Moving to Syria from New Zealand

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Zealand to Syria — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from New Zealand to Syria, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Damascus averages 78°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How New Zealand and Syria stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
1.1
SY
2.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NZ
6.6
SY
29.9

New Zealand performs better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NZ
$5,576
SY
$122
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NZ
35.7
SY
11.9

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand 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

NZ
12.0
SY
83.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NZ
6.0t
SY
1.3t

New Zealand 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

NZ
35.9
SY
7.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NZ
8.1%
SY
124.4%

New Zealand 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

NZ
3.7%
SY
13.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NZ
$48,800
SY
$2,900

New Zealand 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

NZ
82.5 yrs
SY
74.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NZ
3.4
SY
15.9

New Zealand performs better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Wellington Damascus
Jan–Mar 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) 60°/35°F (15°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) 85°/51°F (29°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) 96°/60°F (35°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) 70°/40°F (21°/5°C)
View all months
Month Wellington Damascus
Jan 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C)
Feb 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C)
Mar 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C)
Apr 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C)
May 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C)
Jun 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C)
Jul 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C)
Aug 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C)
Sep 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C)
Oct 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C)
Nov 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C)
Dec 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C)

Data: New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service, Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.

New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Syria

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

Syria passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Syria passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.

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?

With 7.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Syria can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in New Zealand and Syria.

Is Syria safe for expats?

New Zealand performs better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Syria is 2.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.

How is healthcare in Syria compared to New Zealand?

Syria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Syria, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Syria scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).

What's the weather like in Syria compared to New Zealand?

The average high temperature in Damascus is 78°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Damascus receives around 5.3 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.

What language do they speak in Syria?

The official language in Syria is Arabic. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

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At a Glance

NZ SY
Population 5,053,004 21,563,800
Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) Syrian Pound (SYP)
Languages English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language Arabic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +64 +963
Time zones 5 1
Emergency number 111