In 1918 the Arab Revolt flag flew over Syria, which joined Egypt in the United Arab Republic in 1958 and based its new flag on that of the Egyptian revolution of 1952; its stripes were red-white-black, with two green stars for the constituent states. In 1961 Syria broke from the union, but it readopted the flag on March 29, 1980.

Syria Official name: Al-Jumhuriyah al-'Arabiyah as-Suriyah (Syrian Arab Republic). Form of government: unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house (People's Council [250]). Head of state and government: President. Population (1998): 15,335,000. Population projection: (2000) 16,126,000; (2010) 20,468,000. Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1995): 34.0 (world avg. 15.7). Gross national product (1996): U.S.$16,808,000,000 (U.S.$1,160 per capita). Land use (1994): steppe and pasture 45.2%; cultivable 30.1%; forested 2.6%; other 22.1%.