What is the highest state capacity index recorded in Syria?

The highest recorded value was 0.4078 in 2008.

What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in Syria?

The lowest recorded value was -1.22 in 2014.

How does Syria rank for state capacity index?

Syria ranks 159th out of 165 countries with data for 2015.

Is state capacity index rising or falling in Syria?

Over the last ten years it is down 727.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Syria data come from?

The figures come from Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of State Capacity Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

State Capacity Index in Syria

Name: State Capacity Index in Syria
Creator: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Syria: State Capacity Index was -1.2 in 2015. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2015)

-1.2

Change on year

up 1.5%

World rank

159th

of 165 countries

All-time high

0.4078

in 2008

All-time low

-1.22

in 2014

Years of data

1960–2015

State Capacity Index in Syria, 1960–2015

Source: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2015, state capacity index in Syria stood at -1.2.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 727.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, state capacity index in Syria peaked at 0.4078 in 2008 and was at its lowest, -1.22, in 2014.

That places Syria 159th out of 165 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	-0.0155	-0.2609	0.265	10
1970s	-0.3878	-0.4823	-0.24	10
1980s	-0.0899	-0.3403	0.0877	10
1990s	0.244	0.022	0.4028	10
2000s	0.2811	0.1607	0.4078	10
2010s	-0.582	-1.22	0.2078	6

Countries ranked near Syria

156 Democratic Republic of Congo -0.9912 compare
157 Afghanistan -1.05 compare
158 Haiti -1.15 compare
160 Eritrea -1.23 compare
161 Libya -1.35 compare
162 South Sudan -1.37 compare

See the full ranking of 166 places →

More reference data data for Syria

Spring temperature anomalies -1.58 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 0.329 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month -0.3623 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 0.2737 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 1.14 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 614.95 2010 = 100 (2019)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 0 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for Syria →

Frequently asked questions

What is state capacity index in Syria?: State capacity index in Syria was -1.2 in 2015, according to Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest state capacity index recorded in Syria?: The highest recorded value was 0.4078 in 2008.
What is the lowest state capacity index recorded in Syria?: The lowest recorded value was -1.22 in 2014.
How does Syria rank for state capacity index?: Syria ranks 159th out of 165 countries with data for 2015.
Is state capacity index rising or falling in Syria?: Over the last ten years it is down 727.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Syria data come from?: The figures come from Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of State Capacity Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: State Capacity Index
Source: Jonathan Hanson and Rachel Sigman (2021); Population based on various sources (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 166 places, 8,015 data points, 1960–2015
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measures state capacity by combining 21 different indicators related to three key dimensions: extractive capacity, coercive capacity, and administrative capacity. Higher values indicate greater state capacity.