Moving to Syria from Canada

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Canada to Syria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Canada to Syria, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Damascus averages 78°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Syria compared to Canada.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CA
2.3
SY
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CA
4.7
SY
29.9

Canada generally does better on safety, though Syria leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CA
$7,646
SY
$122
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CA
25.0
SY
11.9

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CA
8.0
SY
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CA
14.0t
SY
1.3t

Canada generally does better on environment, though Syria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CA
42.6
SY
7.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CA
3.7%
SY
124.4%

Canada performs better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CA
5.4%
SY
13.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CA
$55,800
SY
$2,900

Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CA
83.8 yrs
SY
74.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CA
4.4
SY
15.9

Canada performs better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ottawa Rain: 37.1 in/yr (943 mm)
52° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ottawa Damascus
Jan–Mar 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) 60°/35°F (15°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) 85°/51°F (29°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) 96°/60°F (35°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) 70°/40°F (21°/5°C)
View all months
Month Ottawa Damascus
Jan 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C)
Feb 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C)
Mar 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C)
Apr 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C)
May 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C)
Jun 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C)
Jul 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C)
Aug 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C)
Sep 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C)
Oct 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C)
Nov 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C)

Data: Meteorological Service of Canada Meteorological Service of Canada, Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and Syria. To live, work, or study long-term in Syria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Syria's immigration authority.

Canada passport

Canada passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Canada passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.
Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Canada

Visa Required
Syria passport holders need a visa to enter Canada.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Syria?

Connectivity is usually fine (Syria: 7.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Syria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Syria safe for expats?

Canada generally does better on safety, though Syria leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Syria is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada.

How is healthcare in Syria compared to Canada?

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).

What's the weather like in Syria compared to Canada?

The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.

What language do they speak in Syria?

The official language in Syria is Arabic. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.

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At a Glance

CA SY
Population 38,232,593 21,563,800
Currency Canadian Dollar (CA$) Syrian Pound (SYP)
Languages English, French Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +963
Time zones 6 1
Emergency number 911