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There are no precise statistics on the number of the Syrian expatriates around the world, but the numbers speak for 12-15 millions of Syrian expatriate or expatriates of Syrian descend, and their main distribution in terms of mass of mankind according to available indicators is as follows:
• Latin America: especially in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile.
• Arab Gulf: especially in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait.
• United States and Canada: non - official numbers speak for about 500 thousand American of Syrian origins, as well as 500 thousands Canadian of Syrian origins.
• Europe: the largest distribution is in Germany, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, and Britain.
• Australia.
• Russia and Independent States.
Approximate numbers and statistics vary according to the definition of expatriate / immigrant, and how to be counted according to the countries and the standard by which they determine the expatriates on their territory, their historical and legal situation and the laws of nationality and citizenship which they are subject to. For example, in Latin America there is a fourth generation of Syrian descendants and these are considered citizens in their country of residence for several generations, so they are not taken into consideration in many surveys and statistics of expatriates. There are also no accurate statistics of the number of Syrians in the Arab Gulf countries, who are considered the second mass of Syrian expatriates after Latin America.
The following are rough indicators on the number and distribution of the Syrian expatriates prepared by some research centers. For example:
A report by the European Survey of Information Society Projects and Actions estimates the Syrian expatriates around the world by /981000/ in 2000.
It is clear that the report does not count the Syrian descendants in Latin America where the largest mass of expatriate Syrians and who are estimated by several millions ... It is not accurate in regard to the expatriates in the Arab Gulf countries – and it is subject to the factors described above).
A Study of the European Investment Bank entitled: "activating the money orders of expatriate workers in the countries of the Mediterranean" estimated the number of expatriates in Europe by 66000 in 2003; half of them are in Germany and Sweden. (Statistics are based on the section that is targeted by the study, the section of people who do money orders through banks and financial institutions).
The study estimates there distribution as follows:
- 28 thousands in Germany.
- 16 thousands in Sweden.
- 6 thousands in the Netherlands.
- 2 thousands in Belgium.
- Others not numerated in France, Britain, Italy and other European countries.
The study shows that the Syrians in Europe represent 5% of the Syrians in the world, while the Syrians in Germany are 45% of the Syrians in Europe.
It should be noted that some numbers speak for greater numbers of Syrian expatriates in Europe, but while the study estimate the expatriate number in Sweden by 16 thousands, some expatriates in Sweden estimate the number of the community in Sweden by more than 80 thousands.
Common numbers refer to about 500 thousands Syrian American in the United States, and the same in Canada, while there are 300 thousand Syrians in Australia. There are no numbers regarding other regions and countries.
All previous numbers are indicators and statistical segments of the number and distribution of Syrian expatriates, but they do not reflect the real numbers in regard of the factors mentioned above and the lack of accurate and comprehensive statistics. For example, the registered number of the Syrian expatriates in Qatar does not exceed a few hundreds, while the government estimates the number of the Syrians on its territory by more than /20000/.
The attached charts are the Ministry's work experience in the preparation of a statistical section of the Syrian expatriates, the two charts demonstrate the rate of participation by the country in the Conferences of the Syrian expatriates the first in 2004 and the second in 2007 and they do not reflect the actual distribution and numbers, but they can be indicators of the effectiveness of communities and their relation to the homeland.
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