Fuel Prices in Syria: What You Pay at the Pump
As of the latest update, petrol (gasoline) in Syria costs about $1.396 per liter, which works out to roughly $5.28 per US gallon. In local terms that is around 159.1 SYP per liter. Diesel is cheaper at about $1.068 per liter. Among the 170 countries we track, Syria ranks 71st most expensive, sitting just below the world average of $1.484 per liter.
That mid-table position may seem unremarkable, but it hides an unusually turbulent story. Syrian pump prices are not set by an open market — they are the product of state administration, a collapsed currency, and years of conflict-driven fuel scarcity.
What Drives Syria's Pump Prices
Syria has historically been a modest oil producer, but more than a decade of war severed the government's control over its main oilfields in the northeast. The result is that the country, once a net crude exporter, now depends heavily on imported fuel and on supplies from allied partners. When you import most of your gasoline and diesel, the global crude price and shipping costs feed almost directly into what drivers pay.
The single biggest force, however, is the currency. The Syrian pound (SYP) has lost enormous value against the US dollar over recent years. Because dollar prices and pound prices move on entirely different tracks, a fuel price that looks "moderate" in USD can feel crushingly expensive to a Syrian earning in pounds. The 159.1 SYP per liter figure tells only part of the story — the real burden is measured against local wages, which have not kept pace with the exchange rate.
Subsidies and Rationing
For years Syria operated a fuel subsidy and rationing system, with smart-card allocations limiting how much subsidized petrol or diesel each household and vehicle could buy. As state finances deteriorated, authorities repeatedly cut allocations and raised the "free-market" tier price far above the subsidized rate. The two-tier reality means the official $1.396 figure is best read as a retail reference point rather than a single price everyone pays — black-market and unsubsidized fuel can cost considerably more, while shortages can make any price academic when stations simply run dry.
Diesel's lower price reflects its central role in heating, agriculture, electricity generation, and freight. Governments across the region tend to shield diesel because raising it ripples through food prices and power supply. Syria is no exception, which is why diesel at $1.068 per liter sits well under petrol.
How Syria Compares
Syria's prices look broadly similar to other small, import-dependent or currency-stressed economies. You can see comparable dynamics in Haiti, where weak currency and import reliance push pump costs upward, and in Grenada, a small island importer. Regionally, neighboring Georgia offers a useful contrast as a transit hub between energy producers and consumers, while Cambodia shows what a stable, fully import-dependent Asian market pays. For the full picture, browse our world fuel prices rankings.
FAQ
Why is gas so expensive in Syria relative to local incomes?
The headline price of about $1.396 per liter is close to the global average, but Syrian wages are earned in pounds that have collapsed against the dollar. Combined with a war-damaged production base and heavy reliance on imported fuel, this makes filling a tank a far larger share of household income than the USD figure suggests.
Does Syria produce its own oil?
Syria was historically a small oil producer and net exporter, but years of conflict put most major oilfields outside central government control. The country now leans heavily on imports and partner supplies, so global crude prices and import logistics shape what drivers pay at the pump.
Why is diesel cheaper than petrol in Syria?
Diesel sells for about $1.068 per liter versus $1.396 for petrol because it underpins heating, farming, freight, and power generation. As in much of the region, authorities keep diesel relatively protected to limit knock-on effects on food prices and electricity costs.