Syria
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 56% plant-based · 72.7 yr life expectancy · UHC 70/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 235 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (235/100k) leads and is high, but more than a decade of war has shattered Syria's health system and displaced millions, making access and trauma the dominant crises rather than diet. The traditional Levantine diet was Mediterranean and protective.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Rebuilding healthcare access and addressing war trauma are the overwhelming priorities.
- Restore the protective Mediterranean diet (legumes, vegetables, olive oil) as stability returns.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 235 CVD deaths per 100k · 56% plant-based diet