-2011 economic and currency crisis. For a view of the society the data describe, see first-hand memories of Syria’s pre-war society.
Frequently asked questions
What was Syria’s unemployment rate in 2011?
Syria’s unemployment rate was 14.9% in 2011, up from 8.6% in 2010, according to Central Bureau of Statistics figures cited by CEIC Data.
What was Syria’s youth unemployment before 2011?
Youth unemployment was 46% in 2009, according to the Syrian Labour Market Report 2009–2010. There is no reliable official breakdown for 2011.
Why did unemployment rise in 2011?
Unemployment rose in 2011 with the onset of conflict, displacement and economic contraction.
Where can I verify Syria labour statistics before the war, including 2011?
In the Central Bureau of Statistics’ Statistical Abstract 2011–2012, chapter on labour; ILOSTAT and the World Bank offer comparable series.
Fuentes
- Central Bureau of Statistics (Syria), Statistical Abstract 2011–2012, chapter on labour.
- CEIC Data, Syria unemployment rate series.
- Syrian Labour Market Report 2009–2010.
- ILOSTAT, country profile for Syrian Arab Republic.
- World Bank, DataBank indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS.
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