Moving to Syria from Iraq

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Iraq to Syria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Iraq to Syria. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Damascus averages 78°F vs 87°F in Baghdad, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Iraq to Syria, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
203,003 ↑ 4% vs 2015

people born in Iraq live in Syria · UN DESA

Who's moving to Syria?

Top countries of origin for Syria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Iraq to Syria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2013

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
SY
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
SY
29.9

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

IQ
$843
SY
$122
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.1
SY
11.9

Syria performs significantly better than Iraq across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IQ
87.0
SY
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
SY
1.3t

Syria performs significantly better than Iraq across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IQ
14.4
SY
7.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
SY
124.4%

Iraq 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

IQ
15.5%
SY
13.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$12,600
SY
$2,900

Iraq generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IQ
73.2 yrs
SY
74.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
19.6
SY
15.9

Syria performs significantly better than Iraq across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baghdad Damascus
Jan–Mar 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) 60°/35°F (15°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) 85°/51°F (29°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) 96°/60°F (35°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) 70°/40°F (21°/5°C)
View all months
Month Baghdad Damascus
Jan 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C)
Feb 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C)
Mar 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C)
Apr 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C)
May 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C)
Jun 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C)
Jul 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C)
Aug 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C)
Sep 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C)
Oct 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C)
Nov 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C)
Dec 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C)

Data: Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology, Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq 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.

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Syria

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

Syria passport holder visiting Iraq

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

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Syria has 7.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Syria safe for expats?

Iraq 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 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in Syria compared to Iraq?

Syria performs significantly better than Iraq across all health & wellbeing metrics. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 10.1 in Iraq. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

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

The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.

What language do they speak in Syria?

The official language in Syria is Arabic. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.

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At a Glance

IQ SY
Population 40,462,701 21,563,800
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Syrian Pound (SYP)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +964 +963
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104